Guide

How to take your dog's paw print at home

Step by step, without getting their paw dirty and without overwhelming them. Ten minutes at home, with the kit included in your PETJA.

3 min read · 10 min process

What you need

  • The kit that comes with your PETJA. Their paw does not touch the ink: it sits underneath, under a protective film.
  • A flat, stable surface: a table, the floor, your lap.
  • If possible, someone to give you a hand. Holding the paw and placing the paper at the same time is easier with two people.
  • Ten unhurried minutes. That is the only truly essential thing.

Nothing else. No paint, no mud, and nothing to clean up afterwards.

Step by step

Dog's paw resting on the PETJA ink pad, with the ink sealed under the protective film

The leg rests on the protective film. The ink remains underneath, sealed.

  1. 01

    Choose the moment

    When they are calm and you are not in a hurry. If you notice they are restless today, put the kit away and try again later: that is perfectly fine. If they resist, a treat helps more than insisting. The print comes out much better with a relaxed animal than with one being held down.

  2. 02

    Check the pad

    Check that it is clean and dry. If there is sand, dirt or long hair between the toes, wipe it with a damp cloth and wait for it to dry completely. A little moisture will blur the lines.

  3. 03

    Place the paw on the kit

    The easiest way is with them lying down: the paw carries no weight and the pad rests fully on the surface. Hold it with one hand and press firmly for three or four seconds, making sure all four toe pads and the central pad make contact. Their paw never touches the ink: it stays underneath, under the protective film. They will not get dirty, it will not smell, and it will not bother them.

  4. 04

    Lift straight up

    Raise the paw straight, without dragging or twisting it. That is where almost all prints get spoiled. Lift, look at the result, and decide.

  5. 05

    Try it and keep the best

    The kit comes with two identical cards: try the first, and if it does not come out the way you want, use the second. If something does not quite work, write to us before using them both up.

  6. 06

    Let it dry and store it flat

    A couple of minutes in the air is enough. Then keep it flat, away from direct light, until you photograph it from Mi PETJA.

Seeing it once is worth more than reading it three times

The full process, uncut.

Common mistakes

Almost all blurry prints fail for the same reason. Four things to know before you start.

Dragging the paw as you lift it

It is the most common mistake and the easiest to avoid. If the paw slides even a millimetre, the print will be blurry. Lift it straight up, as if you were peeling off a sticker.

Pressing too hard

More force does not give more detail; it flattens the pad and widens the lines. All you need is firm, even pressure, the same you would use resting your hand on a table.

Doing it with them standing

Standing, they have to bear their weight and the paw tenses up. Lying down or sitting, with the paw loose and relaxed, the pad rests fully and the print comes out more complete.

Insisting once you have caused discomfort

If they pull their paw back twice in a row, stop. Leave them be for a while and come back later, or ask someone for help. It is not worth turning this into an unpleasant experience for them: the paw print can wait.

Frequently asked questions

Is this guide suitable for a cat?

Partly. The kit is the same, and the ink does not touch their paw either, but the technique changes: you cannot hold a cat's paw, you have to bring the kit to them, and the hair between the pads blurs the print if you do not move it aside.

I have explained it separately in the cat guide.

Does their paw get stained?

No. The kit contains ink — that is what creates the dense black and all the grooves — but it is on the underside, under a protective plastic film. Their paw only touches that film. You press, you lift, and the paw print appears on the sheet.

There is nothing to wash afterwards, and no smell or residue.

What if the paw print doesn't come out right the first time?

This is normal and expected. The kit includes two identical cards, so you can try again before using both up.

If none of them convince you, write to us and we will look at it with you. It is almost always a small detail when taking it, and it can be fixed.

Which paw should I choose?

Any of them. The front paws usually give a slightly wider and more defined print, and they are also easier to handle when the animal is lying down.

If in doubt, take one of each and decide by looking at them.

How long does a paw print last on paper?

Years, if you keep it flat and away from direct sunlight. There is no need to post it or rush: whenever you are ready, take a photo of it and upload it to us from Mi PETJA.

Do you have a cat?

The technique is quite different: you can't hold their paw and you have to wait until they are willing. I've explained it separately.

How to take your cat's paw print

Their paw print doesn't exist yet. Let's create it.

We send the kit to take the paw print with no ink on their paw to your home. Once the print is how you want it, we apply the gold foil by hand onto 180 g paper and send it to you framed.

Create my PETJA

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