Pet Coat of Arms: A Crest for Your Dog, Cat or Horse

Dogs and cats in real heraldry

Animals have been on coats of arms for as long as there have been coats of arms, and pets' closest relatives turn up more often than you might think.

The talbot and the greyhound

In English heraldry the two classic dogs are the greyhound and the talbot, a white hunting hound with long drooping ears. The talbot was the badge of the Talbot family, Earls of Shrewsbury, whose later arms are held up by two talbots as supporters. A royal letter from about 1449 even calls the first Earl "Talbott, oure good dogge". The breed itself died out, but it is thought to be among the ancestors of the beagle. The town of Sudbury in Suffolk still bears a silver talbot sitting upright on black.

Heraldic dogs are drawn in the same poses as other beasts: sejant (sitting), passant (walking), courant (running flat out) and rampant (rearing up). They are often shown wearing a collar, which heralds call collared or gorged.

The cat-a-mountain

Heraldry's cat is usually the wild one, called the cat-a-mountain. The best-known example is the crest of Clan Mackintosh in Scotland, a wildcat leaping and looking straight at you, with the motto "Touch not the cat bot a glove" (bot meaning without). Anyone who has tried to pick up an unwilling cat will understand it.

Choosing an emblem for your pet

Crest Studio does not have a dog or cat emblem yet, so here is what works well instead, using heraldry's own logic of choosing a symbol for its meaning:

• Dogs: the wolf. Dogs and gray wolves share a common ancestry, and in heraldry the wolf stands for loyalty to the pack. A wolf's head is the closest thing to a hound on a shield. See the wolf coat of arms guide.
• Cats: the lion. The lion and the house cat are both members of the cat family, and every cat owner already knows who rules the house. The lion coat of arms guide explains the poses.
• Horses and ponies: the horse. In heraldry the horse stands for readiness, speed and loyalty. Perfect for a stable, a riding club or a much-loved pony.
• Birds: the owl for a wise or watchful bird, the raven for a clever one, or the sun for a bird that sings every morning.
• Any pet: their initial. The "Your initial" emblem puts your pet's first letter on the shield, which is the surest way to make it theirs. Type the pet's name first (Biscuit the Brave gives a B), since a name starting with "of" would give you an O.
• The heart stands for love and sincerity, and suits a crest made in memory of a pet.

Names and mottos fit for a noble pet

The fun is in the title. A few patterns that work:

• House plus name: House Pepper, House Waffles, House Bean.
• A rank: Sir Clover, Lady Mittens, Duke Barnaby, Baroness Fluff.
• An epithet: Biscuit the Brave, Olive the Unbothered, Gus the Ever-Hungry.
• A territory: Sir Clover of the Paddock, Mittens of the Sunny Windowsill.

For the motto, write what they actually live by: "Loyal to the Last Treat", "Sleeps Where She Pleases", "No Squirrel Unchased", "First to the Door". If you prefer the grand style, Latin works too: Semper Fidelis (always faithful) suits most dogs. The Latin motto generator has more, with translations, and the house name generator can suggest a title if you are stuck.

Ways to use a pet crest

• A framed print above the food bowl, the bed or the stable door
• A gift for a friend with a new puppy or kitten, or for the pet lover who has everything (see the family crest gift guide)
• A profile picture or phone wallpaper, both included in the $9 set
• Printed on a mug, T-shirt or tote bag by any print-on-demand shop
• A gentle keepsake in memory of a pet who has died, with their name and years as the motto

The $9 set includes a certificate of arms that describes the design in heraldic language and plain English, with an optional "presented to" line. It reads very well when the recipient has four legs.

Design your pet crest

More free heraldry tools