Adoptable Dog Portraits Activity

There are millions of cute, cuddly dogs in shelters and rescues across the country. Help one of our furry friends by creating a portrait that shows just how unique and special they really are. Remember to look for their most appealing attributes and quirky characteristics. Even if you can’t adopt one of these dogs, you can help them find a forever home!

Find a local shelter near you by using PetFinder.com! Contact the shelter to see if you can volunteer; that way you can get to know one of the dogs. If not, ask them if there are any dogs in particular who would benefit from a portrait!

MATERIALS NEEDED

• A photo of each dog (for reference)
• Paper
• Pencils and Erasers, Pens, Crayons, Markers, or Paint and Paintbrushes

Be sure to have a wide variety of colors to choose from!

STEP 1

Draw a circle. You can trace something with a round, flat bottom, if needed.

STEP 2

Draw a triangle on each side of the circle. Draw one in the center of the circle and fill it in.

STEP 3

Draw two small circles above and slightly off to the sides of the nose, and fill them in.

STEP 4

Draw two semi-circles below the nose, and a third below what is now the mouth.

STEP 5

Add color! Look for unique markings that you can feature in your drawing.

IDEAS

Add features to make the dog look appealing to a potential new family, such as: a brightly colored bow or bow-tie, a wagging tale to symbolize a friendly dog, or draw the dog’s name in big, bold letters. Have fun showing off each dog’s unique personality!