DIY Dog Paw Print Ornament: Step-by-Step Guide

Looking for a unique way to include your pet in holiday decorating? Create a fun holiday tradition with your pets with this festive DIY paw print ornament to hang on your tree!

This simple ornament craft is also a great gift for family and friends during the holiday season.

First, mix the three ingredients together in a bowl with your hands and then place the dough on a sheet of floured wax paper. The dough can be very sticky, so you may need to sprinkle some flour on it when using the rolling pin.

This was a breeze with our dog paw model, Sadie, but wasn’t so easy with our cat friend, Jack.

Every pet is different and although Jack is adorable and one of the sweetest cats, he wasn’t too fond with the salt dough on his paw. His ornament had two paw prints, but we thought it turned out pretty cute! This is jack before we woke him up for this paw print.

Once the ornaments are cooled from the oven, use Mod Podge and glitter to decorate the ornament. This craft is fun because you can customize it with whatever color glitter you want.

Ingredients

• ½ cup salt
• 2 ½ cup white flour
• ½ cup water

Supplies

• Scissors
• Wax paper
• Cookie cutters (large enough to fit a paw)
• Twine or ribbon
• Glitter
• Rolling pin
• Mod Podge
• Straw
• Foam paint brush

Paw Print Ornament Directions

1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees.
2. Combine all ingredients into a bowl and mix with hands.
3. Take dough mix and place it on flour covered wax paper and roll out the dough. You may need to add flour as you’re rolling. Be sure to put flour on the rolling pin so the dough doesn’t stick to it.
4. Take a cookie cutter and cut out how many ornaments you want to make.
5. Use a straw to make a hole on top of each ornament.
6. Place in oven for 2-3 hours.
7. 7. Allow to cool and apply Mod Podge with a foam paint brush. Next, apply the glitter to the indents of the paw.
8. 8. Put twine or ribbon through the hole and hang it on the tree!

Frequently Asked Questions

What materials do I need to make a DIY dog paw print ornament? You'll need just three pantry staples for the salt dough — ½ cup salt, 2½ cups white flour and ½ cup water — plus a rolling pin, wax paper, a cookie cutter large enough to fit your dog's paw, a straw (to punch the hanging hole), twine or ribbon, Mod Podge, glitter and a foam paint brush. No special craft-store supplies required.

How long does the whole project take from start to finish? Budget about 3 to 3.5 hours total: roughly 10–15 minutes to mix, roll and stamp the dough, then 2–3 hours of low-and-slow baking at 250°F, plus 20–30 minutes of cooling time before you decorate. The hands-on work is minimal — the oven does the heavy lifting.

Can I use air-dry clay instead of salt dough? Yes. Air-dry clay is a popular alternative that skips the oven entirely — simply press your dog's paw into a flattened piece of clay, punch a hole with a straw and let it dry at room temperature for 24–48 hours per the manufacturer's instructions. Salt dough is the more budget-friendly option since the ingredients are already in most kitchens, but air-dry clay tends to produce a crisper, more detailed impression.

Is salt dough safe if my dog licks it during the project? Salt dough contains a high concentration of salt, and ingestion — even a small amount — can be dangerous for dogs. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center lists salt (sodium chloride) as a toxin that can cause vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst, tremors and, in serious cases, sodium ion poisoning. https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control Work quickly, keep the session brief and wash your dog's paw thoroughly with warm water immediately after pressing it into the dough. Contact your veterinarian right away if you suspect your dog has eaten any of the dough.

How do I preserve the finished ornament so it lasts for years? Once the ornament is fully cooled, seal all surfaces — front, back and edges — with at least two coats of Mod Podge, allowing each coat to dry completely. This creates a moisture-resistant barrier that helps prevent cracking or crumbling. Store finished ornaments in a cool, dry place (a lidded box with tissue paper works well) during the off-season to protect them from humidity and breakage.

My cat or dog won't cooperate — any tips for getting a good impression? Patience and timing are everything. Choose a moment when your pet is calm or just waking from a nap — as the original Petco team discovered with their cat model, Jack, a sleepy pet is a cooperative pet. Gently hold the paw, press it firmly and evenly into the dough for 3–5 seconds, then lift straight up to avoid smearing. If the first impression isn't perfect, simply re-roll the dough and try again. Even an imperfect print, like Jack's double-stamp, makes a charming keepsake.

This article was created with assistance from AI tools and reviewed for accuracy by Petco's content team.