How To Safely Make A Print Of Your Dog’s Nose

Ellen Britt for CNT #wooftips

We all know that human fingerprints are unique. So much so, that human fingerprints left behind at crime scenes are used as evidence in court to convict people of crimes. But what about dogs?

Of course dogs don’t have fingers. But they do have distinct patterns on their noses that correspond to our fingerprints in that they are unique to each individual canine. In fact, the Canadian Kennel Club has been accepting canine nose prints as proof of a dog’s identity since 1938.

A Wonderful Keepsake

But even if you don’t want to have your dog’s nose print on hand to prove his identity, the lines forming patterns on his nose are quite fascinating in their own right and you can get a nose print to inspect them more closely or even have a print framed as a unique keepsake of your canine companion.

How To Make A Nose Print

So how do you go about safely making a dog nose print?

There are several ways you can go about doing this. One way is to purchase a non-toxic mold material that can be used to make an impression of your dog’s nose. These are often used if you want a piece of jewelry made from the impression.

Another way would be to get a clear photograph of your dog’s nose, then turn it over to a graphic artist to transform it into a black and white image of your dog’s nose.

If you want to do it yourself, you’ll need some food coloring, paper towels, a damp bathcloth and a paper pad. Never use toxic inks on your dog’s nose, paw pads or skin, as this can be harmful.

Step By Step

Gently dry your dog’s nose with the paper towel.

Pour some of the food coloring on another paper towel and gently dab the food coloring onto the dog’s nose. Take your paper pad and press the paper against your dog’s nose to get the print.

Then use the damp washcloth to remove the food coloring from your dog’s nose. Reward him with a treat for putting up with this!!

By Ellen Britt

Dr. Ellen Britt has loved dogs since she was a child. She is particularly fond of the Northern breeds, especially Alaskan Malamutes. Ellen worked as a PA in Emergency and Occupational Medicine for two decades and holds a doctorate (Ed.D.) in biology.