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 home-made playdough or store-bought brand name Playdough make the best impression material because they are 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. Push down along the edges too. When you turn the container upside-down the playdough should not move or fall out. Make sure the playdough is at least 1" to 1-1/2" thick. Flatten and smooth the surface of the playdough with your hand or use a mini rolling pin. A section of 1" diameter PVC pipe works wonderfully. A dowel works too.

Step 3

Cats and small dogs:
Make sure your pet's paws are clean. If the paws are really furry, you may need to do a little trimming. 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, one in each hand. 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!
Impression depth for cats and small dogs should be between 1/4" and 1/2" deep.

Medium and Large dogs:
Coat the bottom surface of your pet's paw with vegetable oil. Trim away fur if needed. 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 all 4 toes. Slowly pull the playdough back away from the paw.
Impression depth for medium and large dogs should be about 1/2" to 3/4" deep. The claws should sink about 1/8 inch into the playdough. If the pads and claws sink in any deeper than 3/4 inch, the impression will be too deep, please make a new impression. If the playdough sticks to the bottom of the paw, make another impression and use more vegetable oil on the bottom of the paw. More fur trimming may be needed.

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" deep for small animals and 1/2" to 3/4" deep for medium and large animals. 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 or with a mini rolling pin. 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. The more treats the better! Impression taking is easier with two people.
A word to the wise: 2 impressions are better than one. Take a second impression to keep as a back up just in case the impression you send to us gets lost or damaged in the mail.
If you have questions or need some technical support, don't hesitate to call us or send an email, we're here to help.
509-220-1313
4toes@pets-paws.com

Step 5

After you have your pet's paw print impression, seal the container with the lid. This will keep the playdough from drying out. Store in the refrigerator if you used homemade playdough for your impression. 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. Do not pack any material between the impression surface and the lid of the container. Send it to:
Pet-Paws
20421 SR 194
Pullman, WA 99163

If you need to make an impression asap, you can make a quick batch of playdough using common ingredients found in your kitchen. Brand name Playdough works too!

Playdough Recipe

* 1 cup flour
* 1 cup warm water
* 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
* 1 teaspoon oil
* 1/4 cup salt

Mix all ingredients. Stir over medium heat until smooth. The dough will get very lumpy as it "cooks" just keep stirring and it will eventually turn into one big ball of playdough. Remove from pan and knead until blended smooth. Be careful...it's hot! Place in plastic bag or airtight container when cooled. Keep in refrigerator. Will last for a long time.