Please PAUSE the "How to Draw a Dog (Boxer)" 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 two circles as guides for the boxer's body. First draw four small marks for 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 circles don't have to be perfect. They're just guides.

If you do want a perfect circle, trace the outer rim of a coin, a lid or any other object with a circular edge. The circle on the left should be a lot smaller than the one on the right. Don't draw the circles too far apart, otherwise your boxer will end up with the body of a dachshund!

 

Step 2: Draw another circle on the top, right side as a guide for the head. This circle should be about the same size as the circle for the body that's on the left side. Boxers have long necks compared to other breeds, like bulldogs, so don't draw this circle too close to the body.

 

Step 3: Draw a curved horizontal line across the head. This is a construction line that will help you place the boxer's facial features later. Add a curved vertical line on the top right side of the head for another construction line.

 

Step 4: Draw a small circle on the lower, right side of the head as a guide for the boxer's muzzle. Draw a small mark below the head first to determine the height of the circle. Then complete the circle using curved lines. This circle should be about one-third the size of the head. The lower, right side should extend outside of the dog's head.

 

Step 5: Draw the guides for the boxer's ears as small triangles by first drawing a V-shaped line on the top, left side of the head. Complete the shape of the triangle by drawing a short line on top of the V-shaped line. The ear on the right side will be blocked by the head, so only draw two of the triangle's three sides.

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Step 6: Draw four lines under the body (two below each circle) as guides for the boxer's legs. Bend the lines near the middle and at the bottom to indicate where the joints and the feet will be. The guide lines for the hind legs should extend back before they angle down. Boxers are pretty tall dogs, so don't draw the guides for the legs too short. The guide line for the other hind leg should be a little shorter and less angled back.

 

Step 7: Draw a series of lines that connect the major shapes to form the rest of the dog's body. The two lines on the right side create the neck, and the lines in the middle make up the torso. Add a curved line on the left side of the body as a guide for the boxer's tail.

 

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

 

Step 8: Lightly sketch the eyes inside the head as two small circles. Use the construction lines as guides for the placement of the boxer's eyes. Add the corners of the eyes and darken the lines to create the outer shape of the eyes. The basic outer shape of the eye should be wide around the middle and pointy on the sides. Kind of like a football. Draw the outer shape that surrounds the other sketched circle for the other eye as well.

Inside each eye on the top, right side, draw a tiny circle to represent glare. Near the middle of each eye, behind the tiny circles, draw a dot for the pupils. The boxer's pupils should be close to the top edge of the shape of the eyes. Shade the eyeballs except for the tiny circle. Use a value that's ligther than the pupils. Draw a few lines surrounding the outside of the dog's eyes for extra detail. Use quick, short strokes as you add the detail to emphasize the texture of the fur. Add some quick, short strokes a bit higher above the eyes for the brow.

 

Step 9: Lightly sketch an oval inside the small circle, near the top edge, for the boxer's nose. When you get the shape and placement right, darken the line. On either side of the oval, curve the line inward to create the nostrils. The nostrils are basically thin, vertical slits inside the nose. Add a longer vertical line that splits the nose in half. Darken the bottom of the nose and make it thinner.

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Step 10: Draw the top part of the boxer's muzzle using a series of curved lines inside the initial circle. First draw a line that starts right under the nose, and then curves left and ends on the lower, left edge of the initial circle. Then draw a shorter line on the right side to complete the droopy top lip.

Now follow the basic path of the initial circle as you darken the line to create the right side of the boxer's muzzle. Draw a couple of long, curved lines with a diagonal orientation to the left of the dog's nose for the folds of skin. Add a couple of lines on the right side too for the folds of skin there.

 

Step 11: Add the bottom part of the muzzle by first drawing a curved line under the mouth on the right side. Then draw a few curved lines under the lip on the left for the first set of jowls. Draw a few more curved lines to connect to the right side of the muzzle. Stay within the shape of the initial circle. You can add a few more short lines to emphasize the boxer's loose skin.

 

Step 12: Use the triangles on the head as guides to draw the boxer's ears. Follow the basic path of the triangles but make the lines rounder as you darken them. Add a few quick, short strokes on the ear for the furry texture. Draw the visible part of the ear on the other side the same way.

 

Step 13: Use the main circle as a guide to draw the rest of the dog's head. Follow the basic path of the circle but make the top part flatter and the left side narrower. Darken the line on the left for the back of the head/top of the neck. Add a few quick, short strokes on the lower, left side of the circle to emphasize the boxer's jawline.

 

Step 14: Add a few more lines within the boxer's head for extra detail. Some lines above the eyes represent the wrinkly forehead, and some under the eye emphasize the fur. Draw a few diagonal rows on either side of the muzzle too.

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Step 15: Use the lines on the right side of the body as guides to draw the boxer's front legs. Lightly sketch the shape of the legs as you follow the path of the guide lines. Bend the shape of the leg to create the joints. When you get the basic structure of the leg right, darken the lines. Add a few tiny triangle-like shapes at the tip of the foot for the nails.

Use the line to the left to draw the dog's front leg on the other side the same way. First lightly sketch the basic shape of the leg around the guide line. When you get the structure of the leg right, darken the lines. Don't forget to add the boxer's nails at the bottom!

 

Step 16: Use the lines on the left as guides to draw the boxer's hind legs. Start by lightly sketching the shape of the leg as you follow the basic path of the guide line. The top part of the hind legs should be wider than the bottom part. The middle section should be curvy for the muscle structure. Darken the lines when you get the shape right. Draw a couple of lines at the bottom to separate the toes and add the triangle-like nails too. Draw the other hind leg the same way. Sketch lightly at first to get the shape right, then darken the lines. Make the shape curvier to indicate the leg is bending backward at the joint.

 

Step 17: Use the remaining lines as guides to draw the rest of the dog's body. Simply darken the outer edges of the initial guides to create the shape of the body. Add a few lines under the head, along the neck, to indicate the loose skin found there. Use a curved line on the left as a guide to draw the boxer's pointy tail.

 

Step 18: 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 that you may have accidentally erased.

 

Final Step: Add some shading to your boxer 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.

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. You can also skip this step entirely if you'd like your dog to be white. For a standard boxer look, use a dark value for the ears, muzzle and around the eyes, and a medium value for the rest of the head. Boxers have smooth, shiny coats, so try to shade evenly and smoothly to get the appropriate coat. As you add the value for the coat, leave a section on the chest and on the bottom of the legs blank.

Use strokes that go in the general direction of the dog's fur as you shade. Shading can be very time-consuming, so be patient and take breaks. It's always a good idea to use reference as you draw. If you have a pet boxer or a similar breed, try to duplicate its coat on your drawing! Remember to pause the video after each step to draw at your own pace.

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