A custom pet figurine and a pet memorial keepsake are made the same way, on the same service, from your photos – so the choice between them is not really about the process. It is about what you want the piece to say, and about which moment in your pet’s life you are holding onto. This guide walks through how to decide which one fits your situation, what actually changes between them, and exactly what to send us so the figurine comes out right.
The same making, a different feeling
Both start from a few photos and become a full-colour 3D likeness of your specific pet – AI-assisted to set the proportions, then finished by a real artist so the face reads like your animal. What differs is the intent behind it:
- A celebratory figurine is usually of a pet who is happily still with you: a birthday marker, a gift, a small daily hello on your desk, often in a playful, alert pose.
- A memorial keepsake is a way to hold on to a pet you have lost: a calmer pose, often with an engraved nameplate, kept somewhere that becomes a quiet place to remember.
Neither is more valid than the other, and the making is identical. Our short side-by-side, a custom pet figurine versus a memorial piece, lays out the pose and base differences in detail; this guide focuses on helping you decide and prepare.
A quick way to decide
If you are unsure which you want, this table maps common situations to the choice that usually fits:
| Your situation | Usually fits | What tends to change |
|---|---|---|
| Your pet is happy and healthy, and you want to celebrate them | Celebratory figurine | A playful or alert pose; often no nameplate |
| You have recently lost your pet | Memorial keepsake | A calm, restful pose; an engraved name and date |
| Your pet is elderly and you want to capture them now | Either – your call | Often a natural, characteristic pose you love |
| You are buying it as a gift for someone else’s pet | Celebratory figurine | Ask them quietly for good photos; a nameplate is a nice touch |
| You want to mark a pet who passed some time ago | Memorial keepsake | A favourite pose from your best old photos |
There is no wrong answer here. Some people order a celebratory figurine while their pet is well and, later, find that same figurine has quietly become a memorial. The piece grows into whatever role your life gives it.
What to send us either way
Whichever you choose, the figurine is built from your photos, so a little preparation makes a real difference. For the best likeness, gather:
- A clear, well-lit front-on photo of the face. This matters most – it is where recognition lives.
- A three-quarter angle and a full-body shot. These help the artist get the shape, build, and proportions right.
- Up to four photos in total, ideally at least 1000 by 1000 pixels, so the detail is there to work from.
- A short note on the details that matter to you: markings, coat length and true colour, ear set, and a pose that is unmistakably them.
You will see a 3D preview and can request changes – a marking, the tilt of the head, the pose – before anything is printed. Nothing is charged until you approve it.
What changes for a memorial
If you are making a memorial, two small choices tend to matter. First, the pose: many people prefer a calm, restful posture rather than a playful one, though the right pose is whichever feels most like your pet at peace. Second, the nameplate: an engraved base with the name, and a date if you wish, suits a memorial well and is a common choice. If your pet passed some time ago and your photos are older or fewer, send the clearest ones you have – a good front-on face shot is worth more than several blurry angles. And there is no rush. A memorial means the same whenever you feel ready to make it.
What changes for a celebratory figurine
For a pet who is happily with you, the fun is in capturing their personality. Pick the pose that is most them – the head-tilt, the play-bow, the way they perch. If they have a companion – another pet they are always beside – there is an add-a-pet-companion option so the two can be sculpted together. A celebratory figurine also makes a warm gift; if you are ordering for someone else, the hardest part is quietly getting a few good photos of their animal. You can see how the process works across different species on our pet figurines overview.
Sizing and delivery, briefly
Both come in a range of sizes, from a small piece that suits a shelf or bedside table to a larger centrepiece where the detail shows up close. A mid-size figure is the most common choice if you are unsure. Everything is printed in full colour at our farm in Laval, Quebec; after you approve the 3D preview, production takes a few days, plus Canadian shipping, printed domestically with no customs to clear. When you are ready to begin, whichever you have chosen, you start in the same place: our custom pet figurine page.
Still not sure? That is fine
If you cannot decide, default to the pose and framing that feels most like your pet as you picture them, and skip the nameplate if you are unsure – it is an option, not a requirement. The figurine will be a true likeness of your animal either way, and it will mean what you need it to mean. The decision is less about a product category and more about the feeling you want to keep close.
FAQ
What is the difference between a pet figurine and a pet memorial?
They are made the same way from your photos; the difference is intent. A celebratory figurine is usually of a pet still with you, often in a playful pose. A memorial keepsake honours a pet you have lost, often in a calmer pose with an engraved nameplate. The making is identical.
Which should I choose if my pet is elderly?
Either – it is your call. Many people capture an elderly pet now, in a natural pose they love, while the pet is still with them. It can be a celebration now and become a keepsake later; the figurine grows into whatever role it needs to.
What photos should I send?
A clear, well-lit front-on photo of the face matters most; a three-quarter angle and a full-body shot help with shape and proportions. Up to four photos, ideally at least 1000 by 1000 pixels, gives the best result.
Can I add my pet’s name?
Yes. An engraved nameplate on the base is available, which suits a memorial particularly well, and you can add a date too. It is optional on any figurine.
Can two pets be made together?
Yes. There is an add-a-pet-companion option, so two animals who were always together can be sculpted into one piece.
Is there any rush to order a memorial?
No. A memorial means the same whenever you feel ready to make it. Send the clearest photos you have when the moment feels right; after you approve the preview, production takes a few days plus Canadian shipping.
