How to Draw a Cartoon Dog
Previously we drew a dog in a simple manner, in this tutorial on how to draw a cartoon dog I will show you an even simpler way.
How to Draw a Cartoon Dog: Introduction
Let’s continue with cartoon character themes. In this tutorial, you’ll draw a cartoon dog – a small, cute puppy with short legs, large eyes, and drooping ears. The puppy is curious, amusing, and loves to play, like all puppies. This is shown by his posture. Try to illustrate him in this exact position.
The main distinction between this lesson and other dog drawing tutorials is the use of cartoon-style techniques. I’ll show you how to draw a cartoon dog in the classic style seen in Disney and Warner Bros. cartoons, along with helpful tips from a professional cartoonist.
This cartoon dog drawing lesson will be as simple as previous instructions. Follow each step in sequence, and don’t worry if your drawing differs slightly from the example. Keep in mind that this lesson allows for some variation. Focus on the cartoon proportions of the body and the placement of the paws, while the fur details can be added freely.
Alongside the basic cartoon dog drawing tutorial, I’ll also guide you through sketching a cartoon German Shepherd and a cartoon puppy. Start with the basic lesson, and then proceed to these additional tutorials. This approach will significantly help in developing your drawing skills.
Cartoon Dog Drawing Tutorial
Materials
- Pencil
- Paper
- Eraser
- Coloring supplies
Time needed: 35 minutes
How to Draw a Cartoon Dog
- Sketch the head and torso of the cartoon dog.
Begin by sketching the cartoon dog’s basic shapes for the head and body. Draw a large, rounded shape for the head and a smaller, slightly elongated shape below for the body. Keep the lines light and smooth, as these are just the initial guidelines. For a cartoon style, aim for rounded edges.
- Add the eyes and nose.
Inside the head shape, draw two large circles for the eyes, spaced close together to give the dog a cartoon look. Below the eyes, add a small oval for the nose, positioning it just slightly above the bottom edge of the head. For a cartoon effect, make the eyes relatively large.
- Add the mouth and tongue.
Draw a wide, curved line under the nose for a smile, and add a small, U-shaped curve that sticks out as the tongue. When drawing cartoons and cartoon animals, simple shapes like circles and curves are key to keeping the character cute and easy to recognize.
- Draw the dog’s ears.
Draw the dog’s ears on both sides of the head. Each ear should be a long, rounded shape that droops downward. Floppy ears are a classic feature in cartoon dog drawings, as they make the character appear cite and lovable. As a tip, ensure the ears have rounded edges rather than points.
- Illustrate the front legs.
Start by sketching two slightly curved lines coming down from the body to create the front legs, which end in simple, rounded shapes for the paws. Draw small lines on each paw to indicate the toes. In cartoon style, making the paws slightly larger can improve the cartoonish style, so don’t worry about exact proportions.
- Draw the back leg of the dog.
Since the dog is sitting, this back leg will appear slightly behind the front legs. Draw a rounded shape connected to the back of the body, following the curve of the sitting position. This leg doesn’t need to be fully detailed; keeping it simple maintains the cartoon style.
- Detail the sketch.
Draw the tail, eyebrows, and some hair details. Sketch the tail as a small, curved shape at the back of the body, giving it a bit of a fluffy appearance. For the eyebrows, add small, curved lines above the eyes. Draw a few short, curved lines on top of the head for a tuft of hair, and add a small patch of hair on the chest.
- Give the sketch a finished look.
Erase any unnecessary guidelines and touch up areas where lines may overlap or look rough. Pay attention to the details on the face, paws, and tail, making each line clear and intentional. A neat outline is very important in cartoon drawing to make the character look polished.
- Color the cartoon dog.
Use a light tan or brown shade for the body, a darker brown for the ears, and pink for the tongue. Color the nose black or gray, and add a dark shade to the eyes, leaving a small white spot for shine. Solid colors work best for a classic cartoon look, as they give the character a clean, vibrant finish.
How to Draw a Cartoon Dog: Additional Tutorials
The main lesson on how to draw a cartoon dog is over, and it’s time to move on to additional instructions. These simple and interesting art exercises will allow you to greatly improve your skills in drawing cartoon animals.
Cartoon Puppy Drawing Tutorial
This dog is still a puppy. This is very noticeable due to the large head and relatively small torso. Moreover, the cartoon puppy looks even cuter due to the fact that he has very large and adorable eyes.
Another difference between this tutorial on how to draw a cartoon puppy and the previous cartoon dog tutorial is the overall simplicity and style. This tutorial focuses on creating a smaller, more basic cartoon puppy design with fewer details, giving it a younger and cuter appearance.
To start, draw the basic outline of the head and body with two simple, rounded shapes. Add facial guidelines, positioning two large eyes near the top of the head and a small oval nose in the center. Next, draw the mouth as a wide smile and add a small tongue hanging out. Attach long, drooping ears to each side of the head.
Move on to drawing the front legs, keeping them simple and straight to show the puppy in a sitting position. Draw the back legs by adding rounded shapes on either side of the body. Add a small, curved tail to the back. Refine the drawing by erasing unnecessary lines, then add color to complete the cartoon puppy with a light tan shade, a darker nose, and pink for the tongue.
Cartoon German Shepherd Drawing Tutorial
Now you can see a cute cartoon shepherd dog. Essentially, this is the same dog that we created in the shepherd drawing lesson, but with some changes. For example, there is a cartoonishly large head and a cartoonishly small torso.
The main difference between this tutorial on how to draw a cartoon German Shepherd and the main lesson is the focus on capturing the specific characteristics of a German Shepherd breed. This tutorial conveys features like the upright, pointed ears and the distinctive color pattern on the coat, which are key traits of German Shepherds, while the previous tutorial focused on a more general cartoon dog design.
To begin, draw the basic outline of the head and body with two rounded shapes, making the head slightly larger to highlight the cartoon style. Add two pointed, upright ears on top of the head to give the cartoon German Shepherd its recognizable look. Next, draw the face by adding two large circular eyes, a nose, and a smiling mouth with a small tongue sticking out for.
Continue by sketching the front legs with simple, straight lines. Draw the back legs partially visible behind the front ones. Add a long, slightly curved tail, and then outline the unique markings along the back, tail, and around the face. Erase any unnecessary guidelines, refine the outline, and then color your cartoon German Shepherd drawing with tan and darker shades for the fur pattern, adding pink to the tongue. This process results in a cartoon German Shepherd with clear breed-specific features.
Alternative Cartoon Dog Drawing Tutorial
This additional tutorial on how to draw a cartoon dog differs from the first by focusing on a fluffier and more simplified appearance, resembling a puppy with a softer, shaggier coat. While the initial tutorial illustrates smooth, rounded shapes for a clean cartoon look, this one adds lines and curves to show fur and volume. Additionally, the body posture is slightly angled, giving the dog a playing pose.
Start by sketching the outline of the head, adding irregular edges to indicate fluff. Sketch the body as a rounded shape with more fur texture along the edges. Draw large, floppy ears that hang down. Add the front legs with rounded paws. Next, draw the back legs, keeping them simple and slightly bent.
Sketch a fluffy tail, curving it upward. Add the facial details, including large, round eyes, a small nose, and a smile with soft cheeks to create a cute cartoon look. Erase any unnecessary lines and color the dog with a light tan, adding pink for the cheeks.
Conclusion
If you have reached this point, you have likely completed the main lesson on how to draw a cartoon dog, along with the two additional lessons.
Hopefully, you have put in effort and are satisfied with the result. Consider creating a setting for the cartoon dog. For example, you could add green grass, flowers, or other elements around the dog to make the drawing look more interesting and detailed.
If you followed the instructions carefully, you can now take any dog as a reference and recreate it in cartoon form. To further develop your skills in cartoon drawing and move closer to professional animation, consider visiting other lessons, such as those on drawing a cartoon character and drawing cartoon eyes.
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