Step 2

The playdough in your impression kit has been packed into a container and is ready for use. There is no need to remove the playdough from the container. Our playdough is very soft and will take a superb impression. We have found that homemade or store bought Playdough is the best impression material because it is soft and relatively non-sticky.

If you are making your own playdough, find a shallow container with a lid that makes a good seal to put it in. Pack the playdough down into the container so that it will stick to the bottom. When you turn the container upside-down the playdough should not move. Make sure the playdough is at least 1 inch thick. Flatten and smooth the surface of the playdough with your hand or use a mini rolling pin. A section of 1 inch diameter PVC pipe works wonderfully. A dowel works too.

Step 3

Cats and small dogs:
Make sure your pet's paws are clean. Let your pet stand on all 4 feet. Have the playdough container ready in front of your pet. Stand behind your pet. Very carefully, reach around your pet's shoulders and hold both of the front legs. Use two hands. Hold the legs up over the playdough. Gently lower one of the legs so that the paw pushes into the playdough. Try to keep the leg straight. You can gently press the toes further into the playdough if you wish for a deeper impression. Carefully lift your pet's paw back out of the playdough. Voila!
Medium and Large dogs:
Coat the bottom surface of your pet's paw with vegetable oil. Lift up your dog's leg holding it above the paw and gently push the container of playdough into the bottom of the paw. Gently push down on the large pad and also all 4 toes. Slowly pull the playdough back away from the paw.
Horses:
Lift up the horse's hoof and clean it thoroughly. Coat the surface of the hoof with vegetable oil. A good time to take a horse's hoof impression is just after a trim from the farrier. While holding up the hoof, push the playdough container into the bottom of the hoof, then carefully ease the container back off. Don't worry if some dirt gets into the impression. It won't show in your Pet-Paw.
Babies:
Gently push the playdough container into your baby's hand or foot. Push each little finger/toe gently into the playdough. Pull the hand/foot back out gently. If your baby clenches her hand into a fist or curls her toes, try warming the playdough first by putting it in a ziplock bag and submerging in warm water. Still no luck? Wait until baby goes to sleep then give it a try.

Step 4

Evaluate your impression. The photo shows what your pet's paw impression should look like. The impression should be as close to the center of the container as possible. You should be able to see the main pad and all 4 toe pads. You may or may not see the claw marks. The overall impression should be approximately 1/4" to 1/2" deep. There should still be playdough material underneath the impression. If any part of your pet's paw touched the bottom of the container, the impression should be taken over again. Some toes may press into the playdough deeper than others, or one may be positioned away from the other toes. This makes for an unique and interesting Pet-Paw. Don't worry if the first one doesn't come out looking just right. You can always retake the impression again.

Step 4b

If you want to retake an impression simply remove all the playdough from the container. Knead it. Then pack it firmly back into the container and smooth out the surface with your fingers. Remember that taking an impression should be a fun experience for you and your pet. Have patience. If your pet is unsure about the whole ordeal, try using food as a distraction. Impression taking is easier with two people. If you have questions or need some technical support, call us 509-635-1356.

Step 5

After you have your pet's paw print, seal the container with the lid. Do not let the playdough dry out. Store in the refrigerator. When ready to ship pack the container in a box so that it will not shift or get crushed when en route in the postal system. Send it to:
Pet-Paws
301 S 10th St.
Garfield, WA 99130