Standard Breeds & Dos’ + Don’ts

Do you have a dog tattoo? Do you want one? I have many tattoos that I have collected over the years and five of my largest are specifically related to dogs. Three are portraits of my dogs. The other two are more stylized representations: paw prints for the dogs I had as a kid, and then a card from the dog agility course to represent the years I trained and competed with my dogs as a teenager and like these Experience shaped my life and future profession. I love taking my dogs everywhere as part of my body and I enjoy the conversations my tattoos inspire with other dog lovers!

What are the most popular dog tattoos?

Tattoos are one way many dog ​​lovers use to remember a beloved dog after they die, but they can also be a fun way to permanently mark the relationship with your dog while he is still alive. Curious about dog tattoos, Money.co.uk, a comparison site for pet insurance, recently conducted a study that looked at Google, Instagram and Pinterest data to find out which dog breed tattoos are most posted and searched for around the world . Unsurprisingly, popular breeds like the pug and French bulldog top the list of the most posted / searched for dog tattoos. Did your dog’s breed make the list?

Top 20 Most Tattooed Dog Breeds:

Are you thinking about getting your dog tattooed? Here are a few do’s and don’ts for getting some dog-inspired ink! Also, find out about the COVID-19 restrictions and regulations in your area that relate to tattoo shops.

Do’s for dog tattoos

1. Be creative – Think of a design that you want to have on your body forever that represents your dog’s personality and / or your relationship. You can use a portrait or something more stylized depending on your aesthetic.
2. Find an experienced artist – You want to have an artist whose style you like. It’s okay to take the time to find an artist who you are comfortable with and whose work you want to have on your body forever. Tattoo artists will have portfolios available online and / or in store that you can and should review. This will give you an idea of ​​an artist’s style and skills and will help you decide who to tattoo.
3. Give your artist plenty of reference materials – When contacting an artist to help plan a tattoo for your dog, you will want to provide plenty of reference material. This can include photos of your dog and other inspirational images for your artist to incorporate into the tattoo. Whenever possible, bring clear and well-lit photos of your dog so the artist can ensure that your dog’s details in your tattoo are accurate.
4. Trust your artist – When you’ve taken the time to find a good tattoo artist whose style you like, you want to trust your artist’s skills and experience. Always give your opinion if you feel unsure or uncomfortable about something, but if the artist makes suggestions about the design or size of the tattoo – she is the expert and you want to trust her!
5. Ask questions – Especially if this is your first tattoo, ask questions about anything that feels confusing. This is your body and you should be comfortable with the process. A good tattoo artist will be happy to answer your questions about their job, the appearance of the tattoo and the sterilization process.
6. Tip your tattoo artist! – Tattoos aren’t cheap, and in addition to what you pay for when it comes to tattoos, you should tip your artist. Twenty percent is generally an average amount to tip tattoo artists.

Don’ts

1. Don’t bring your dog – If you want to get a tattoo, bring your dog home. Tattoo parlors need to maintain a sterile work environment for the safety of everyone involved, which means they are not a suitable place for your dog.
2. Don’t be afraid to grow up! – Tiny tattoos don’t age as clearly or as well as larger tattoos. The smaller the tattoo, the more likely it is to become blurry over the years. This tattoo will be with you forever so that it stays as clear as possible. Also, your artist won’t be able to add as much detail to small tattoos. If this is important to you, your artist will likely encourage you to go for a larger design.
3. Avoid Cheap Tattoos – Sometimes you really get what you pay for. Good tattoos are not cheap because tattooing is a highly skilled art form. This is art that will be on your body for the rest of your life so you may have to save a little to get a high quality tattoo of your best friend.
4. Don’t try to copy other people’s tattoos – In the tattoo culture, it is still rude to copy someone else’s tattoo. It’s okay to bring photos of other people’s tattoos for reference material, but instead of asking your artist to copy them, work with your tattoo artist to come up with something new / unique that will represent your dog or your relationship with your dog .
5. Do not wait! There are no rules as to when you can get tattooed for your dog or get inspiration from him. You don’t have to wait for your dog to pass to get a tattoo. My first dog tattoos were memorabilia, but then I discovered that I prefer to have my dogs tattooed while they were alive. Whenever feels right to you, the time is right to get a tattoo for your dog.

Stories From Dogster Readers With Dog Tattoos:

1. Scott Lorenz Andresen
Scott Lorenz Andresen’s dog tattoo.

Tattoo of a painting of Scott’s late dog Spry.
2. Cari K.
Cari K.’s dog tattoo Photo courtesy of Cari K.

“I got Keener shortly after my first dog died. We did a number of courses together. I knew I wanted to try nose work with him and we both loved it. That’s why I decided to have his nose in the tattoo. We traveled a few thousand kilometers together for training, seminars and competitions. He opened up a great new world for me. We met so many great people. I never would have thought in my life that it would be in me to travel “alone” (wait, I think it’s not alone when your dog is with you) outside of the state. “
3. Jack Jackson
Jackson’s dog tattoo. Photography courtesy Jack Jackson.

“We are in Toronto Ontario. I’m from the UK so she is my only family here and she is the absolute love of my life. She makes me so happy every day. “
4. Rae
Raes dog tattoo. Photography courtesy of Rae.

“This is a portrait of my corgis (Machete Corgéz and Knives the Corgi) based on a painting my friend Amanda gave me for Christmas one year. [This tattoo was] by Alex Dawes. [It’s] no memorial tattoo – just a lot of things I love in one. “
5. Christa Faust
Christa Faust’s dog tattoo. Photo courtesy of Christa Faust.

“I live in Los Angeles. The tattoo is from Graham Chaffee. Butch was my heart dog, my little shadow and my constant travel companion. I’m a crime writer and he has attended several conferences with me, which gives him the nickname Noir Dog. This tattoo.” is on my left calf so that he always walks by my side. “
6. Lisa Clark
Lisa Clark’s dog tattoo. Photography courtesy Lisa Clark.

“Although [it’s not a tattoo] my dogs – it’s going to happen, trust me, I have two dogs, I’ve had foster dogs and I volunteer with my local SPCA – I had this pawed infinity symbol made to represent my dogs, my foster children and the many dogs that I have loved and cared for in my life [have] offered me unconditional love and companionship. They are the best friends of men and women. “
7. Jae
Jae’s dog tattoo. Photography courtesy Jae.

“I tattooed the paw of my retired guide dog (to scale) with a purple hamsa in the center because its collar is / was purple. It led to my left, and his eyes were my eyes, protecting me from so many near-misses with cars, random clippings on sidewalks and finding my way home. “

Tell us: Do you have a dog tattoo? Please tell us about it in the comments!

Sassafras Lowrey is an award-winning writer whose novels have received awards from the Lambda Literary Foundation and the American Library Association. Sassafras is a certified Trick Dog Instructor and helps with agility courses for dogs. She lives and writes in Brooklyn with her partner, an elderly Chihuahua mix, a rescued Shepherd mix, a Newfoundland puppy, two bossy cats, and a semi-wild kitten. Learn more at sassafraslowrey.com

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