Do Dog Paw Tattoos Symbolize Anything?
Most people who get dog paw tattoos do so with their own personal reasons in mind.
But there is a symbolic meaning behind dog tattoos.
In many spiritual modalities, dogs are a symbol of loyalty.
Homer immortalized that symbolism in The Odyssey.
When Odysseus went on his epic journey, he left behind his dog Argus.
When he returned after 20 years, the dog perked up his ears and recognized Odysseus immediately, even in disguise.
Odysseus was moved by this, and the story has solidified dogs as a symbol of loyalty throughout the ages.
Why Is Everyone Talking About Dogs?
Pets in general have always been a desirable addition to most households.
Pets are impartial friends who will be there for you in times of need, make you feel less alone in an empty house, and get up to all kinds of funny adorable things.
There’s just something special about dogs, though.
They’re fiercely loyal, endlessly entertaining, and going for walks with a dog makes you bond with them in a unique way.
All animals are wonderful, but a dog makes you part of its pack.
Social Media
Before social media, it might have been strange to talk about your pets all the time.
But with the internet being a largely visual medium, people have been able to share the fur baby love and have it reciprocated.
Some people even make a career out of running social media accounts for their dogs!
Both Doug the Pug and Jiffpom have enough celebrity friends to make any human Instagram influencer jealous.
Health
Some people may get paw print tattoos because their dog has literally saved them from their tiredness and moodiness.
While emotional support animals come in all shapes, breeds, and sizes, there are dog breeds that can be trained to help with a person’s specific needs.
Even without intensive support training, your average dog has qualities that can help with your emotions.
A dog will get you out of bed in the morning, encourage you to get physical activity and fresh air and make you feel useful.
When you know someone is counting on you, it can be a huge boost to your self-esteem.
A pooch may not be a cure-all, but it’s easy to see why so many people want to get tattoos of their canine companions.
Your dog’s paw print is considered a custom tattoo. Before going to the tattoo parlor, you need to get a clean and clear print of your dog’s paw. Paint your dog’s paw with non-toxic children’s paint, or press it into a non-toxic ink pad in a dark color. Then, with even pressure, press the dog’s paw onto a thick, white piece of paper. Get several prints on different sheets of paper to ensure you have the cleanest, clearest print possible.
The tattoo artist will be responsible for making the print into a tattoo. Take the prints to the tattoo parlor when you make an appointment. Let the artist know the spot on your body where you want the tattoo. If you want an additional design or lettering with the print, let the artist know. The tattoo artist will trace the print and create a design, then trace the tattoo onto a special paper called transfer paper and place it on your body. You will then be ready to get your tattoo. ADVERTISEMENT
Turning your dog’s paw print into a tattoo requires a paint or ink print of its paw on paper, an idea of the design you would like to use, and a tattoo artist who can incorporate the paw print into a design you like. Tattoo costs vary; be prepared to pay more for larger or more intricate tattoos, which also take longer sittings.
how to take a dog print
Do you already think Im crazy? You probably wont even give me the benefit of the doubt now that Ive told you I have a tattoo of my cats paw print. But maybe if you have a cat, or any pet for that matter, youll hear me out. Trish the Tabby came into my life at a time when I was suffering from severe anxiety and debilitating panic attacks that disrupted entire days at a time. When my future husband adopted her as a surprise gift, plopping her in my lap on Christmas morning (Im sure he was trying to think of anything that would distract me from my own all-consuming thoughts), we became inseparable. A little more than three years later, I was DMing Trudy Lines, whos an extremely talented artist at Bang Bang in New York City, begging her to ink Trishs paw print onto my arm.
I love tattoos, but tattoos are art, so everyone has their own opinion about what looks nice. Maybe for some people, paw prints are not tattoo material. Personally, I like to think long and hard before settling on a new design to add to my growing collection, and this one was a no-brainer for me — as were the meaningful tattoos Ive gotten for my sister.
I have a book called When You Love a Cat that I read often, and theres a line that reads, “When you love a cat, you speak a language of little sounds and gestures (Its a secret language, but you both know what it means).” Every time I read those words, I tear up. Because thats me and my cat, and probably you and your cat, too, if youre still reading this. Every time I turn around, Trish is right at my heels, sometimes clawing at them, but never hard, trying to get me to play with her. No matter what Im doing; whatever project of the day Im hyperfocused on, I always stop to give her my full attention — and Im a Type A person, so thats saying a lot.
But why am I trying so hard to convince you that my relationship with my cat is solid enough to justify a permanent paw print on my arm? I know it is! So when Trudy agreed to tattoo me, I took all the necessary precautions and booked an exclusive appointment with her. While I promise Ill dive into the details and share plenty of close-ups ahead, you may be wondering — just out of curiosity, or for a personal tattoo of your own down the line — how Trudy drew up such a realistic portrait of Trishs paw. You probably want to know how she matched each and every detail, every little line and marking, to my cats actual paw pads.
So, Im breaking it down and outlining the steps I took to make sure my tattoo wasnt just any old paw, but Trishs paw. Spoiler: you only need two things to start the process, and thats a scanner and a cat (or dog!) who is so damn loved, they dont even know what hit them. Related: