How to Draw a Golden Retriever

Step 1: Big oval head

Near the top, draw a big oval, a little wider than tall. Make it almost half of the whole dog.

Tip Leave room underneath for the body and legs.

Step 2: Long floppy ears

Start high on each side of the head. Draw a long wavy ear past the chin, stopping on the cheek.

Tip A golden's ears are long and silky: let them hang below the chin.

Step 3: Two big eyes

Just above the middle of the head, draw 2 egg eyes. Give each a black dot and a white shine.

Step 4: Nose

Under the eyes, draw a wide oval inside the head. Sit a black triangle nose on top, point down.

Step 5: Smile and tongue

Start under the nose. Draw a line down, ending in a little w smile. Hang a U tongue from it.

Tip The tongue pokes out under the oval. Rub out the oval line inside it.

Step 6: Round body

Start where each ear touches the cheek. Draw a big C down to near the bottom. Join the ends.

Tip The bottom line sags a little. The body is wider than the head.

Step 7: Collar and tag

Under the chin, draw a sagging curve from one side of the body across to the other. Draw another below.

Tip Hang a small circle tag from the middle with a tiny loop.

Step 8: Front legs

Draw 2 legs from the collar down to round paws. Add a middle line up, stopping below the tag.

Tip Leave a space under the tag. Give each paw 2 toe lines.

Step 9: Back paws and tail

Draw a hill paw at each bottom corner. From the right hip, draw a feathery tail up to a point.

Tip Give each paw 2 toes. The tail is thick at the hip and thin at the tip.

Step 10: Ground line

Draw a long flat ground line under all 4 paws, starting and ending a little past the back paws.

Step 11: Cream snout, pink tongue

Colour the snout cream, around the nose, and the tongue pink.

Step 12: Golden fur, ginger ears

Colour the dog golden orange, around the snout and collar. Colour the ears ginger. Leave the eyes white.

Step 13: Blue collar

Colour the collar blue.