How to Draw Dog Man: Why Most People Get the Ears Wrong

You’ve seen him everywhere. The blue suit. The goofy grin. The badge. Dav Pilkey’s creation has basically taken over the world of children’s graphic novels, and honestly, it’s not hard to see why. There is something incredibly charming about a character who is literally a dog’s head sewn onto a policeman’s body. It's weird. It’s funny. It's Dog Man.

But here is the thing about learning how to draw Dog Man—it looks easy, right?

It’s just circles and lines. Except, if you get the proportions of that snout even slightly off, he looks like a generic hound instead of the hero we love. I’ve spent way too much time looking at Pilkey’s line work in For Whom the Ball Rolls and Mothering Heights, and there’s a specific "roughness" you have to capture. If your lines are too perfect, you’ve already failed. Dog Man shouldn’t look like he was rendered by a computer; he should look like he was doodled in the back of a math notebook by a kid named George or Harold.

Getting the Basics Down (The George and Harold Way)

First, forget everything you know about "proper" anatomy. We’re working with comic book logic here. To start how to draw Dog Man, you need to begin with the head. It’s basically a rounded rectangle or a very thick "U" shape turned on its side.

Don't use a ruler. Seriously, put it away.

The snout is the most important part. It needs to be slightly bulbous at the end. Think of it like a loaf of bread that’s been sitting out a bit too long. On top of that loaf, you’ve got two tiny, solid black ovals for eyes. They shouldn't be too far apart. In fact, they almost look like they’re floating above the bridge of his nose.

Then come the ears. Most people draw them pointing up like a German Shepherd, but Dog Man’s ears are floppy. They hang down like two long, flat teardrops on either side of his head. If you make them too stiff, he loses that "good boy" energy that makes the character work.

The Body and That Iconic Blue Suit

Once the head is floating there, you need the body. Dog Man isn't buff. He’s got a bit of a rectangular torso that tapers slightly at the waist. He’s a cop, so he’s wearing a uniform, but it’s the most simplified uniform in history.

Draw two straight lines down for the torso.
Then, add the arms.
The arms are just tubes.

The hands are where people usually get stuck. Pilkey draws them as simple circles with three or four little "nub" fingers. He isn't wearing gloves, though it sometimes looks like it because of the way the sleeves end. Just keep it simple. If you try to draw realistic fingers on Dog Man, it’s going to look terrifying. Stick to the nubs.

The Secret Sauce: Line Weight and Texture

If you look closely at the original books, the lines aren't smooth. Dav Pilkey actually uses a specific style where the lines are a bit shaky and thick. This is a deliberate choice. It gives the books their "created by kids" feel.

When you’re finishing your drawing, go over your pencil lines with a thick black marker. Don't worry if your hand shakes a little. That’s actually a good thing here. The "ink" should look heavy. If you’re using digital tools like Procreate, look for a brush that mimics a felt-tip marker or a slightly bleeding ink pen.

The "whiskers" are another tiny detail that everyone forgets. Dog Man has three little dots on each side of his snout. They’re small. They’re subtle. But without them, he just looks like a guy in a mask.

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Why the Badge Matters

You can’t learn how to draw Dog Man without mentioning the badge. It’s a simple star shape right in the middle of his chest. Again, don't make it perfect. It’s a five-pointed star that usually looks a little lopsided. This is the symbol of his authority—well, as much authority as a dog-headed cop can have while he’s busy chasing a psychokinetic fish or a grumpy cat named Petey.

Avoiding Common Mistakes

I see this a lot: people make the neck too long. Dog Man basically doesn't have a neck. His head sits right on top of his collar. If you add a neck, he starts looking like a weird giraffe-dog hybrid, and the silhouette is ruined.

Another big mistake is the hat. His police hat shouldn't be huge. It sits right between his ears, almost like it’s a size too small for him. It has a tiny little brim and a small star on it to match the badge on his chest.

• The Snout: Keep it rounded and long.
• The Eyes: Small, dark ovals, never circles with pupils.
• The Feet: They’re just rounded stumps. No toes are necessary unless he’s in a very specific pose.
• The Cape: If you’re drawing the "Bark Knight" version, the cape should look stiff and angular, not flowing and majestic like Batman's.

The Art of Petey the Cat (For Context)

You can't really master how to draw Dog Man without knowing how to draw his antagonist, Petey. They are foils of each other. Where Dog Man is rounded and soft, Petey is sharp and angular. Petey’s head is a perfect circle, his ears are sharp triangles, and his body is incredibly thin—like a noodle.

When you put them together on a page, the contrast between Dog Man’s "loaf" shape and Petey’s "noodle" shape is what makes the composition work. It’s basic character design 101, but Pilkey hides it under layers of silly jokes and "supa" action.

Real Talk About Skill Levels

Look, if your first drawing looks like a mess, that’s fine. In fact, that’s the spirit of the books. Dav Pilkey himself has talked about his struggles with ADHD and dyslexia in school, and how drawing these characters was his escape. The whole premise of Dog Man is that the comics are being "written" by two fourth graders.

So, if your lines are wobbly or the colors bleed outside the lines, you’re actually being more authentic to the source material than someone who creates a "perfect" version.

Actionable Next Steps for Your Masterpiece

Stop overthinking it. Seriously. Grab a piece of paper—doesn't even have to be good paper, a napkin works—and a black Sharpie.

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1. Start with that sideways "U" for the snout.
2. Add the two dots for eyes right above it.
3. Drop those floppy teardrop ears on the sides.
4. Draw the rectangular body and the lopsided star badge.
5. Give him his little "nub" hands and feet.
6. Color it in with the brightest blue and yellow you can find.

The most important thing you can do now is practice drawing him in motion. Draw him running. Draw him jumping. Draw him accidentally eating a piece of evidence because, well, he’s still a dog. The more you draw him, the more you’ll realize that the "mistakes" are actually what give the character his soul. Once you’ve got the basic shape down, try experimenting with different expressions—Dog Man is usually happy, but his "determined" face (eyebrows slanted down) is a classic. Grab your markers and get to work.