How to Draw a Dog (Easy Step-by-Step for Kids)

To draw a dog, start with a round head and two long floppy ears. Add the eyes, a muzzle with a nose and a smile with a tongue. Finish with a sitting body, a collar with a tag and a wagging tail.

Finished cartoon puppy, light brown with dark brown ears and eye patch, a cream muzzle, chest and paws, a red collar and a yellow tag
The finished dog
Steps
6 easy steps
You need
  • Pencil
  • Eraser
  • Black marker
  • Light brown, dark brown, cream, red, yellow and pink crayons

Updated

Teaching this to a class?

Show one step at a time on the board and wait for the class before the next. The directed drawing for kids page explains how to run it.

How to draw a dog step by step

  1. A round circle for the dog's head

    Step 1 of 6: Draw a round circle for the head.

  2. Two long floppy ears hanging down on each side of the head

    Step 2 of 6: Add two long floppy ears hanging down on each side of the head.

  3. Two eyes with shine dots and eyebrows, a round muzzle with a nose, a smile and a small tongue

    Step 3 of 6: Draw two eyes with shine dots and eyebrows, a round muzzle with a nose, a smile and a small tongue.

  4. A sitting body under the head with two front legs and two back paws

    Step 4 of 6: Add a sitting body with two front legs in the middle and a back paw on each side.

  5. A collar with a round tag around the neck and a fluffy tail on one side

    Step 5 of 6: Draw a collar with a round tag and a fluffy tail on one side.

  6. The dog colored light brown with dark brown ears and eye patch, cream muzzle, chest and paws, red collar, yellow tag and pink tongue

    Step 6 of 6: Color the body light brown, ears and eye patch dark brown, muzzle, chest and paws cream, collar red and tag yellow.

Tips for little artists

  • Tip: Press lightly with the pencil first. Trace the lines you like with the marker, then erase the rest.

  • Tip: Tuck the top of each ear just behind the head. Floppy ears that hang low look like puppy ears.

  • Tip: Leave the muzzle, chest and paws a lighter color than the body. It makes the face stand out.

Make it yours

  • Spotted dog

    Color the dog white and add round black spots on the body, ears and tail.

  • Dog with a bone

    Draw a small bone between the front paws and close the smile a little.

  • Dog in a party hat

    Add a cone-shaped hat with stripes and a pom-pom on top of the head.

Common mistakes and easy fixes

  • The ears look like wings

    Point the ears down, not out. Start each ear at the top of the head and let it hang past the cheeks.

  • The face is too high

    Put the muzzle in the lower half of the head. Then draw the eyes just above it.

  • The tail comes out of the back

    Start the tail behind the back leg, low on the body. Then curve it up and add a fluffy edge.

Fun facts about the dog

  • A dog's nose print is unique, much like a person's fingerprint. (Source: American Kennel Club)

  • Dogs have sweat glands in their paw pads that help release heat. You may see damp paw prints on a very warm day. (Source: American Kennel Club)

  • The Labrador Retriever has been on the AKC list of the 10 most popular breeds longer than any other breed. (Source: American Kennel Club)

Questions grown-ups ask

How do you draw a dog easy?

Draw a circle for the head and two floppy ears. Add a face, a sitting body, a collar and a tail. The 6 steps above follow that order.

How do you draw a cute dog?

Give it a big round head, big eyes with shine dots and long floppy ears. A small tongue and a collar with a tag finish the cute look.

How do you draw a dog step by step?

Start with the head, then the ears, the face, the body and legs, and the collar and tail. Color it last.

If the ears came out different lengths, that's fine. Your puppy is just tilting its head. More easy drawings for kids are on the home page.

Step 1 of 6

A round circle for the dog's head
Draw a round circle for the head.