How to Draw a Cartoon Dog

If you want to learn how to draw a cartoon dog, it’s easier than you might think. Follow the step-by-step instructions below and you will have the perfect picture of a playful pooch to hang on the wall or show to your friends.

Learn how to draw this cartoon dog.

In this section, we'll show you how to draw the above cartoon dog. You can draw this cartoon dog freehand while looking at your computer monitor or print out this page to get a closer look at each step.

Follow the red lines in each illustration to learn exactly what to draw in that step. The lines drawn in previous steps are shown in gray. Here, we'll show you an illustration of each step and then give you a description of how to draw it.

Step 1: Draw two ovals for the head and snout. Sketch a potato-shaped body. Use two short lines for the neck.

Step 2: Attach upside-down U-shapes to a curved line for the eyes. Use a rounded triangle for the nose. Add two curved tubes (one without one end) for the ears. Use a large J-shape for the front leg on your left.

Sketch an odd-shaped oval and three nearly straight lines for the front leg on your right. Use an oval, two straight lines, and a large J-shape for the back leg. Make the tail look like the top part of a question mark.

Step 3: Sketch the pupils, irises, and eyelids with J-shapes and short curved lines. Form the nostrils with a Y-shape connected to thin small ovals and a curved line. Create the mouth with two parallel J-shapes.

Use a curved line in a squared U-shape for the collar. Draw U-shapes, V-shapes, and a curved Y-shape for the paws. Shape the back and chest with a U-shape and odd Y-shapes.

Step 4: Add comma-shaped eyebrows. Use short curved lines for whiskers and hairs on the head. Detail the ears with two short lines and a backward Y-shape. Sketch the tongue as a U-shape with a curved line in it.

Place a small comma-shaped figure at the end of the mouth. Attach curved V-shapes to reshape the tail. Draw a long curved line along the back. Use two check marks for elbows.

Step 5: Darken the eyebrows, pupils, mouth, and nostrils. Shade the collar with short straight lines. Add short curved lines to show the tail wagging.

Perfect -- your playful cartoon dog is complete! Are you ready to practice drawing another friendly face?