How to Draw a Dog (Easy Step by Step)
This happy sitting dog with its tongue hanging out is built from just a few simple shapes. You will use a circle for the head, a pear shape for the body, and rounded loops for the floppy ears. Once the big shapes are down, a few dots and curves bring the puppy to life.
- Easy
- 15 minutes
- 11 steps
You need: paper, a pencil, an eraser, and crayons or markers for coloring.
Start drawingIn this article (7 sections)
How to draw a dog step by step
How to Draw a Dog · tinyhandscreate.com
Step 1: Guide shapes
Lightly sketch these 2 ovals. They only show where the big parts go, so press softly. You will erase them at the end.
Step 2: The round head
Draw a big circle near the top of the page for the head. Leave a small gap at the bottom where the neck will go.
Step 3: The pear-shaped body
Start at one side of the gap under the head and draw a line that slants out and down. Curve it around the bottom, then come back up the other side to the other end of the gap. The body is narrow at the top and wide at the bottom.
Step 4: Floppy ears
Draw a long rounded ear on each side of the head, hanging down like a soft bean. Start and end each ear on the edge of the head circle.
Step 5: Sitting paws
At the bottom corners of the body, draw a round half-circle on each side for the paws. They stick out a little, like the dog is sitting.
Step 6: The curly tail
On the right side of the body, near the bottom, draw a thin curved shape that bends up into a hook. Make it look like a little curled tail.
Step 7: The muzzle
In the middle of the lower face, draw two curved lines that bend toward each other to make a rounded snout. Leave a small gap at the top and at the bottom.
Step 8: Eyes and nose
Draw two small dots for eyes, side by side above the snout. Fill in a small rounded nose at the top of the muzzle and draw a short line straight down from it.
Step 9: Smile and tongue
Inside the muzzle, draw a wide smile with little curls at each end. Then add a long U shape hanging down from the smile for the tongue.
Step 10: Collar and tag
Draw a curved band across the neck for the collar. Hang a small circle from the middle, with a tiny dot inside for the tag.
Step 11: Toes
Along the bottom of the body between the paws, draw three short lines pointing up from the edge for the toes. Make the middle one the tallest.
All done!
Erase the guide shapes, go over your lines, then color it in.
Finished your dog? Keep the pencils out and learn how to draw a cat or how to draw a bear next.
Tips for drawing a dog
- Draw the head circle first and keep it light. Leave a gap at the bottom so the body can join it later.
- The muzzle and tongue are the trickiest part. Draw the two curved lines of the snout first, then fit the smile and the U-shaped tongue inside so the tongue hangs just past the bottom.
- Make the two eyes the same size and put them at the same height. Try placing them a little wider apart than feels natural to make the face extra cute.
Free dog coloring page
Want to go straight to coloring? Open this dog coloring page at full size and print it. It is the same drawing you just learned, with clean lines ready for crayons or markers.
How to color your dog drawing
Try golden brown for the body and a darker brown for the ears, with a bright red collar and a pink tongue. For a creative twist, give your dog polka dots or rainbow patches.
Dog fun fact for kids
A dog's nose print is one of a kind, just like a human fingerprint. No two dogs have the same pattern of bumps and ridges.
Questions about drawing a dog
What shapes do I need to draw a dog?
You need a circle for the head, a pear shape for the body, rounded loops for the ears, and half-circles for the paws. A hooked curve makes the tail.
How do I make my dog look cuter?
Draw two small dots for eyes and a tongue hanging out of a smile. Long floppy ears also make a dog look extra sweet.
How do I draw a dog sitting down?
Draw the body wide at the bottom and add a round paw on each side. Short lines along the bottom edge show the toes, which makes the dog look like it is sitting.
