Nose print keepsakes: how to take one, and what to make from it
A nose print is a light ink or inkless impression of your pet's nose leather, taken in a few seconds by pressing card gently against the nose. The ridged pattern is unique to each dog, and it stays readable even when engraved small, which is why nose prints are so popular for pendants; engraved paw and nose print pendants at one large retailer start from $99.95[1].
By the Paw Print Keepsakes & Memorial Impressions editorial team · Updated September 24, 2026 · 4 min read · Sources
- A two-minute method for dogs and cats
- Why a nose print works so well in jewelry
- Real prices for nose print pendants and tags
The short answer
What is a nose print, and how do you take one?
A nose print is an impression of the textured leather on your pet's nose, usually in ink on card or with an inkless wipe and paper. To take one, dab a little pet-safe ink onto the nose, or wipe it with an inkless cloth, then hold a piece of card gently against the nose for a second, curving it slightly around the shape. Lift it straight away and wipe the nose clean.
Most dogs tolerate it better than having their paws handled, and the whole thing takes less than two minutes. It's also cheap to have done: one Arizona provider charges $10[2] for a nose print as an add-on. Paw or nose? The poll results show how other readers chose.
Paw print or nose print?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
Why noses
What makes a nose print special?
Look closely at a dog's nose and you'll see a pattern of ridges and small bumps, often compared to a human fingerprint. Every dog's is different. That means a nose print isn't a generic shape, the way a small paw outline can be; it's recognizably one particular animal.
For owners, it's also personal in a different way from a paw. The nose is what nudged your hand off the keyboard, pressed against the car window and left smudges on the glass door. Plenty of people want that detail: with 71 million[3] US households owning a dog according to the American Pet Products Association, nose print pendants have become a small but well-established keepsake of their own.
Taking it
How do you take a clear nose print step by step?
- Choose a calm moment. After a walk and a meal, when your pet is sleepy, is ideal.
- Wipe the nose gently so it's clean but only slightly damp; a very wet nose smudges.
- Apply ink lightly. Dab a pet-safe ink pad onto the nose, or use the inkless wipe. Less is more.
- Curve the card. Hold a piece of smooth, thick card so it bends a little, and press it gently against the nose for one second, rolling slightly from side to side.
- Lift and check. You want the ridge pattern visible, not a solid black blob. If it's too dark, use less ink; if it's faint, press a fraction longer.
- Clean up with a damp cloth straight away, so your pet doesn't lick off the ink.
Take several and keep the clearest. For cats, noses are tiny and the pattern is fainter, so an inkless kit and very light contact give the clearest result. The paw print kit chooser suggests a kit for your pet. Use ink sold for pets rather than a general craft pad. The ASTM D-4236 line on craft inks, required under the CPSC's art materials rules, means a product was reviewed for chronic hazards to people, not that it's made for a nose a dog will lick.
Free tool
Paw print keepsake chooser
Match a print method to your pet's size, fur and the keepsake you want to keep.
Jewelry
What can you make from a nose print?
A flat, clear nose print is exactly what jewelers need. They scan it, clean up the lines and laser-engrave or cast it onto metal. Common pieces include round disc pendants, dog-tag style pendants, keyrings, cufflinks and bracelet charms.
Prices depend mostly on the metal:
- Engraved paw or nose print pendants at one large retailer start from $99.95[1].
- Custom cast sterling silver print charms cost $143[4] at one maker, before the chain.
- Sterling silver pet cremation jewelry at another retailer cost $109 to $529[5] across its listed pieces.
- Stainless steel ash necklaces, a budget option, start from $19.95[6] at one retailer.
Some nose print pendants also hold a pinch of ashes behind the engraving. Ash pendants hold only a pinch[7], so one pet's ashes can fill several pieces; the jewelry ash capacity guide shows how many. By our estimate, a typical sterling silver pet cremation pendant costs ~$190[8], though individual sellers run from roughly $130 to $240.
Free tool
Jewelry ash capacity guide
How much ash fits in pendants, rings and glass, and how many pieces one pet can fill.
Beyond jewelry
What else can a nose print become?
Nose prints work anywhere a small, distinctive mark looks good. Engraved on the lid of a keepsake urn, printed on a greeting card for the family, embroidered into a cushion or stitched onto the corner of a blanket, etched onto a glass tumbler, or used as a small tattoo. Artists often place a nose print beside a painted portrait as a kind of signature.
If you're planning a tattoo or a piece of jewelry, our article on turning a paw print into jewelry or a tattoo explains how to scan and prepare the file. For a wider list of ideas, see paw print keepsake ideas, and our comparison of clay, ink, metal and glass shows how each finish ages.
A paw print shows where your pet walked. A nose print shows how they said hello.
Missed it
Can you make a nose print keepsake from a photo?
Sometimes. A sharp, close, straight-on photo of the nose in good light can show enough of the ridge pattern for an engraver or tattoo artist to trace. Look through your phone for close-ups, often taken when your pet was pushing their face into the camera. Send the maker the original file, not a screenshot, and ask whether it's clear enough before you pay.
If nothing usable exists, a paw outline or your pet's name in their collar's typeface can be just as personal. Our services page explains who can help. If you'd like us to find jewelers or vets near you who handle nose prints, send us a note and we'll reply by email. Our local pages are organised by city.
Reader polls
What would you choose?
Vote anonymously and see how other readers answered. The results are live counts from people who visit this site, so they show real opinions, not a scientific sample.
Paw print or nose print?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
What personal touch matters most on a memorial?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
How much would you spend on a memorial item, beyond the cremation itself?
Tap an answer to vote and see how others answered. Anonymous.
Questions people ask
Is it safe to put ink on my dog's nose?
Use ink labeled pet-safe or non-toxic, use very little, and wipe the nose clean with a damp cloth straight afterwards. Inkless kits avoid the question entirely because the color develops on the paper, not on your pet. Never use markers, craft paint or anything solvent-based near the nose.
Can you take a nose print of a cat?
Yes, though it's fiddlier than with a dog. Cat noses are small and their pattern is finer, so use an inkless kit or the lightest dab of ink, and a small piece of card curved around the nose. A sleepy, relaxed cat usually gives a clear print with one quick touch.
Why does my dog's nose print look like a black blob?
Too much ink or too wet a nose. Wipe the nose so it's only slightly damp, dab the ink on very lightly, and press the card for just a second. If the ridges still fill in, try an inkless kit, which usually gives crisper lines. Take several attempts and keep the clearest.
How much does a nose print pendant cost?
It depends on the metal and maker. Engraved paw and nose print pendants at one large US retailer start at about $100, and a custom sterling silver print charm costs around $143 before the chain at one maker. Stainless steel pieces cost less, and solid gold considerably more.
Can a nose print be taken after a pet has died?
Yes, and it's often easier than a paw print at that stage because it needs only light contact. Clean the nose gently, dab a little ink or use an inkless wipe, and press curved card against it for a second. A vet or crematory can also take one if you ask before cremation.
Sources and our estimates
- [1] Paw print and nose print pendants at Memorials.com start at $99.95. Memorials.com – Pet print jewelry, 2026.
- [2] Memorial add-ons at A Greener Place: $15 laser-engraved paw print, $10 clay paw impression, $10 nose print, $5 fur clipping. A Greener Place Pet Aquamation – Pricing, 2026.
- [3] About 71 million US households own at least one dog. American Pet Products Association (APPA) 2025 State of the Industry, 2025.
- [4] A custom sterling silver actual-paw-print charm costs $143 before the chain (about $59–$79 for silver) and takes about 2 weeks to make. String of Jewels – Actual paw print necklace, 2026.
- [5] Urns.com's sterling silver pet cremation jewelry ranged from $109 to $529, with a median around $129 across 19 listed pieces. Urns.com – Sterling silver pet cremation jewelry, 2026.
- [6] Memorials.com sells stainless steel pet-ash necklaces from $19.95, most under $30. Memorials.com – Pet ashes necklaces, 2026.
- [7] An ashes pendant holds only a pinch of cremated remains (the retailer says at most about a teaspoon; most pendants hold far less), and most come with a small funnel fill kit. Memorials.com – Pet ashes necklaces, 2026.
- [8] The typical sterling silver pet cremation pendant costs about $190, based on the middle of three sellers' price points. Our estimate: median of [Urns.com median $129, Memorials.com midpoint of $87.95–$297.95 = $193, Final Gift sterling paw pendant $240]. How we calculate.
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