This is a presentation on how to draw a dog.

We will start by reviewing some concepts about drawing animals.

1. Start by beginning with white to get the location of the eyes, and carefully locate the highlights in the eyes.

2. Add the color of the eyes and then outline in black.

3. Color in the pupil with a black. Remember the pupil will change depending on the light. The more light on the eye the bigger the pupil.

Carnivores eat meat. They need extra-sharp vision that focuses straight ahead at their prey. Their eyes are spaced closely together.

Herbivores eat plants, and have to be constantly aware of their surroundings. Their eyes are spaced widely apart, lie on a diagonal, and look off to the sides.

Notice the tiger's eyes sit closely together and look straight ahead.

Also, look at the ears. The ears are attached to the head at an angle, and point outward at a diagonal.

On the other hand, human ears are usually placed much lower on the head and placed to the side of the head pointing straight out.

The herbivore needs to possess superb peripheral vision that helps them see threats coming from all directions. In order to have better peripheral vision, their eyes must be spaced widely apart on their head.

Notice how the eye sockets bugle outward in order to encircle and protect the widely placed eyes.

Notice the ears being at a diagonal to the head.

The heads of dogs along with other medium-sized animals tilt down slightly. The more massive an animal head is, the lower it hangs. The larger the head, the thicker the neck will be. A large head needs stronger neck muscles to support it.

Massive animal heads often hang quite low. One extremely massive animal's head doesn't hang low. Can you guess which animal and why?

Yes, it is the elephant. The neck on an elephant is very short so the neck looks like it is fused to the body.

Remember to draw with curved lines instead of with straight lines as it makes the animal look more natural. (see bottom picture)

Paws are round with toes that are rounded at the top. A few rounded lines map out the toes.

Notice the paws are round and toes are round at the top. It is like human toes. Try to build a sold construction underneath the foot.

The Anatomical structure is very important to know. Notice the neck; if you know the structure of an animal, you can usually draw it more correctly. Anatomical names are the same in all dogs, and in fact in all animals. Anatomical names should be learned.

Leonardo Da Vinci knew the importance of learning the structure of things. He would dig up human bodies and dissect them in order to learn the muscular structure underneath.
Then, he would draw them. His drawings are quite famous.

Now, we are going to draw a dog. When drawing, draw the structure or the shape rather than starting and completing each section.

Now, draw the nose and eye. You can split the head with a light line as the drawing shows to get the position correct.

Add the front leg and the paw along with the back hip.

Remember to use more curved lines than straight lines.

Add the curve of the spine, the mouth, the tail, and the other back leg.

Remember the body's not perfectly symmetrical.
For instance, the tummy and paws might be slightly larger than the chest especially when drawing puppies.

Add the ears, and curve the forms more. Look at the separation on the skull.

Make sure each limb has the same amount of joints as every other limb.

Erase the lines that you don't need. Make the dog your own and add character.

You can add expression. Notice the wrinkles around the mouth and the lines around the eyes that give the dog his expression. For example, a happy dog looks as if he is smiling.

(happy dog -- notice the corner of the mouth.)
The end.