A stocky little dog with a wrinkled face, folded ears and a curled tail, from six simple shapes to a fully shaded portrait.
Beginner pug
6 steps
A circle for the head and an oval for the body, simple legs, then the folded ears and curled tail, the face and a few wrinkle lines. Six steps.
What you need
A pencil, an eraser and a sheet of paper are enough. Draw lightly at first, then trace the lines you want to keep when your pug is finished.
Step 1 of 6
Draw the pug's round head
Start with one large circle. A broad round head is the main shape behind the pug's recognizable face.
Your drawing after step 1
Step 2 of 6
Add the muzzle and oval body
Draw a wide rounded muzzle across the lower head and a large horizontal oval behind it.
Your drawing after step 2
Step 3 of 6
Draw four short legs
Add four compact legs below the body. Keep them short, sturdy and slightly rounded at the paws.
Your drawing after step 3
Step 4 of 6
Add floppy ears and a curled tail
Draw one folded ear on each side of the head and a small spiral tail above the back.
Your drawing after step 4
Step 5 of 6
Draw the pug's face
Add two large round eyes, a dark nose and a small downturned mouth. Use a few curves across the forehead for wrinkles.
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Step 6 of 6
Finish with neck wrinkles
Add two or three curved wrinkle lines where the head meets the body. Stop there so the short coat stays simple.
Your drawing after step 6
That's it! You have drawn a pug.
Trace your favorite lines a little darker, erase any unwanted pencil marks and add color if you would like.
Intermediate pug
10 steps
Pose and guides, a refined body, the head and its wrinkled face, then legs and paws, skin folds, short fur, shading and a patch of grass. Ten steps.
What you need
A pencil, an eraser and a sheet of paper are enough. Draw lightly at first, then trace the lines you want to keep when your pug is finished.
Step 1 of 10
Set the pug's pose with guides
Use circles and ovals for the head, chest and hips, then connect them with light lines for the back, belly and legs.
Your drawing after step 1
Step 2 of 10
Refine the compact body
Join the guide shapes with smooth contours, defining the broad chest, short back, sturdy hips and tightly curled tail.
Your drawing after step 2
Step 3 of 10
Construct the head and folded ears
Shape the round skull, short boxy muzzle and jaw over your guides, then add two soft folded ears.
Your drawing after step 3
Step 4 of 10
Draw the pug's facial features
Place the large eyes, broad nose and short mouth. Add forehead wrinkles and refine the dark ears and muzzle.
Your drawing after step 4
Step 5 of 10
Shape the legs and paws
Define the short leg muscles and joints, then finish each foot with rounded toes and small nail marks.
Your drawing after step 5
Step 6 of 10
Add neck folds and body wrinkles
Draw layered folds across the neck and chest, then add selected crease lines around the shoulders, back and curled tail.
Your drawing after step 6
Step 7 of 10
Build the short coat texture
Use brief directional strokes that follow the pug's body. Keep the fur smooth and denser near shadowed edges.
Your drawing after step 7
Step 8 of 10
Shade the face and body
Add light hatching around the eyes, muzzle, neck, underside and legs to create form while preserving the pale coat.
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Step 9 of 10
Ground the pug with grass
Draw a simple ground line with a few grass clumps or small plants around the paws.
Your drawing after step 9
Step 10 of 10
Clean and finish the pug drawing
Erase unused guides, adjust contrast and add final hair, wrinkle and shadow accents around the face and feet.
Your drawing after step 10
That's it! You have drawn a pug.
Trace your favorite lines a little darker, erase any unwanted pencil marks and add color if you would like.
Advanced pug
12 steps
Guide lines and proportions, a boxy head construction, then the wrinkled face, body structure, fur outlines, texture, shading, a ground shadow and final details. Twelve steps, drawn lightly at first.
What you need
A pencil, an eraser and a sheet of paper are enough. Draw lightly at first, then trace the lines you want to keep when your pug is finished.
Step 1 of 12
Draw the pug's construction lines
Block in the head, chest and hips with rounded forms, then mark the leg joints, center lines and ground position.
Your drawing after step 1
Step 2 of 12
Correct the pug's proportions
Refine the large round head, compact torso, short legs and tightly curled tail while keeping every line light.
Your drawing after step 2
Step 3 of 12
Construct the head and muzzle
Build a round cranium with a short box-shaped muzzle. Add guides for the eyes, nose, mouth, ears and skin folds.
Your drawing after step 3
Step 4 of 12
Render the eyes, nose and wrinkles
Develop the expressive dark eyes, broad nose, mouth and folded ears, then layer the characteristic forehead and cheek wrinkles.
Your drawing after step 4
Step 5 of 12
Develop the sturdy body structure
Define the chest, rib cage and pelvis, shape the thick legs and indicate how the curled tail follows the back.
Your drawing after step 5
Step 6 of 12
Refine the pug's anatomy
Turn the guides into natural contours, adding neck folds, shoulder muscles, abdomen, paws and the final tail shape.
Your drawing after step 6
Step 7 of 12
Add the short fur outlines
Use small light strokes around the silhouette and wrinkle areas, following the direction of the pug's smooth coat.
Your drawing after step 7
Step 8 of 12
Refine the facial details
Strengthen the eyes, nose and mouth, darken the inner ears and vary line weight across the deepest facial folds.
Your drawing after step 8
Step 9 of 12
Texture the entire coat
Layer controlled short pencil strokes over the body, with denser texture on the face, ears and creased areas.
Your drawing after step 9
Step 10 of 12
Build realistic shading and depth
Darken the muzzle, undersides and spaces between the legs, then blend lighter shading over the rounded body.
Your drawing after step 10
Step 11 of 12
Add a soft ground shadow
Shade beneath and behind the paws with strokes that fade outward, anchoring the standing pug to the surface.
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Step 12 of 12
Finish the realistic pug portrait
Sharpen selected edges, deepen the eyes and muzzle, clean stray guides and add small highlights that bring the face to life.
Your drawing after step 12
That's it! You have drawn a pug.
Trace your favorite lines a little darker, erase any unwanted pencil marks and add color if you would like.
