1Step 1 of 7
Draw the head
Start in the upper part of your page, because the body goes below. Draw a big, wide oval. Make the top a little flat, like a soft bun. Press lightly so you can fix it later.
▶ Watch this stepHow to Draw a Cartoon Dog
This cartoon dog is made from simple shapes: an oval head, two floppy ears and a round body. Watch each step being drawn in pencil, then copy it on your own paper. It works for kids from about age 5 and for adult beginners too.
7 easy steps 15 minutes Easy level Ages 5 and up
Copy the dark lines in each step. The grey lines are the parts you already drew.
How to draw a cartoon dog, step by step
2Step 2 of 7
Add the floppy ears
On each side of the head, draw a long ear that starts near the top and hangs down past the cheek. Make the bottom of each ear round. The ears sit on top of the head outline, so they cover a little of it.
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3Step 3 of 7
Draw the eyes
Draw two big circles in the upper half of the face, with a gap between them. Color them in dark, but leave a tiny white dot in each one for the shine. Draw a round patch around the right eye, then add two small curved eyebrows.
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4Step 4 of 7
Draw the snout
In the lower middle of the face, draw a wide oval for the snout. At the top of it, draw a round nose and color it dark. Draw a short line down from the nose, then a curvy smile like a small letter w. Add a little tongue under the smile.
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5Step 5 of 7
Draw the body and collar
Under the head, draw a body that is narrow at the top and wide at the bottom, like a pear. Draw a curved band just under the head for the collar and add a small circle for the tag.
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6Step 6 of 7
Add the legs, paws and tail
Draw two front legs going straight down the middle of the body, with a round paw at the bottom of each. Add two short lines on each paw for toes. On each side, draw a rounded back leg with a long oval foot. Finish with a curly tail on the right side.
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7Step 7 of 7
Color your dog
Use light brown for the head, body, legs and tail. Use dark brown for the ears and the eye patch. Color the snout and paws cream, the tongue pink, the collar red and the tag yellow. Press lightly for a soft, colored pencil look.
▶ Watch this stepTips for a better cartoon dog
1
Draw light first
Keep your first lines soft, then press harder once you like the shape.
2
Leave space for the body
If the head is too low on the page, the paws will run off the bottom.
3
Big eyes look cute
Cartoon dogs look sweeter when the eyes are big and a little far apart.
4
Make it your own dog
Change the colors or move the patch to match a dog you know.
5
Go over the final lines
Trace your drawing with a darker pencil or a black pen so it stands out after coloring.
6
Color from light to dark
Put down the light brown first, then add dark brown on the ears and patch.
Done? Now make it colourful
Colour your cartoon dog in, or keep practising with more ideas to copy.
Questions people ask
Is this cartoon dog easy enough for young kids?
Yes. Most children from about age 5 can follow it. For younger kids, skip the eye patch and the toe lines and keep the rest.
How do I make my dog look cute?
Use big round eyes with a white shine, a round nose and a small smile. A big head and a small body also make a dog look cute.
What colors do I need for a cartoon dog?
Light brown and dark brown for the fur, cream for the snout and paws, pink for the tongue, red for the collar and black for the eyes and nose.
Can I draw a different kind of dog with these steps?
Yes. Make the ears pointy for a husky, add spots for a dalmatian, or make the body longer for a wiener dog.
Can I print the steps?
Yes. Right click or long press any step picture to save it, then print it and keep it next to you while you draw.
