Whether you enjoy coloring as a child or an adult, you probably want to create the best possible coloring page or drawing. That’s all a coloring page is – a drawing someone else created that you handle coloring. The main challenges to coloring pictures of dogs or puppies stem from their fur, paws, and ears.
Welcome to our collection of free PUPPY coloring pages. Click the Puppy pictures or illustrations you like and you’ll be taken to the PDF download and/or print page. Every Puppy coloring page is a printable PDF and/or can be downloaded.
More animal coloring pages: Cheetah Coloring Pages | Deer Coloring Pages | Cow Coloring Pages | Snake Coloring Pages | Monkey Coloring Pages | Pig Coloring Pages | Lion Coloring Pages | Bunny Coloring Pages | Fox Coloring Pages
Areas on a Puppy Coloring Page
Each puppy coloring page differs depending on the breed of the dog. You need a diverse set of colors to choose from since these pages often contain many details. Consider blending your colors when selecting the media you use; colored pencils, crayons, or oil pastels tend to blend best.
Choosing the Right Colors
Your puppy or puppies likely take up most of the page, leaving little background to color. The colors you choose will vary depending on whether you’re coloring a cartoon dog like a Paw Patrol Pup or a realistic goldendoodle puppy. The choice of colors also depends on the breed of the dog and its variant. For example, you’d use black to color a black Labrador retriever, but shades of brown and dark brown for a chocolate lab.
Using References for Realism
You can use the Internet to look up photographs of different dog breeds or check out a book from the library. This will help you understand which colors to use and how to combine them. It also shows the variations in a dog’s paw, tail, fur, etc.
Coloring Techniques for Fur
When coloring the puppy’s fur, remember that dog fur is three-dimensional. While your coloring page might provide guidelines to indicate fur sections, you should color in individual strands of fur and the shadows between them.
Shade one side of the animal to create the effect of natural light. Animal hair doesn’t always lie flat; it might stick up in places or overlap. Color fur clumps in at least one spot, as that’s how it grows naturally. The fur should appear thicker and wider near the rear part of the puppy’s body. Use shadowing in black and gray to add dimension, especially towards the base of the drawing. The shadows should be wider and bigger at the bottom.
Blending and Shading
To blend the fur clumps, use a cotton swab and follow the direction of the fur’s flow. Adding the right shadows and highlights is essential, so use three or four colored pencils or crayons that are close in color but different in hue. Within each fur clump, add very small shadows with the darkest color.
Adding Details to the Scene
If your picture features rescue dogs, they might be lying in a crate or basket, which should typically be colored tan or brown. The blanket or pillow in the crate or basket can be any color you like.
If your puppy is playing with a cat or bird in the picture, they also need appropriate fur, feathers, and coloring. Check the Internet to see what these animals look like.
Final Touches
Puppy paws may seem larger than the rest of the baby dog because they grow into them. Enhance this effect by coloring the rims of the paws black with thicker shadows. Remember to shadow the inside of the ears, making them slightly lighter than the fur. Since light in photos or real life comes from above, the fur on top of the dog’s head will appear lighter than at the rear and tail.