How to Draw a Dog Face – A Fun Drawing Tutorial!

The well-known expression, “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks”, is not true for today’s tutorial, as you will be learning all kinds of new drawing tricks! Our “how to draw a dog face” sketch is a new and exciting drawing tutorial for everybody to enjoy. Not only will our tutorial be engaging, but you will be walking away with a new best friend! As the saying goes, “dogs are a man’s best friend”, or in our case, dogs are everyone’s best friend! 

A Fun Step-by-Step Dog Face Drawing Tutorial 

Today, we are going to go through an adorable tutorial on “how to draw a dog face”! We cover the very basic steps to the final coloring and detailing process. After completing our tutorial, you would have created an incredible and realistic dog face drawing! 

The below dog face drawing collage shows you each step taken to achieve the final result! 

Step 1: Drawing a Dog Face 

We have begun our “how to draw a dog face” tutorial! Start by drawing a large circle that will represent the dog’s head. 

Step 2: Adding in the Facial Construction Lines 

Draw a straight vertical line in the center of the dog’s face. Add a horizontal line across the vertical line.

Draw three short horizontal lines underneath the main horizontal line. 

Step 3: Drawing the Ears on the Dog Head Drawing 

On each side of the head, draw two large curved shaped ears. 

Step 4: Adding an Outline to the Dog Head Drawing 

Use your construction lines to aid you in outlining a more realistic dog face drawing. 

Note! The dog’s face should be somewhat symmetrical. 

Step 5: Drawing the Muzzle on the Dog Face Drawing 

Draw a curved muzzle positioned on the points where the vertical and horizontal construction lines meet. The muzzle should extend beyond the face and overlap the face outline.

Complete the muzzle by drawing the inner curving lines on the second short horizontal line. The muzzle should be somewhat symmetrical. 

Step 6: Drawing the Facial Features 

Begin by drawing each eye on the main horizontal line. Complete the eye by drawing in the eye shape and pupil. 

Draw in the facial creases along the top of the head, side of the face, and bottom jaw, and chin lines. 

Finish off by drawing in the nostrils and mouth line. Once this is complete, you can erase any visible construction lines. 

Step 7: Adding the First Coat of Color to Your Dog Face Drawing 

Select a normal paintbrush and tan paint, and begin to color the entire dog face drawing. 

Step 8: Coloring the Eyes 

Make use of a sharp brush and brown paint, and color in the iris. Complete the eyes by switching to black paint, and color in the pupils of your dog face drawing. 

Step 9: Adding Shading to Your Dog Head Drawing 

Use a small soft brush and black paint, and add shading to the nostrils, muzzle, and mouth area. With a fine, sharp brush, trace the texture lines and add texture around the eyes. 

Use a soft brush and dark brown paint and apply soft shading to the edges of the ears. Finalize the ears by using a blending brush and blend out the newly shaded area. 

Step 10: Enhance the Structure of Your Dog Face Drawing 

Make use of a fine, sharp brush and black or gray paint, and begin to softly enhance the shading on your realistic dog head drawing. 

Complete this step by enhancing the ears and the facial creases. 

Step 11: Texture Your Dog Head Drawing 

In this step, we are beginning to create a more realistic dog head drawing! To achieve this, make use of a fine brush and black paint, and add hairline brush strokes across the entire face, excluding the mouth and nostril area. 

Repeat this step using a combination of brown and light brown paint, and add texture to the creases on your dog face drawing. 

Complete this step with white paint, and add a secondary highlighted fur coat. 

Step 12: Texture the Mouth and Nostril Area

Select a fine, sharp brush and gray paint, and add fine hairline brush strokes to the nostrils. Following this, use tan or brown paint, and continue the fur texture downwards surrounding the mouth.

For the bottom area of the mouth and jawline, repeat this process now switching to gray or white paint. Between the mouth lines, paint the visible teeth with a fine brush and white paint. 

Step 13: Texture the Ears 

Make use of a fine brush and white paint, and apply hairline brush strokes to the center of each ear. Repeat this step using a combination of gray, brown, and tan paint, and paint the edges of each ear. 

This will increase the depth of the fur coat! 

Step 14: Detail the Eyes of Your Dog Face Drawing 

Using a small, soft brush and black paint, add a shadow around the eyes of your drawing. Make sure the first coat of color is still visible. 

Following this step, select a fine, sharp brush and white paint, and add a realistic shimmer to each eye. 

Step 15: Enhance the Fur Coat 

In this step, select a fine, sharp brush and the corresponding colors, and apply a fuzzy outline around the dog head drawing. This will enhance the fur coat surrounding the dog head drawing. 

Finish off the step by using the same paintbrush but switch to black paint, and apply fine whiskers around the mouth of the dog. 

Step 16: Finalize Your Realistic Dog Face Drawing 

We have almost reached the end of today’s how to draw a dog face tutorial! To finish off, erase any visible construction lines. Select a fine brush and the colors used throughout the tutorial, and trace the entire outline of your dog face drawing. 

 You are now left with a perfect and adorable dog face drawing! 

Congratulations on completing our “how to draw a dog head” drawing tutorial! You have just created an adorable but also realistic dog head drawing! We hope you have thoroughly enjoyed our tutorial and that you have gained some important drawing skills. Please feel free to browse our other drawing tutorials, as we have a number of them waiting to be created! Also, have a look at our dog drawing tutorial.

Frequently Asked Questions 

How to Begin Drawing a Dog Face? 

The key to drawing a dog’s face begins with the initial construction process. Having proper construction lines will help aid you in outlining the dog’s face. Our drawing tutorial will take you through this entire process, step-by-step, so you can draw a dog face in no time! 

How to Draw a Dog Face Realistically? 

When creating a realistic animal drawing, it is important to keep proportions in mind. What we mean by this is that the ears of your dog face drawing should not be bigger than the actual face of the dog. If this is still a little confusing, do not worry, as our drawing tutorial will take you through the entire process! 

Matthew Matthysen( Drawing and Painting Artist )

Matthew Matthysen is an educated multidisciplinary artist and illustrator. He successfully completed his art degree at the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa, majoring in art history and contemporary drawing. The focus of his thesis was to explore the philosophical implications of the macro and micro-universe on the human experience. Matthew uses diverse media, such as written and hands-on components, to explore various approaches that are on the border between philosophy and science.

Matthew organized various exhibitions before and during his years as a student and is still passionate about doing so today. He currently works as a freelance artist and writer in various fields. He also has a permanent position at a renowned online gallery (ArtGazette) where he produces various works on commission. As a freelance artist, he creates several series and successfully sells them to galleries and collectors. He loves to use his work and skills in various fields of interest.

Matthew has been creating drawing and painting tutorials since the relaunch in 2020. Through his involvement with artincontext.org, he has been able to deepen his knowledge of various painting mediums. For example, watercolor techniques, calligraphy and lately digital drawing, which is becoming more and more popular.

Learn more about Matthew Matthysen and the Art in Context Team.