How To Draw Different Types of Stick Dog
This page is dedicated to the best animal God invented - the dog.
It contains simple instructions for drawing real and imaginary examples of different types of dog.
These illustrations are for fun and because I am very fond of dogs. Our canine friend is the best creature anyone can share their life with.
Some people say cats are pretty cool too. I can't draw cats.
Here is a variety of stick figure dogs for art and humor purposes. It might give you some ideas for drawing your own or a chuckle. Either is fine by me.
There is a bit of blurb about drawing and then a growing illustrated AZ set of different breeds.
The page now has two distinct styles. My original stick style outline dog drawings and a new more realistic style as I have learned a little about drawing and become braver in trying it.
It contains simple instructions for drawing real and imaginary examples of different types of dog.
These illustrations are for fun and because I am very fond of dogs. Our canine friend is the best creature anyone can share their life with.
Some people say cats are pretty cool too. I can't draw cats.
Here is a variety of stick figure dogs for art and humor purposes. It might give you some ideas for drawing your own or a chuckle. Either is fine by me.
There is a bit of blurb about drawing and then a growing illustrated AZ set of different breeds.
The page now has two distinct styles. My original stick style outline dog drawings and a new more realistic style as I have learned a little about drawing and become braver in trying it.
Five Steps to Draw a Dog
Here is the easiest possible dog drawing and the steps to do it.
Everything else is just extra!
- Draw the head. Make sure the pen is working and the head is nice and round.
- Add the body. Notice how it connects to the head, so you don't draw the whole oval shape.
- Legs are the easiest to do. Four straight lines. Sometimes I put feet on mine.
- Add the tail. This has a bend in it - dog tails are rarely completely straight.
- Add the facial features. Ear, nose, eye and little mouth in that order.
Everything else is just extra!
The Dog With No Ears
Sharp eyed people will notice the Fabergé dog below has no ears.
Some people call him names, it doesn't matter. He can't hear anything.
Never mind! There are lots of dog drawings on this page and most of them DO have ears.
Some people call him names, it doesn't matter. He can't hear anything.
Never mind! There are lots of dog drawings on this page and most of them DO have ears.
Stick Figure Dog Shapes
The standard stick man has a round head and a stick body. There is no need for discussion - that way is right and all other ways are wrong. End of.
Should a stick figure dog have the same arrangement with a round head and stick body?
Sadly no. The round head stick body design just looks wrong - like some weird stickman pretending to be a dog. It is not a good look.
Should a stick figure dog have the same arrangement with a round head and stick body?
Sadly no. The round head stick body design just looks wrong - like some weird stickman pretending to be a dog. It is not a good look.
Maybe a square design would work better for a stick dog?
After all - this is going to be a very simple graphic design so a couple of squares should do it.
As a piece of sixties style pop art design the square dog looks OK but as a dog he looks rubbish.
After all - this is going to be a very simple graphic design so a couple of squares should do it.
As a piece of sixties style pop art design the square dog looks OK but as a dog he looks rubbish.
The only way to draw a perfect companion for Mr. Stick Man is a roundish head and an oval body.
Let's go with that.
Here is a completed simple stick dog as an example. To be honest as long as you attempt the basics - head, body, tail, legs, ears, nose and eyes - your dog is going to look fine.
Let's go with that.
Here is a completed simple stick dog as an example. To be honest as long as you attempt the basics - head, body, tail, legs, ears, nose and eyes - your dog is going to look fine.
Get The Legs Right!
It is very important to get the legs right on a dog drawing and I am not just saying that because I like the cartoon.
The yellow dog has all his legs on the same side so he could fall over unless he was leaning against a wall.
The red dog has one paw the wrong way round.
The green dog has a balanced leg arrangement.
The yellow dog has all his legs on the same side so he could fall over unless he was leaning against a wall.
The red dog has one paw the wrong way round.
The green dog has a balanced leg arrangement.
The Dog is Related to a Wolf
A long time ago, maybe as far back as the 1970s, man used to sleep in caves with wolves.
In the beginning the wolves ate the man and that was very bad. Later the man ate the wolves and that was bad as well.
One day they made friends and decided to get along together. They stopped eating each other and then woman came along and domesticated both of them.
In the beginning the wolves ate the man and that was very bad. Later the man ate the wolves and that was bad as well.
One day they made friends and decided to get along together. They stopped eating each other and then woman came along and domesticated both of them.
How I Draw Dogs
I am a simple artist. It is the graphic that interests me and the fact I can't draw. So I use visual clues and a basic shape.
That way it is surprisingly easy to create a cartoon style dog of different types. Head, body, four legs. Then add extras as far as you need them. Tails, ears and so on.
I check out dog breed pictures on Google Images and try to replicate bits I can use.
The picture of the four different breeds below - a normal dog, Dalmatian, Pit Bull, Shih Tzu - shows how a basic shape plus clues can create a variety of dogs.
And a humorous drawing!
That way it is surprisingly easy to create a cartoon style dog of different types. Head, body, four legs. Then add extras as far as you need them. Tails, ears and so on.
I check out dog breed pictures on Google Images and try to replicate bits I can use.
The picture of the four different breeds below - a normal dog, Dalmatian, Pit Bull, Shih Tzu - shows how a basic shape plus clues can create a variety of dogs.
And a humorous drawing!
How I Draw Dogs - Part 2 Updated
I love drawing stickman style dog designs. It is fun, simple and quick.
Stick style graphics work but it is nice to try to create a more realistic graphic. My method for drawing dogs has changed over the years.
For a dog breed drawing my first step is to think of a breed. As a dog owner and lover of all things dog I already know many breeds. Some are easier to draw than others. Some are more appealing than others.
Once I have settled on the next dog to draw I check out Google Images. Hundreds of dog pictures to look at. It is a case of finding the right dog and pose - head on, profile, three-quarters, whatever. Then I decide how to tackle the drawing.
Do a rough trace around the picture and the distinguishing bits like pattern, nose, ears. Choose the dominant background colors and fill in - either solid or roughly. Then start to add detail including lines of fur.
The trick is to find the right place to stop. Too much and your drawing starts to look like a photo. Too little and it may look a bit scrappy.
The purpose is more important. The point of drawing is to have fun and spend some relaxation time. At the end of it you may have something that gives you pleasure.
Stick style graphics work but it is nice to try to create a more realistic graphic. My method for drawing dogs has changed over the years.
For a dog breed drawing my first step is to think of a breed. As a dog owner and lover of all things dog I already know many breeds. Some are easier to draw than others. Some are more appealing than others.
Once I have settled on the next dog to draw I check out Google Images. Hundreds of dog pictures to look at. It is a case of finding the right dog and pose - head on, profile, three-quarters, whatever. Then I decide how to tackle the drawing.
Do a rough trace around the picture and the distinguishing bits like pattern, nose, ears. Choose the dominant background colors and fill in - either solid or roughly. Then start to add detail including lines of fur.
The trick is to find the right place to stop. Too much and your drawing starts to look like a photo. Too little and it may look a bit scrappy.
The purpose is more important. The point of drawing is to have fun and spend some relaxation time. At the end of it you may have something that gives you pleasure.
A - Z of Dog Breed Drawings
The rest of this page contains my efforts at drawing a variety of different dog breeds.
They range in quality and ability from my early, slightly scrappy stick figure drawings through to a more thorough attempt to replicate the look of the dog.
Like all drawing some of them work better than others. And it is not always the ones with the most work that end up the most pleasing.
Anyhow, here is my collection of dog breeds.
They range in quality and ability from my early, slightly scrappy stick figure drawings through to a more thorough attempt to replicate the look of the dog.
Like all drawing some of them work better than others. And it is not always the ones with the most work that end up the most pleasing.
Anyhow, here is my collection of dog breeds.
Basset Hound
Friendly, easy going, big lump of dog. The Basset Hound is gentle and a little on the stubborn side.
Columbo's dog in the TV series and real life.
The drawing below is pretty much everything I want to achieve from my dog designs.
Part cartoon stick figure style, part graphic, part realistic. A design that a Basset owner might be happy to have on a t-shirt or a card or something.
Columbo's dog in the TV series and real life.
The drawing below is pretty much everything I want to achieve from my dog designs.
Part cartoon stick figure style, part graphic, part realistic. A design that a Basset owner might be happy to have on a t-shirt or a card or something.
Beagle
Beagle design shows a breed standard dog standing proudly and looking at the viewer.
Markings and details shown in simple graphic style - for beagle fans, lovers and owners!
A design like this can be achieved by tracing round a picture of a beagle and then filling in the basic details.
No skills required - just patience.
Markings and details shown in simple graphic style - for beagle fans, lovers and owners!
A design like this can be achieved by tracing round a picture of a beagle and then filling in the basic details.
No skills required - just patience.
The I Love designs are created using a big "I" and red heart shape as one part of the image.
Then maneuvering the original dog drawing into the right position. I like the position shown below where the I Heart and the dog merge into one design.
This sort of thing can easily be done in Microsoft Paint. No need to buy expensive graphic design tools!
Then maneuvering the original dog drawing into the right position. I like the position shown below where the I Heart and the dog merge into one design.
This sort of thing can easily be done in Microsoft Paint. No need to buy expensive graphic design tools!
Border Collie
The collie is an English herding dog. It is highly intelligent and trainable.
The Border Collie is typically used for herding sheep and obeying commands to gather and control them.
Drawing black and white is challenging. The Border is predominantly black and white. Great look, but not so easy to recreate.
In the picture below I settled on grey and white for my main background colours. The black lines were added using lines and shading, while the white had a few black and grey lines and shading added. A little shadow on the tongue and light reflection on the nose and eyes help to make the drawing more realistic. The hair outline is about the best I can do at present, a technique that will hopefully improve over time.
Anyhow, there he is. A Border Collie.
The Border Collie is typically used for herding sheep and obeying commands to gather and control them.
Drawing black and white is challenging. The Border is predominantly black and white. Great look, but not so easy to recreate.
In the picture below I settled on grey and white for my main background colours. The black lines were added using lines and shading, while the white had a few black and grey lines and shading added. A little shadow on the tongue and light reflection on the nose and eyes help to make the drawing more realistic. The hair outline is about the best I can do at present, a technique that will hopefully improve over time.
Anyhow, there he is. A Border Collie.
Cerberus - A Dog With Three Heads
This dog has three heads which makes him very tough and good at guarding.
He is wondering if you are going to give him a biscuit or three.
His name is Cerberus which is Greek for dog with three heads.
This sort of drawing is simply pure fun to do. The dog does not need to be realistic, it is the idea that is more important.
He is wondering if you are going to give him a biscuit or three.
His name is Cerberus which is Greek for dog with three heads.
This sort of drawing is simply pure fun to do. The dog does not need to be realistic, it is the idea that is more important.
Cockapoo
Very popular cross between a Cocker Spaniel and a Poodle creates a highly active, intelligent, friendly bundle of energetic fun.
Dachshund
Also known as a sausage or wiener dog. As all dogs like sausages that could be a little confusing.
These dogs have a very distinctive shape with the long low-slung body.
Dachshunds have plenty of attitude. They are the ones barking at all and sundry.
These dogs have a very distinctive shape with the long low-slung body.
Dachshunds have plenty of attitude. They are the ones barking at all and sundry.
Dalmatian
The spotty dog made famous by the story of 101 Dalmatians and Cruella Deville.
This stick dog style version is more fun. The beauty of Dalmatian spots is they are easy to draw and instantly recognizable.
English Bull Terrier
Strong, brave, loyal - the English Bull Terrier is an imposing dog. Potentially dangerous in the wrong hands but with proper training a fantastic family dog.
The Bull Terrier is a dog that I sometimes cross the road to avoid which is an unfair (and scaredy-cat) assessment of the majority of these fine animals.
Not for the first-time or negligent dog-owner.
The drawing is semi-realistic, somewhere between photo image and stick style drawing.
The three-quarters on pose is one of the best ways to show the main features of a dog, from face to tail and all the bits in between.
The Bull Terrier is a dog that I sometimes cross the road to avoid which is an unfair (and scaredy-cat) assessment of the majority of these fine animals.
Not for the first-time or negligent dog-owner.
The drawing is semi-realistic, somewhere between photo image and stick style drawing.
The three-quarters on pose is one of the best ways to show the main features of a dog, from face to tail and all the bits in between.
French Bulldog
French bulldogs are popular and very expensive.
It is funny how fashion and trends apply to dogs as much as clothing or other must have items.
From what little I know about these dogs they are tough, self-assured and have bundles of energy.
It is funny how fashion and trends apply to dogs as much as clothing or other must have items.
From what little I know about these dogs they are tough, self-assured and have bundles of energy.
German Shepherd
The German Shepherd or Alsatian is a fine looking dog used for companionship and security.
A dog that won't let you down!
I like the shape of the Alsatian in the drawing but my skills with drawing fur need to improve.
A dog that won't let you down!
I like the shape of the Alsatian in the drawing but my skills with drawing fur need to improve.
Guide Dogs
In the picture my guide dog might be blind or just pretty cool.
He has a purpose in life and that is to help his master get where he needs to go.
He has a purpose in life and that is to help his master get where he needs to go.
Jack Russell Terrier
The Jack Russell is a favorite dog. Small, fast, fun and intelligent with bags of can-do attitude.
Once you know Jack you never look back.
Once you know Jack you never look back.
Labrador
The Labrador is one of the most popular breeds for very good reasons. A peaceful, obedient and loyal companion. No wonder they are used as guide dogs and other tasks.
Patterdale Terrier
The Patterdale is a fine terrier.
Like all terriers really. Eager, active, curious, intelligent - everything you need in a dog.
Like all terriers really. Eager, active, curious, intelligent - everything you need in a dog.
Pit Bull Terrier
The Pit Bull has a bit of a reputation. I am sure their owners love them.
The drawing below uses the standard stick figure style of dog and adds in the elements that help to make it look like a Pit Bull.
Teeth and a studded collar for the most part.
The drawing below uses the standard stick figure style of dog and adds in the elements that help to make it look like a Pit Bull.
Teeth and a studded collar for the most part.
Pointer
Another simple joke style drawing. No realism required, although that might be nice if I ever get back to redrawing him.
This dog is called a pointer. He points at things. This is very useful if you needed something and were able to rely on the dog to point it out.
It could be directions to a store or perhaps you forgot where the car keys are. No problem! Pointer dog is right there when you need him.
This dog is called a pointer. He points at things. This is very useful if you needed something and were able to rely on the dog to point it out.
It could be directions to a store or perhaps you forgot where the car keys are. No problem! Pointer dog is right there when you need him.
Pug
The pug is very popular. Small and portable with attitude and the perfect shape for cuddling.
They do all the dog stuff such as sniffing and making busy. The ugliness of the face is part of the attraction. Pugliness is a better word for it.
This was an early dog drawing attempt which I struggled with. After a few attempts I settled for the version below. It will do for now.
They do all the dog stuff such as sniffing and making busy. The ugliness of the face is part of the attraction. Pugliness is a better word for it.
This was an early dog drawing attempt which I struggled with. After a few attempts I settled for the version below. It will do for now.
Rottweiler
This guy is a Rottweiler. He is one tough cookie with biting teeth, studded collar, scar on his face and narrowed menacing eyes.
His ears are back in one of the danger positions for dogs.
"Rotty" has a powerful body and short legs which seem barely able to support his weight.
He is actually a faithful family pet and that postman deserved what he got.
The drawing below predates the Pit Bull design above but is similar in nature. Teeth, studded collar AND a scar for this one.
His ears are back in one of the danger positions for dogs.
"Rotty" has a powerful body and short legs which seem barely able to support his weight.
He is actually a faithful family pet and that postman deserved what he got.
The drawing below predates the Pit Bull design above but is similar in nature. Teeth, studded collar AND a scar for this one.
Scottish Terrier
Here is a joke example of a Scottie.
The joke being he has red hair and is a bit Scottish. That is a cheap racial stereotype and the site apologises to any actual Scottish dogs who may be reading.
I will do a proper Scottish terrier some time because they really are lovely dogs.
For now though this one will have to do.
The joke being he has red hair and is a bit Scottish. That is a cheap racial stereotype and the site apologises to any actual Scottish dogs who may be reading.
I will do a proper Scottish terrier some time because they really are lovely dogs.
For now though this one will have to do.
Shiba Inu
The face of the Doge Coin, the Shiba Inu is a smart Japanese dog breed.
This drawing is one of my later efforts. It has a realistic shape and pose. I still struggle with hair.
What I do with hair currently is keep adding lines (fur) until the dog looks something like I want it to be.
Then I stop before I ruin it completely!
This drawing is one of my later efforts. It has a realistic shape and pose. I still struggle with hair.
What I do with hair currently is keep adding lines (fur) until the dog looks something like I want it to be.
Then I stop before I ruin it completely!
Staffie
The Staffie, Staffordshire Terrier, has a fearsome reputation. Sometimes owned by people who use them as a deterrent or status symbol, and sometimes neglected or mistreated.
When well brought up the Staffie is a loyal companion who has eyes you can look into forever.
The graphic below was drawn from a picture and ended up a bit meh. Passing the drawn image through a Woodcut effect helped to achieve the result I was aiming for.
In the UK, Staffie is the affectionate short name for these dogs. In the US it becomes a Staffy, or Stafford. The joy of spelling for an international market.
When well brought up the Staffie is a loyal companion who has eyes you can look into forever.
The graphic below was drawn from a picture and ended up a bit meh. Passing the drawn image through a Woodcut effect helped to achieve the result I was aiming for.
In the UK, Staffie is the affectionate short name for these dogs. In the US it becomes a Staffy, or Stafford. The joy of spelling for an international market.
Watchdog
Another joke design, here is a watchdog holding a pair of binoculars.
He is handy if the pointy dog has not yet seen the thing he is supposed to notice.
Watchdog can tell him so he can point at it.
Very simple lines for this dog and no need to mess around trying to draw fur.
He is handy if the pointy dog has not yet seen the thing he is supposed to notice.
Watchdog can tell him so he can point at it.
Very simple lines for this dog and no need to mess around trying to draw fur.
Westie
Westie design features a West Highland White Terrier in a typical pose, looking at you with a smile and attitude.
Tail high and standing proud, the Westie is a super small dog with a big personality.
I love Westies!
The big difficulty for me with drawing this picture is white hair on a white background.
My art journey has a long way to go before I can do this dog justice.
Tail high and standing proud, the Westie is a super small dog with a big personality.
I love Westies!
The big difficulty for me with drawing this picture is white hair on a white background.
My art journey has a long way to go before I can do this dog justice.
Wolf Face
Wolf Face below is one of my better animal drawings.
Having got the rough outline of a wolf's face it is then a simple, if slightly tedious task, to draw in as many small lines as possible for the fur of different colours.
A question of keep going until it is no longer likely that the image will be improved by more brush strokes.
Having got the rough outline of a wolf's face it is then a simple, if slightly tedious task, to draw in as many small lines as possible for the fur of different colours.
A question of keep going until it is no longer likely that the image will be improved by more brush strokes.
End of Dog Drawing Page
That is the end of this page for now.
There will be many more pictures of dogs added as I figure out how to draw them. Maybe one of them will turn out to be a future Champion. Best in Show would be nice or some free dog biscuits.
Dog drawing is fun, simple and they make an ideal pet for a stick man.
Hopefully it was useful if you were interested in ideas for drawing dogs or just wanted to browse through some pictures.
There are lots of other stick style drawings and fun stuff on this site so if you stay - have fun!
There will be many more pictures of dogs added as I figure out how to draw them. Maybe one of them will turn out to be a future Champion. Best in Show would be nice or some free dog biscuits.
Dog drawing is fun, simple and they make an ideal pet for a stick man.
Hopefully it was useful if you were interested in ideas for drawing dogs or just wanted to browse through some pictures.
There are lots of other stick style drawings and fun stuff on this site so if you stay - have fun!