Think aloud
Dog ear tattoos are a great way to express your love for your pup. Whether you’re getting a tattoo for the first time ever or growing your collection of dog-themed tattoos, a simple outline of your pup’s ears can become a permanent expression of your devotion.
Between realistic doggy portraits, paw print tattoos, and R.I.P. dog tribute tattoos, you might be overthinking the entire process and struggling to come up with a design that’s simple and sweet enough to capture your pup’s likeness. With a dog ear tattoo, you can achieve all that and more without batting an eye or spending a lot of money. We’ve rounded up a few of our favorite dog ear tattoos to help you out.
1. A simple dog ear tattoo
Small and simple tattoos are always a great way to celebrate a special someone. With dog ear tattoos, you don’t need to go all out to get your point across. A simple and small outline of your pup’s ears will make everyone “Aww!” with emotion.
2. A dog ear tattoo with a name
When you’re looking to make your tattoo a little more personal, you can always add your dog’s name to the design, too. Work with your tattoo artist and opt for a font that goes with the rest of the tattoo – and you’re good to go.
3. A tattoo of three sets of dog ears
Dog ear tattoos are quite subtle and simple, and that’s what makes them the perfect pick when you’re trying to celebrate *all* your four-legged friends. When you want to get a tattoo of two, three, or more of your pups, you might want to opt for an outline rather than a detailed portrait.
4. A dog ear tattoo on the inside of the arm
What about the perfect placement for your tattoo? Because dog ear tattoos aren’t big and bold, you can go with pretty much *any* body part that allows you to conceal or reveal your tattoo, depending on your personal preferences. Inside-of-the-arm tattoos are one of the options to consider, for sure!
5. A matching dog ear tattoo
When you and your partner want to celebrate your precious pup’s birthday, you might as well go all out and get matching tattoos. Whether you opt for dog ear tattoos, paw print tattoos, or something completely diferent, your four-legged friend will appreciate the sentiment.
6. A dog ear tattoo on the ankle
What do you think of ankle tattoos? Ankle tattoos are an awesome way to commemorate your dog because they’re guaranteed to stay the same for years and years to come. Ankle tattoos typically don’t stretch or sag with time which makes them perfect for first-timers and seasoned tattoo-getters.
7. A tattoo of three sets of dog ears on the thigh
If you need a little more real estate to work with, we suggest you opt for a thigh tattoo of your dog’s ears! It’s a great way to fit more than one set of ears and explore different styles that might require more space.
8. A tattoo of two sets of dog ears on the back of the arm
A back-of-the-arm tattoo might not scream “I want everyone to see my tattoo!” – but that doesn’t mean that you can’t show it off and make it your own. A dog ear tattoo on the back of your arm can look lovely, you simply need to work with your tattoo artist and come up with a design that works for you.
9. A tattoo of two sets of dog ears on the inside of the arm
Oh, you want to celebrate your two furry friends who mean more to you than anyone you’ve ever known? Get a dog ear tattoo that represents them and see what happens!
10. A dog ear tattoo on the wrist
What about a dog ear tattoo on the wrist? If you’re obsessed with your dog as much as we are, you’re going to want to pick a highly visible tattoo placement that allows you to tell everyone about your tattoo. A wrist tattoo might be small but it packs a punch and attracts attention, nonetheless!
11. A tattoo of fluffy dog ears with a name
We can’t get enough of these fluffy ears, and we’re sure you’re going to feel the same way once you figure out they look exactly like your pup’s ears! If you’re a pet parent to a fluffy dog, this might be a great way for you to pay homage to your furry friend.
See also: 21 Popular Tongue Tattoos That’ll Tickle Your Taste Buds
12. A dog ear tattoo on the forearm
Dog ears on the forearm? Absolutely! After all, forearm tattoos are some of the most popular tattoos out there because they offer an ideal blend of visibility and concealability, depending on the look you’re going for.
13. A subtle dog ear tattoo
All dog ears are pretty subtle, but you can always opt for a single-line tattoo or a linework tattoo to ensure you get your point across without going overboard with realistic portraits or detailed pieces.
14. Another matching dog ear tattoo
Matching dog ear tattoos are adorable! Whether you’re getting one with your partner or a family member you share your dog with, you can truly make a difference with a simple outline of your dog’s ears.
15. A dog ear tattoo on the bicep
Bicep tattoos are brilliant because they’re almost always on display, but they’re easily dealt with and concealed, too. Bicep tattoos are also seen as symbols of strength and resilience, which might be a great addition to the existing meaning of your tattoo.
16. A dog ear tattoo on the back
Back tattoos are typically big and bold, but that doesn’t mean that you can get a simple outline of your dog’s ears tattooed on your back, too. Whether you want to show them off or hide them away from the rest of the world, back tattoos are perfect for that.
17. A delicate and dainty dog ear tattoo
Delicate and dainty tattoos are all the rage these days thanks to A-listers opting for intricate ink that doesn’t take too much space, time, or energy. Depending on what you’re on the hunt for, you might want to get a delicate and dainty tattoo of your dog’s ears on your arm, forearm, or even finger.
18. A tattoo of two sets of dog ears with names
If you’re a pet parent to two pups, you might want to celebrate both of them with dog ear tattoos. It’s a great idea, and you can always play with the design of the tattoo and add different elements that represent your precious pets.
19. A realistic tattoo of dog ears
Dog ear tattoos can be quite detailed, too. While outline tattoos seem to be more popular and prominent among pet parents, you can always opt for a more realistic approach and capture your pup’s essence to a tee.
20. A tattoo of three sets of dog ears on the back of the arm
What about a back-of-the-arm tattoo? Whether you need to fit all your pups on your arm or you simply want to get a tattoo that’s not “in your face,” a back-of-the-arm tattoo might be the perfect pick for you,
21. A tattoo of three sets of dog ears on the wrist
We already mentioned that wrist tattoos are quite a commitment, but that’s why they’re perfect for your precious pups. Whether you want to get a single set of dog ears tattooed on your body or you want to commemorate all your furry children, you can do so with a simple wrist tattoo.
22. A matching dog ear tattoo with names
Dog ears with names are a go-to tattoo for pet parents, there’s no question about that. Opt for a matching tattoo of your dog’s ears and your dog’s name to celebrate all the good times and the bad times the two (or three, or four) of you shared together.
23. A dog ear tattoo on the foot
A foot tattoo might not be at the top of your priority list, but why not? With a foot tattoo of your dog’s ears, you can poke fun at your dog when you’re playing footsies or running around the apartment together.
24. Another realistic dog ear tattoo
A realistic dog ear tattoo might be more your style, and that’s OK! With realistic dog ears on your arm, forearm, or finger, everyone will know that you’re trying to celebrate your dog and not a random puppy you saw on Instagram!
25. A tattoo of three sets of dog ears on the ribcage
We’re ending the article with a rad ribcage tattoo! A ribcage tattoo might not be for the faint of heart, but that’s why your dog (or dogs) will be over the moon that you were willing to endure all the pain and pressure to get a dog ear tattoo.
