Please PAUSE the "How to Draw a Puppy" video after each step to draw at your own pace.

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 as a guide for the puppy's head. The circle doesn't have to be perfect. It's just a guide. Leave enough room on the right side to draw the puppy's body.

Step 2: Draw two intersecting curved lines inside the head as guide lines to help you when drawing the puppy's facial features later on.

Step 3: Draw a small circle on the lower part of the head as a guide for the puppy's muzzle.

Step 4: Draw two circles under the puppy's head as guides for the body. The first circle should be just a bit bigger than the head. The top part should be behind the puppy's head. The second circle should be around the same size, and it should be right next to the first. You can draw them farther apart if you want a longer puppy like a dachshund.

 

 

Step 5: Draw a couple of short lines to connect the two circles and complete the guide for the puppy's body. Draw another short, curved line on the right side as a guide for the puppy's tail.

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Step 6: Draw four lines under the body (two under each circle) as guides for the feet. Bend the lines at the tips to indicate the feet and near the middle for the joints.

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

Step 7: Lightly sketch the eyes inside the puppy's head using the lines as guides for placement. The shape for the eyes should be similar to little footballs. Add a few more strokes around the outside of the eyes for extra detail. Inside each eye, draw a tiny circle to represent glare and a dot for the pupils. Shade the rest of the puppy's eye using a value that's lighter than the pupil. Don't push down as hard with your pencil to get a lighter value. Add a few quick, short strokes above the eyes for the puppy's furry brow.

Step 8: Draw the puppy's nose inside the muzzle by first lightly sketching a small oval. Add a small circle on each side and shade it in for the nostrils. Darken the rest of the nose and add a small line at the bottom. Draw a few quick, short strokes above the dog's nose for the fur.

 

 

Step 9: Draw the mouth below the nose as a line that splits into two. Use the small circle as a guide for drawing the length of the mouth and the sides of the muzzle. Use quick, short strokes as you follow the path of the circle to get a fuzzy texture. Use the bottom of the circle as a guide to create the chin and jaw.

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Step 10: Draw the ears by first lightly sketching triangle-like shapes on the sides of the head. Bend the lines as you darken them to give the ears a floppy look. Draw a few lines within the puppy dog's ear for extra detail.

Step 11: Use the original circle as a guide to draw the rest of the puppy's head. The line for the side of the puppy's face should be wavy to indicate the shape of the face. Follow the basic path of the circle as you draw the top and bottom of the head using quick, short strokes.

Step 12: Using the lines on the left as guides, draw the puppy's front legs. Lightly sketch the shape of the first leg as you follow the path of the line. When you get the structure of the puppy's leg right, darken the lines. Draw a couple of curved lines at the tip of the foot for the toes. Draw the leg on the other side the same way. The top of the leg should be thick and get thinner at the bottom.

Step 13: Use the lines on the right as guides to draw the hind legs. Lightly sketch the shape of the leg on the far right as you follow the path of the guide. Darken the lines only when you have the structure right. Draw the hind leg on the other side using the same technique. The puppy's hind legs should be thicker at the top than the front legs.

 

 

Step 14: Draw the rest of the puppy dog's body and the tail using the remaining lines as guides. Draw using quick, short strokes as you follow the path of the guides for a fuzzy texture.

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Step 15 (optional): 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 (optional): Add some shading to your puppy dog drawing to give it more dimension and volume. Vary the pressure on your pencil to get different degrees of tonal value. Pick the direction of the light source when shading so that the shadows are consistent with it. Alternate between light and dark values by adjusting the pressure on your pencil to achieve a rounder, more three-dimensional look. Shading can be time-consuming, so be patient and take breaks.

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

You can stop at this point for a white puppy or you can add more value throughout your drawing for extra detail. Use a darker value for a darker coat. You can also add patches or spots or anything else you'd like! It's always a good idea to use reference when you draw. If you have a puppy, try to duplicate its pattern on your drawing. Add the value using strokes that go in the general direction of the fur. Don't forget to pause the "How to Draw a Puppy" video after each step to draw at your own pace.

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To learn how to draw popular cartoon characters, visit EasyDrawingTutorials.com.