Dog Paper Plate Craft

Sharing is caring!

This paper plate dog craft is a total tail-wagger. A plain plate turns into a floppy-eared pup with a few construction paper shapes and some googly eyes, and every single one comes out with its own personality.

My kids love making a whole litter in different colors. It’s an easy pick for a rainy afternoon or a pet theme week.

Ages 3 to 6
Time About 30 minutes
Mess level Low: paint and glue
Builds Fine motor and following directions

What You Need for This Paper Plate Dog Craft

Dog Paper Plate Craft (visual directions + template)

Get the printable

Paper plate

View on Amazon

Brown and black construction paper

View on Amazon

Kid scissors

View on Amazon

Glue stick

View on Amazon

Googly eyes

View on Amazon

Black marker

View on Amazon

Some links above are affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Supplies for a dog paper plate craft including scissors, glue stick, googly eyes, construction paper (brown, black, and white), and a plain paper plate.

How to Make a Paper Plate Dog

Cut out the ears

Trace the two ear shapes from the template onto construction paper and cut them out.

Two brown construction paper dog ears cut out next to a pair of child-safe scissors, shown as part of a paper plate dog craft activity.

Fold and glue the ears

Fold each ear into thirds for that floppy look, then glue them to the top corners of the plate. A strip of tape on the back helps them stay put.

Brown paper dog ears folded into thirds, ready to be glued, as part of a paper plate dog craft activity.
White paper plate with floppy brown paper ears glued to the top sides, shown with a glue stick for a dog paper plate craft.

Add the spots

Cut out the spots and eye patch from the template, or let your child freehand their own. Big patches, tiny dots or a full polka-dot pup all work.

Brown construction paper cutouts for dog spots and eye patches next to a pair of child-safe scissors, ready for use in a dog paper plate craft.
White paper plate with floppy brown ears, eye patches, and a large spot glued on as part of a dog face craft, shown with an orange glue stick.

Add the nose and mouth

Cut the nose and the curvy mouth from black paper and glue them in the middle of the plate.

For younger kids, precut these or just draw the face on with a marker. Tiny curves are tough for little hands.

Black paper cutouts for a dog nose and mouth next to a pair of child-safe scissors, part of a dog paper plate craft activity.
Paper plate dog craft with brown ears, eye patches, and a large spot, now showing the glued-on black nose and smiling mouth below, with a glue stick nearby.

Add the googly eyes

Glue the googly eyes just above the nose. This is the moment the pup comes to life.

Completed paper plate dog craft with googly eyes, brown floppy ears, spots, and a smiling mouth, shown with an orange glue stick.

Let it dry and show it off

Give the glue a few minutes to set, then hang your pup on the fridge.

Finished dog paper plate craft featuring brown floppy ears, googly eyes, a black nose and mouth, and playful brown spots on a white paper plate.

Ways to Use It

  • Make a pup for each family member and line them up
  • Add a paper collar with your pet’s name
  • Use them in a pet shop or vet pretend play center
  • Pair with a favorite dog book at story time

More paper plate crafts

See all →

Paper Plate Dog Craft for Preschool, Pre-K and Kindergarten

Preschool

Paint, glue and decorate. You handle the tricky cutting, and kids point to each picture step as they go.

Pre-K

Trace the template and cut the straight lines. Follow the visual steps in order.

Kindergarten and up

Cut out every piece, add their own details, and retell the steps in order.

Get the Printable Visual Directions

Doing this with a group? The printable has picture steps for every part of the dog, plus a template you can trace.

What’s included

  • A picture supply list
  • Visual step-by-step directions
  • Photo step cards
  • A printable template
  • Instant PDF download, nothing is shipped

Perfect for

  • Preschool and kindergarten classrooms
  • Special education and speech therapy
  • Following directions practice
  • Thematic units
  • Homeschool art time

Paper Plate Dog Craft FAQ

How do you make the dog ears floppy?

Fold each paper ear into thirds before gluing it to the plate. It gives them that soft, droopy look.

What age is this paper plate dog craft for?

Ages 3 to 6. Preschoolers paint and glue with a little help, and kindergartners can trace and cut the pieces themselves.

Can I make it without paint?

Yes. Crayons, markers or torn construction paper work too and are less messy.

Do I need the template?

You can freehand the pieces, but the template and picture steps help kids work on their own and make it easy to do with a class.

More Crafts with Visual Directions

See all →

From families like yours

Did you try it? Tell us how it went!

We love seeing these activities out in the wild: the lumpy letters, the snack breaks, the proud “I made a B!” moments. Leave a star rating, tell other parents what worked (and what totally didn’t), and add a photo of your setup if you’d like.

No stories yet. Be the first family to share how it went!

Stephanie Oswald, early childhood intervention specialist and creator of Parenting Chaos

Hi, I’m Stephanie!

I’m an early childhood intervention specialist and the mom behind Parenting Chaos. I share simple, hands-on activities that help little ones learn through play. Coffee addict, nature junkie and kid at heart.

More about me →

Explore More Activities

Sharing is caring!