Zen Vibes

How to Draw a Dog

  • 8 steps
  • Ages 5 and up
  • About 15 minutes
  • easy

This dog is a good drawing for children who want a simple animal with big shapes. A grown-up can help point to the guide lines and the new dark lines in each picture. Start with light dotted guide shapes, then add the dog one part at a time. You will draw the body, head, ear, legs, face, and tail. At the end, go over the lines you want to keep and rub out the dotted guides.

What you need: a pencil, an eraser, black pen or dark pencil, paper.

Print this guide as a PDF, 341 KB
  1. A large slanted oval is drawn in black in the center, over pale dotted guide shapes for a sitting dog.

    Step 1

    Draw the body oval

    Draw a large tilted oval in the middle for the dog's body. Keep it smooth and rounded.

  2. A round head is added in black at the upper left, connected to the front of the pale grey body oval.

    Step 2

    Add the head circle

    Draw a big round head at the front, touching the body near the neck. Leave the small dotted nose circle for later.

  3. A long droopy ear shape is drawn in black inside the right side of the head circle.

    Step 3

    Draw the floppy ear

    Draw one long floppy ear hanging down from the top of the head. It curves down and back up at the bottom.

  4. The front leg and paw are added in black under the head, with a rounded foot and one short toe curve.

    Step 4

    Make the front leg

    Draw the front of the chest down into a straight front leg. Curve around the paw, add a small toe line, then bring the line back up for the inside of the leg.

  5. The dog's back, rump, back leg, back paw, belly, and a short inner front leg line are added in black.

    Step 5

    Add the back leg

    Draw the dog's back and round bottom down into the back leg. Curve around the back paw, then add the belly line and the short inner front leg line.

  6. A dark oval nose, one oval eye, and a curved smile are added to the dog's face.

    Step 6

    Draw the face

    Fill in the small nose at the front of the head. Add one oval eye and a curved smiling mouth under the nose.

  7. A curved tail is drawn in black at the back of the dog, pointing up and to the right.

    Step 7

    Add the tail

    Draw a tail at the back with two curved lines that meet in a rounded point. Let it lift up and out behind the body.

  8. The finished dog drawing has clean dark outlines, with the dotted guide lines removed.

    Finished

    Finish and clean up

    Go over the lines you want to keep with a darker pencil or pen. Rub out the pale dotted guide lines to leave a clean finished dog.

Tips for this one

  • Draw the guide shapes lightly so they are easy to rub out.
  • Keep the ear long and soft to make the dog look gentle.
  • Round paws make this dog look cute and simple.

Now try this

  • Draw a spot on the dog's back.
  • Add a collar and a name tag.
  • Put the dog on grass with a ball nearby.

Questions

What if my dog's head looks too big?
That is fine for this drawing. A bigger head makes the dog look cute and friendly.
Do I have to use the dotted guide shapes?
They help you place the body parts in the right spots. You can draw without them later when you know the shape better.
How can I make my dog look different?
Change the ear shape, tail shape, or add spots. You can also color the nose, ears, or back in a different way.

Now print the dog coloring pages →

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