Which Dog Coloring Page Should You Start With?
Each page above carries a level label. Here’s what those labels mean, how many pages sit at each level and a good page to try first.
| Level |
Ages |
What it looks like |
Pages |
Try this first |
| Easiest |
2–4 |
One big dog, thick lines, almost no background |
3 |
Dachshund in a Cozy Sweater |
| Easy |
3–7 |
A simple scene with a few props |
10 |
Astronaut Puppy in Space |
| Medium |
5–9 |
Patterns, more than one dog or a fuller background |
6 |
Five Dog Breeds Sitting Together |
| Detailed |
7+ and teens |
Busy gardens and farms, lots of small spaces |
4 |
Siberian Husky Face Portrait |
| Adult |
Teens and adults |
Dense scenes and ornate patterns |
2 |
Shih Tzu on a Royal Cushion |
Age is only a starting point. A patient four-year-old may enjoy a Medium page, while a tired eight-year-old might just want an Easy one. Let your child flip through the pages and choose. Kids color longer when the page was their idea.
Dog Breed Color Guide: What Colors Are Real Dogs?
Any color is fine on a coloring page, and a purple poodle is a perfectly good poodle. But if your child wants a dog to look like the real breed, this guide covers the breeds in this set.
| Breed |
Common real-life colors |
Coloring tip |
| Dachshund |
Red, black and tan, chocolate, cream; some have dapple spots |
Try reddish brown for a classic look |
| Golden Retriever |
Light cream to deep gold |
Layer yellow under light brown for a warm glow |
| Labrador |
Yellow, black or chocolate |
Pick one solid color; Labs don’t have patterns |
| Dalmatian |
White with black or liver (brown) spots |
Color the spots only and let the paper be the coat |
| Boxer |
Fawn or brindle, often with white on the chest and a dark mask |
Make the face darker than the body |
| Siberian Husky |
Gray, black, red or white, with a white face mask; blue or brown eyes |
Leave the face mask white and shade the rest gray |
| Shih Tzu |
Gold, white, black, or a mix of these |
Two colors, like gold and white, look closest to real |
| Corgi |
Red, sable or tricolor, with white markings |
White chest and legs, orange-red on the back |
| Bulldog |
Fawn, red, white, brindle or patches |
Pale colors with light gray in the wrinkles |
| Pug |
Fawn with a black mask, or all black |
Black ears and muzzle, beige body |
| Beagle |
Tricolor (black, tan and white) or lemon and white |
Black saddle on the back, tan head, white tip on the tail |
| Poodle |
White, black, apricot, gray or brown |
Use small circles to show the curly coat |
| Pomeranian |
Orange is most common; also cream, black and white |
Fluffy strokes going outward from the body |
| Rottweiler |
Black with rust markings on the cheeks, chest and legs |
Mostly black, with brown “eyebrows” |
How to Color Dog Fur So It Looks Soft
Fur looks real when your strokes follow the way the hair grows. On most dogs, fur runs from the nose back over the head and down the body. Short, light flicks in that direction look much softer than scribbling back and forth.
Start light and build up. Put down a pale base color over the whole dog, then go over the back, the ears and under the chin with a slightly darker shade. Those are the places where shadows fall on a real dog.
White dogs need color too. A dalmatian, a white poodle or the sheep on the farm page look flat if you leave them completely blank. Add light gray or pale blue shading along one side, under the belly and between the legs, and leave the rest white.
Save the brightest spot for the eyes. A tiny white dot left in each eye, and on a shiny black nose, instantly makes the dog look alive. It’s the same trick illustrators use, and kids love how much difference one dot makes.
Dog Facts for Kids
- Every dog’s nose has its own pattern of ridges and bumps, a bit like a human fingerprint.
- Dalmatian puppies are born completely white. Their spots start to show after a couple of weeks.
- Dogs don’t see the world in black and white. They see blues and yellows best, but reds and greens look dull and brownish to them.
- Puppies are born with their eyes and ears closed. Their eyes open when they’re about two weeks old.
- The Chihuahua is the smallest dog breed in the world.
- Greyhounds are the fastest dogs and can run at about 45 miles (72 kilometers) per hour.
- Dogs cool down mainly by panting, and they sweat a little through the pads of their paws.
- An old Welsh legend says fairies used corgis as tiny horses, and the lighter markings on some corgis’ backs are where the fairy saddles sat.
Printing Tips for Dog Coloring Pages
Every PDF on this page prints on both US Letter and A4. If an edge gets cut off, open the print settings and choose “Fit to page” or “Scale to fit.”
Plain printer paper works for crayons and colored pencils. Markers and watercolor pencils soak through thin paper, so use a heavier paper or light cardstock for those. Printing in grayscale keeps the lines dark and saves color ink, since the pages are black and white anyway.
Printing for a class or a party? Print one copy first to check the size, then print the rest.
Things to Do with Your Finished Dog Pages
- Guess the breed. Cut the dogs out of the Five Dog Breeds page, mix them up and have kids match each one to its name. Older kids can add one fact about each breed from the color guide.
- Puppy careers wall. The chef, artist, astronaut, gardener and graduate puppies make a fun “What do I want to be?” display for a classroom or bedroom door. Ask each child to write one sentence under their puppy.
- Barkday party placemats. Print the Happy Barkday page on cardstock and put one at each seat at a dog-themed birthday. Kids color while they wait for cake, and they take the placemat home.
- Cards for a local animal shelter. Many shelters welcome cheerful drawings for their kennel doors or adoption area. Color a few dogs, add a kind message and drop them off, or mail them with a note.
- Name your puppy. Before coloring, give the dog a name and write it across the top of the page. Younger kids can practice letters, and older kids can write a short story about their dog’s day.
More Animal Coloring Pages
Frog coloring pages · Eagle coloring pages · Jellyfish coloring pages · All animal coloring pages
Frequently Asked Questions
Are these dog coloring pages free? Yes. All 25 pages are free to print at home or in the classroom. Please don’t sell them or upload them to another website. See our licensing policy for details.
Which dog coloring page is easiest for a toddler? Start with Dachshund in a Cozy Sweater, Puppy Listening to Music or Graduation Puppy Reading an ABC Book. They have thick lines, big shapes and almost no background, which suits chunky crayons.
Do you have dog coloring pages for adults? Yes. Three Dogs Hiking in the Mountains and Shih Tzu on a Royal Cushion are made for teens and adults, and the Detailed pages, like the Siberian Husky portrait, are a good middle step.
Which dog breeds are in this collection? You’ll find a dachshund, golden retriever, Labrador, dalmatian, boxer, Siberian husky, shih tzu, corgi, bulldog, pug, beagle, poodle, Pomeranian-style puppy, cocker spaniel, greyhound, chihuahua, rottweiler and a sheepdog, plus cartoon puppies with fun jobs.
Will these pages print on A4 paper? Yes. Every PDF is set up for both US Letter and A4. If anything looks cut off, choose “Fit to page” in your print settings.
Can I color these dog pages online? Yes. Click “Color Online” under any page to color it in your browser. It works on tablets too, and there’s nothing to download.
Can I use these pages in my classroom? Yes. Print as many copies as your class needs. The Five Dog Breeds page and the puppy career pages work especially well for lessons and group activities.
