Origami Dog – Step by Step Tutorial
Craft this adorable origami dog with this step-by-step tutorial. When you’re done, check out these origami cats! This post contains affiliate links.
Are we all animal lovers here? Good, because we’re about to add a friendly origami pup to the family! This paper craft is so simple to make with a totally rewarding result. This is a great choice for origami beginners, as well as a fun activity for those who are already into it. The folding is simple enough for even small, young fingers.
I tend to find origami to be mindful, and this origami dog is so satisfying to create.
Being easy doesn’t make this craft simplistic, though – you can add as much personality to it as you’d like. I’ve gone with a classic brown dog with a collar, but you can change it up by using different colored papers, drawing spots or other features, and adding accessories, such as a ribbon leash.
You can especially have fun with facial expressions by changing the direction of the eyes, adding eyebrows, or adjusting the shape of the mouth. And of course, iIt’s easy to vary the size of your dog friends by using different sizes of paper.
If you happen to have a hole punch with a fun shape (or even a circle), you can use that to help you make the dog’s tag for its collar. If not, you can just cut one out with a scissor. Use a Micron or similar fineliner to add your own pup’s name to the collar!
This dog was created by using glue to combine a folded head with a folded body. If you’re a one-page origami purist, or if you just feel like it, you can make the head alone as a doggie-faced portrait. It would make a cute decoration for a notebook, card, or gift box.
Because this is a relatively simple project without too many folds, you can use pretty much any type of paper. Usually thinner paper is best for origami, but I think you could pull this one off fine with construction paper if you’d like. Be aware that if using something to help you with your folds, a bone folder would be the best option, as its smooth edge won’t tear at the fibers of the construction paper
Get ready to adopt your new paper pet today!
What you’ll need
- Colored paper (origami or thin copy paper are recommended)
- Scissors
- Glue
- Markers
- Recommended: bone folder
How to fold an origami dog
1. Choose two square sheets of paper for the dog’s body and head (or turn a rectangular paper into a square by folding one side down into a triangle and trimming off the extra). Choose a different color for the dog’s collar and collar tag, and cut out eyes from white paper.
2. Take one of the square papers and fold it in half diagonally.
3. Bend one corner of the closed side over to the other as if you’re going to fold it in half, but only make a slight crease to mark the center.
4. Take the same corner as before and fold it downward. The fold should start from that slight crease you just made, and slant down to the middle of the open right side of the triangle. The tip of the corner will stick out past the edge of the triangle.
5. Fold the opposite corner the same way. These are the ears of the origami dog.
6. Fold the tip of one of the ears up slightly, about 1 cm, keeping the corner aligned with the inner edge of the ear.
7. Unfold the last fold.
8. Tuck that new creased part inside itself.
9. Repeat steps 6-8 on the other side.
10. Flip the entire project over to the other side.
11. Fold down the pointed top about 1 cm.
12. Flip back to the front again. Glue on eyes and use a marker to draw facial features such as mouth and nose. This completes the dog’s head.
13. Take the other square paper to make the dog’s body.
14. Fold it in half diagonally.
15. Take one of the open sides and fold it over about 2cm, aligning the bottom edge that you’re folding with the bottom edge of the open right side
16. Unfold the top layer of that fold, opening up the corner tip so you can flatten it down.
17. Now the next layer of paper is on top. Fold that in half lengthwise, back toward its folded edge.
18. Now fold the opposite edge in half to meet that one in middle.
19. Flip over the whole page.
20. Take the corner opposite from the side you just folded, and fold it over toward the center, aligning the open sides.
21. Fold that corner back on itself so that it sticks out past the previous fold. Tilt it upward a little before creasing it. This is the dog’s tail.
22. Flip back to the other side.
23. Glue the head onto the body.
24. Cut a little strip of a contrasting color paper for the collar, and glue it under the head. Add a tag or charm to the collar.
Your origami dog is complete! Which origami would you like to learn next? Comment below!
Origami Dog Tutorial
Materials
- Colored paper (origami or thin copy paper are recommended)
- Scissors
- Glue
- Markers
Instructions
Choose two square sheets of paper for the dog’s body and head (or turn a rectangular paper into a square by folding one side down into a triangle and trimming off the extra). Choose a different color for the dog’s collar and collar tag, and cut out eyes from white paper.
Take one of the square papers and fold it in half diagonally.
Bend one corner of the closed side over to the other as if you’re going to fold it in half, but only make a slight crease to mark the center.
Take the same corner as before and fold it downward. The fold should start from that slight crease you just made, and slant down to the middle of the open right side of the triangle. The tip of the corner will stick out past the edge of the triangle.
Fold the opposite corner the same way. These are the ears of the origami dog.
Fold the tip of one of the ears up slightly, about 1 cm, keeping the corner aligned with the inner edge of the ear.
Unfold the last fold.
Tuck that new creased part inside itself.
Repeat steps 6-8 on the other side.
Flip the entire project over to the other side.
Fold down the pointed top about 1 cm.
Flip back to the front again. Glue on eyes and use a marker to draw facial features such as mouth and nose. This completes the dog’s head.
Take the other square paper to make the dog’s body.
Fold it in half diagonally.
Take one of the open sides and fold it over about 2cm, aligning the bottom edge that you’re folding with the bottom edge of the open right side
Unfold the top layer of that fold, opening up the corner tip so you can flatten it down.
Now the next layer of paper is on top. Fold that in half lengthwise, back toward its folded edge.
Now fold the opposite edge in half to meet that one in middle.
Flip over the whole page.
Take the corner opposite from the side you just folded, and fold it over toward the center, aligning the open sides.
Fold that corner back on itself so that it sticks out past the previous fold. Tilt it upward a little before creasing it. This is the dog’s tail.
Flip back to the other side.
Glue the head onto the body.
Cut a little strip of a contrasting color paper for the collar, and glue it under the head. Add a tag or charm to the collar.
