Custom Pet Face Props: How to Turn Your Dog or Cat into a Party Decoration

Pet birthdays, gotcha day celebrations, and "just because my dog is cute" parties are a real thing, and the decorations should be just as personal as the guest of honor. A custom face cutout of your dog, cat, or any other pet is one of the funniest and most crowd-pleasing party props you can get.

These are also surprisingly popular for human events. Plenty of customers order a cutout of the family dog alongside the birthday girl, or include the cat in the bachelorette party photos. If the pet is part of the family, the pet should be part of the party.

Here's how to get a great pet face cutout, starting with the single hardest part: getting your pet to hold still for a photo.

Getting a Good Photo of Your Pet

The same guidelines that apply to human face cutouts apply to pets: clear, front-facing, well-lit, and in focus. The difference is that your pet has no idea what you're trying to do and would rather be doing literally anything else.

Use burst mode. Most phone cameras have a burst mode that takes a rapid series of shots when you hold down the shutter button. Take 20-30 photos and pick the one where the face is sharpest and most front-facing. This is by far the easiest way to get a usable shot of an animal.

Get on their level. Crouch or kneel down so the camera is at your pet's eye level rather than looking down from above. A straight-on angle produces the most natural-looking cutout.

Use natural light. Position your pet near a window or take the photos outside in open shade. Avoid using flash, which can cause glowing eyes and harsh shadows that look unnatural in print.

Use treats or toys to get attention. Hold a treat or squeaky toy right next to the camera lens. This gets the pet to look directly toward the camera, which is exactly what you need. If you have a helper, have them hold the treat while you take the photo.

Don't worry about the background. We remove the background entirely, so it doesn't matter if your living room is a mess or there's a pile of laundry in the frame. Just focus on getting a clear shot of the face.

Which Pets Work Best

Dogs and cats are the most popular by far, and they produce great results. Front-facing photos of dogs and cats have clear, recognizable features that translate well to a large printed cutout.

Other animals can work too, as long as the face has recognizable features and the photo is clear. We've printed cutouts of rabbits, birds, horses, hamsters, and more. The key is the same: a clear, front-facing photo with good lighting.

Pets with dark fur sometimes need a little extra attention to lighting. Dark faces can lose detail in shadows. Make sure the lighting is bright and even so the features are clearly visible in the photo. Natural daylight near a window is ideal for dark-furred pets.

Pets wearing costumes or accessories work great and often make the funniest cutouts. Birthday hats, bandanas, bow ties, and sunglasses all add personality. Just make sure the accessory doesn't cover a significant portion of the face.

Ideas for Using Pet Face Cutouts

Pet birthday parties. This is the obvious one. A big face cutout of the birthday pup makes a perfect centerpiece for the treat table, a photo prop for guests, or a decoration at the entrance.

"Gotcha day" celebrations. Celebrating the anniversary of adopting your pet is increasingly popular. A face cutout marks the occasion and makes for shareable social media content.

Human parties where the pet can't attend. If you're having a birthday dinner at a restaurant or a house party where bringing the actual pet isn't practical, a face cutout lets them be there in spirit. This is also a fun surprise for the pet-obsessed person in your life.

Holiday cards and photos. A pet face cutout adds a hilarious element to holiday family photos, especially if the pet has a matching outfit.

Memorial tributes. For pets who have passed, a face cutout can be a touching (and sometimes lighthearted) way to include them in family events. We've made cutouts from cherished photos of beloved pets for weddings, graduations, and reunions where the family wanted their pet represented.

Gifts. A custom face cutout of someone's pet is a genuinely funny and personal gift. It costs less than most pet accessories and gets a much bigger reaction.

Sizing for Pet Cutouts

Size works the same way as human cutouts, measured along the longest dimension. For pets, the face shape matters:

Dogs and cats with tall ears will appear slightly smaller at a given size because the measurement includes the ears. If your pet has tall, pointy ears, consider sizing up.

Flat-faced breeds (pugs, bulldogs, Persian cats) tend to have wider-than-tall proportions, so the measurement may be taken from left to right. These tend to look great at any size.

For party props and table decorations, the 10 or 14 inch sizes are popular. The 14 inch size is the sweet spot for handheld props.

For a statement piece, the 18 or 23 inch size makes a big impact. A 23 inch cutout of your golden retriever's face is hard to ignore.

Ready to Order?

Visit our Big Face on a Stick page, pick your size, and upload your best pet photo. We'll handle the background removal and cutting. If you're not sure your photo is clear enough, send it our way and we'll take a look before you place the order.