Please PAUSE the "How to Draw a Dog (Shih Tzu)" video after each step to draw at your own pace.

 

Time-Lapse (Speed Drawing) video:

 

Written step-by-step video tutorial:

 

For the first few steps, don't press down too hard with your pencil. Use light, smooth strokes to begin.

 

Step 1: Draw a circle near the top, left side of the paper as a guide for the shih tzu's head. First draw four small marks to indicate the height and width of the circle, then connect the marks using curved lines. Sketch lightly at first so that it's easy to erase if you make a mistake. But the circle doesn't have to be perfect. It's just a guide. If you're having a hard time drawing the circle, trace the outer rim of a glass, a lid or any other object with a circular edge.

 

Step 2: Draw a curved horizontal line across the shih tzu's head. This construction line will help you place the dog's facial features later. Add a curved vertical line on the top left side of the head for another construction line.

 

Step 3: Draw a small circle on the lower left side of the head as a guide for the shih tzu's muzzle. The top edge of this circle should touch the construction line. It should fit snugly within the bottom half of the head. Pay attention to the size of this small circle in relation to the rest of the head.

 

Step 4: Add the guide for the dog's ear by first drawing two short, diagonal lines on the top, right side of the shih tzu's head. Then connect the two diagonal lines using a short horizontal line at the bottom.

 

Step 5: Draw a big circle under the head, on the right, as a guide for the front part of the dog's body. Draw this circle the same way as the head. First make four small marks for the height and width, then connect the marks using curved lines. The top, left part of this circle should be behind the head, so don't overlap the lines. Shih tzus have small bodies, so don't draw this circle too big. It should be just a bit bigger than the head.

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Step 6: Draw another circle on the right the same way for the back portion of the body. This circle should be a bit smaller than the circle for the front part of the body. It should be about the same size as the head. Don't draw these two circles too far apart, otherwise the shih tzu's torso will be too long.

 

Step 7: Draw a two vertical lines under the circle on the left as guides for the dog's front legs. Bend the lines a bit at the top for the joints and at the bottom for the feet. Pay attention to the length of these lines in relation to the body. Shih tzus are short, so don't draw these lines too long.

 

Step 8: Draw two more lines under the circle on the right as a guide for the hind legs. These lines should angle more near the middle for the joints and again at the bottom for the shih tzu's feet.

 

Step 9: Draw a couple of horizontal lines that connect the two circles to finish the guide for the shih tzu's body. Draw a line on the top, right side that curves in toward the body as a guide for the dog's tail.

 

That's it for the initial sketch! From this point on, press harder with your pencil to get a more defined sketch.

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Step 10: Draw the shih tzu's nose inside the muzzle, at the top, by first lightly sketching a small oval. When you get the size and placement of the nose right, darken the lines. Darken the top part of the oval, then curve the sides inward to form the dog's nostrils. Make the shape of the nostrils bigger and add a small dividing line between them. Add a curved line under the dividing line and a V-shaped, pointy line under that.

 

Step 11: Use the small circle as a guide to draw the dog's muzzle. Start by drawing a series of quick, short strokes over the top of the nose for the fuzzy fur found there. The strokes should follow the path of the top of the nose. Don't make them too long or they'll block the eyes later. Now follow the path of the initial circle as you draw the longer hair on the sides.

Right under the shih tzu's nose, start adding more strokes that curve to the right and down for the fur on the upper lip. Now connect the strokes for the top lip to the strokes on the sides. Make the strokes at the bottom longer. Draw the fur on the left side of the mouth the same way. Use long strokes on the bottom of the sides and short strokes at the top.

 

Step 12: Draw a long, curved horizontal line under the furry lip for a bit of the dog's tongue sticking out. Add some strokes on the right for fur. If you don't want the shih tzu's tongue sticking out, just add some short strokes under the lip.

 

Step 13: Above the shih tzu's muzzle, lightly sketch the eyeballs as two small circles. Use the initial construction lines as guides for the placement and size of the eyeballs. The eye on the left should be smaller because of the angle. It should also be partially blocked by the fur.

When you get the size and shape of the eyeballs right, darken the lines. As you darken the lines, make the sides of the eyes a bit pointier. Add a series of quick, short strokes above the dog's eyes for the furry brows. Add a few strokes on the sides and bottom too for the fur around the eyes.

 

Step 14: Inside each eye, near the top, draw a tiny circle to represent glare. Now shade the eyeballs except for the tiny circle. Use a light value at first, then increase the pressure on your pencil to get the level of darkness that you want. Use a darker value near the middle of each eyeball for the pupils. The top part of the dog's eyeballs should be darker than the bottom for a rounder look. The overall value for the eyes should be pretty dark. Don't overlap the fur when you shade the shih tzu's eye on the left.

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Step 15: Use the lines on the right as guides to draw the shih tzu's first ear. Draw long strokes along the path of the guide to create the furry ear. Use shorter strokes for shorter fur. Add a few strokes along the edge of the initial circle on the left side for the visible part of the dog's other ear.

 

Step 16: Use the main circle as a guide to draw the rest of the shih tzu's head. Use quick, short strokes as you follow the basic path of the circle to create the furry shape of the head. Notice how the strokes change direction at the top before they meet the ear.

Add some quick short strokes above the shih tzu's eyes to emphasize the furry brow and forehead. Don't make the head too wide. Pay attention to the distance between the left edge of the head and the eye on the left. Draw a few strokes at the bottom to finish up the shape of the head.

 

Step 17: Use the second line from the left under the body as a guide to draw the dog's first front leg. Follow the path of the guide and lightly sketch the shape of the leg around it. When you get the shape of the leg right, darken the lines. Use quick, short strokes for the fur. The shih tzu's fur should be shaggy, so don't draw the individual toes, as the fur will be covering them. The shape of the leg should be wide at the top and gradually get thinner at the bottom.

 

Step 18: Use the line on the far left side as a guide to draw the second front leg the same way. Follow the basic path of the guide as you draw the shape of the leg around it.

 

Step 19: Use the line on the far right side as a guide to draw the hind leg that's on this side of the body. The top part of this leg is so wide that it actually overlaps the guide on the left. The lower half of the shih tzu's hind leg is thin compared to the top part. Remember to use quick, short strokes for the fur.

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Step 20: Use the last line under the shih tzu's body as a guide to draw the other hind leg the same way. Most of this leg is hidden behind the other hind leg, so only draw the bottom half.

 

Step 21: Use the remaining lines and shapes as guides to draw the rest of the shih tzu's body. Use quick, short strokes as you follow the outer edges of the initial guides. You can make your strokes longer for shaggier fur. Leave the top, right section of the body blank because that's where the dog's fluffy tail will go.

 

Step 22: Draw quick, short strokes around the initial guide on the top, right side to create the shape of the shih tzu's tail. Follow the path of the guide as you draw the strokes so that the short, fluffy tail curves in toward the dog's body.

 

Step 23: For a cleaner look, erase as much as you can of the initial guide lines. Don't worry about erasing all of the guides. It's okay to leave some behind. Re-draw any final sketch lines you may have accidentally erased.

 

Final Step: Add some shading to your shih tzu drawing to give it more dimension and volume. Pick the direction of the light source when shading so that the shadows are consistent with it. Vary the pressure on your pencil to get different degrees of tonal value. You can stop after this step for an all-white shih tzu, or continue with the following steps for a coat pattern.

Add a cast shadow underneath. This helps ground the dog so it doesn't appear to be floating.

You can add even more value throughout your drawing for extra detail. Shih tzus can have a variety of coat patterns, so you can shade yours however you'd like! For this particular coat pattern, use a dark value around the eyes and on the ears but leave a strip between the eyes blank. Use strokes that go in the general direction of the dog's fur. The fur radiates around the eyes but is basically vertical on the dog's ears.

As you add the value, separate each individual stroke a bit so that the white of the paper comes through and creates a shaggy-looking texture. Darken the shadows as you add the shih tzu's coat pattern and add some strokes to the white sections for a furry texture. Add a dark patch of fur on the body. Add some strokes to the white sections for a shaggy look. Don't overthink it. Just add some random squiggles. Apply more pressure to your pencil for a darker value. Shading can be time- consuming, so be patient and take breaks.

Add a dark value to the shih tzu's tail too. Continue shading until the entire body has the appropriate pattern. For an easier drawing, just use a single medium value for the dog's entire body. It's always a good idea to use reference as you draw. If you have a pet shih tzu or a similar breed, try to duplicate its coat pattern on your drawing. Don't forget to pause the video after each step to draw at your own pace.

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