A dog’s ears are one of its most expressive and defining features. They can stand tall and alert at the slightest sound, flop down in a look of soft contentment, or fold back in uncertainty.
When you’re drawing a dog, the ears are what often give the portrait its personality and breed-specific character.
Learning how to draw dog ears is a fundamental skill that can elevate your animal art from generic to full of life.
However, for many aspiring artists, drawing ears can be a frustrating challenge. They can seem like complex, shapeless forms that are difficult to get right.
This guide is here to change that. We will break down the process into simple, understandable steps, starting with the basic anatomy that applies to all dog ears.
From there, we will explore how to draw several common ear types, from alert, pointed ears to long, floppy hound ears.
Grab your pencil and paper, because you’re about to unlock the secrets to drawing beautiful, realistic, and expressive dog ears with confidence and skill.
Table of Contents
The Foundation: Understanding Basic Ear Anatomy
Before you can draw any type of dog ear well, it helps to understand the simple structure that lies beneath the fur.
You don’t need to be a veterinarian, but knowing the basic parts will make your drawings much more believable. Every dog ear, regardless of its shape or size, shares a common foundation.
The “Concha” – The Ear Canal Opening
This is the cup-like, fleshy part of the ear that surrounds the ear canal. Even on dogs with floppy ears, this part is more rigid and is attached to the skull. When drawing, think of it as the anchor point. The rest of the ear will either stand up from or fold over from this base.
The “Pinna” – The Ear Flap
This is the visible, external part of the ear that we typically think of as the “ear.” It’s made of cartilage covered in skin and fur. The shape, size, and thickness of the pinna are what create the incredible diversity in dog ear types.
Seeing in Simple Shapes
The key to drawing complex forms is to simplify them. Think of the concha as a small, curved “C” or “U” shape attached to the side of the dog’s head. The pinna can be simplified into a basic geometric shape:
- Pointed Ears: Think of a triangle.
- Floppy Ears: Think of a long rectangle or a teardrop shape.
- Button Ears: Think of a small, folded-over triangle.
By starting your drawing with these basic shapes, you create a solid “blueprint” that makes adding details like folds, curves, and fur much easier. This is the most fundamental part of learning how to draw dog ears accurately.
Your Artist’s Toolkit for Ear-resistible Drawings
The great news is that you don’t need a lot of fancy supplies to start drawing. A few basic tools are all you need to follow along with this guide and create beautiful drawings.
Essential Drawing Supplies
- Pencils: A standard HB (or No. 2) pencil is perfect for sketching. If you want to add more depth with shading, a small set of drawing pencils (like a 2H for light lines, a 2B for darker lines, and a 4B or 6B for deep shadows) is a great asset.
- Paper: A sketchbook with smooth-surfaced paper is ideal. A smooth surface is easier to erase and allows for cleaner lines and shading.
- Eraser: A kneaded eraser is an artist’s best friend. It can be molded to lift out small highlights and won’t damage the paper. A classic white plastic eraser also works well.
- Reference Photos: This is your most valuable tool! It’s very difficult to draw from imagination alone. Find clear, high-quality photos of the dog breeds you want to draw. Pay close attention to the shape of the ears, where they attach to the head, and how they fold.
Helpful Extras for Finer Details
- Blending Stump or Tortillon: These paper tools are perfect for smudging graphite to create soft, smooth shading, which is excellent for rendering the soft inner part of a dog’s ear.
- Fine-Point Pen: Outlining your final pencil sketch with a black fine-liner can give your drawing a clean, illustrative look.
Now that your supplies are ready, let’s dive into drawing our first set of ears.
Tutorial 1: How to Draw Pointed (Prick) Ears
Pointed ears, like those on a German Shepherd or a Siberian Husky, are expressive and convey a sense of alertness. Their shape is based on a simple triangle, making them a great starting point for beginners.
Step 1: Position the Ears on the Head
Lightly sketch a circle for the dog’s head. Pointed ears are typically set high on the head and are relatively close together. Draw two light, triangular shapes on top of the head to map out their placement and size.
Step 2: Define the Shape and Add the Inner Ear
Refine the triangular shapes, giving the outer edges a slight curve to make them look more organic. The inner edge of the ear (the one closer to the center of the head) should be straighter. Inside each triangle, draw the “concha” or inner ear structure. This will be a complex-looking “Y” or “W” shape of cartilage folds. Look closely at your reference photo to see how these folds create depth.
Step 3: Add Fur Texture and Shading
Ears aren’t flat. Use shading to make them look three-dimensional. The inside of the ear is a deep cup, so it will be the darkest area. Use a soft pencil (like a 2B or 4B) to add dark shadows inside the ear canal. Use short, fine pencil strokes along the edges of the ear to create a soft, furry texture. The fur on the back of the ear is often very short and dense. Use smooth shading to show this.
Step 4: Refine the Details
Erase your initial guidelines. Darken the shadows to increase the sense of depth. Use your kneaded eraser to lift out a few highlights on the prominent edges of the inner ear cartilage to make it look shiny and realistic. Add some longer, wispier hairs around the base of the ear where it connects to the head.
Tutorial 2: How to Draw Floppy (Pendant) Ears
Long, floppy ears, like those on a Basset Hound or a Beagle, are full of character and movement. The secret to drawing them well is understanding how they fold and hang from the head.
Step 1: Sketch the Placement and Basic Shape
Lightly sketch the dog’s head. Floppy ears are set lower on the side of the head compared to pointed ears. From this attachment point, lightly sketch a long, soft, rectangular or teardrop shape to represent the hanging ear flap (the pinna). Don’t worry about details yet; just capture the general length and shape.
Step 2: Define the Fold and the Inner Ear
This is the most important step for floppy ears. The ear doesn’t just hang flat; it has a distinct fold near the top where it flips over. Draw this fold as a soft, curved line. The underside or inner part of the ear will be visible just below this fold. This is often a different color or texture, so define this area. Refine the overall shape of the ear, giving it soft, rounded corners at the bottom.
Step 3: Add Shading for Dimension
Shading is what makes a floppy ear look soft and heavy. The area directly under the main fold will be in shadow, so make this the darkest part of your drawing. The inner ear leather is usually smooth, so you can use a blending stump to create soft, even shading here. The outer, furry part of the ear will catch the light, so keep this area lighter.
Step 4: Add Fur and Fine Details
Use long, flowing pencil strokes that follow the curve of the ear to suggest the silky fur. Add a few darker lines within the main body of the ear to suggest subtle folds and movement in the leather. Erase your initial guidelines and use your eraser to add a bright highlight along the top edge of the main fold to show where the light is hitting it.
Tutorial 3: How to Draw Button (Folded) Ears
Button ears, seen on breeds like Jack Russell Terriers and Pugs, are semi-pricked ears where the tip folds forward, covering the ear canal. They give a dog a perpetually curious and alert expression.
Step 1: Start with an Upright Triangle
Just like with pointed ears, begin by lightly sketching a triangular shape set high on the dog’s head. This will be the base of the ear that stands upright.
Step 2: Draw the Fold
About two-thirds of the way up the triangle, draw a horizontal fold line. From this line, draw the top part of the ear folding forward and down. The tip of the ear should point towards the dog’s eye. This creates the characteristic “button” flap.
Step 3: Add Thickness and Depth
An ear is not paper-thin. Add a second line along the outer edge of the folded tip to show its thickness. The small V-shaped space created by the fold is a key detail. This area will be in deep shadow.
Step 4: Shade and Add Texture
Use your softest pencil to fill in the dark, shadowed area inside the fold. This creates a strong sense of dimension. The fur on button ears is typically very short. Use short, precise pencil strokes to add texture. Use your eraser to add a sharp highlight along the top edge of the fold line. This will make the fold look crisp and defined.
Exploring Other Ear Types
The principles you’ve just learned can be applied to any ear type. The process is always the same: start with a simple shape, define the key folds, and then add shading and texture.
- Rose Ears (e.g., Greyhound, Bulldog): These are small ears that fold backward, partially revealing the inner ear. Start with a small, rounded triangle and add a distinct backward fold.
- Bat Ears (e.g., French Bulldog, Corgi): These are large, upright ears with very wide bases and rounded tips. Think of them as large, wide triangles with the corners rounded off. The inner ear structure is very prominent.
Your Next Steps in Drawing
You now have a solid, step-by-step method for how to draw dog ears with accuracy and personality. You’ve learned to see the simple shapes within the complex forms and to use shading to create depth and realism. This is a massive step forward in your artistic journey.
The best way to improve is to practice. Don’t stop with just one drawing.
- Study Your References: Spend time just looking at photos of different dog breeds. Observe how the ears attach to the head and how they move and fold.
- Sketch from Life: If you have a dog, try sketching their ears while they are resting. This is a fantastic challenge that will teach you more than any photo can.
- Fill a Page: Dedicate an entire sketchbook page to just drawing ears. Draw them from the front, from the side, and from the back.
Remember, every drawing is a learning experience. Be patient with yourself and enjoy the process of bringing these expressive, character-filled features to life on the page. You have the tools and the knowledge—now go create
