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PlayOwl
A brown origami dog face with two floppy ears, a white snout, two eyes and a black nose.
The finished project.

Origami · folding only

Dog Face

  • Starter (level 1 of 5)
  • 5 min
  • 6 steps
  • Ages 4–8 (a guide, not a rule)
  • No scissors
  • No glue
  • No adult help needed
Start Making Print

This is one of the first origami models many children learn. Five folds turn a square into a dog face with floppy ears, then you draw the eyes and nose. Use paper that is colored on one side and white on the other so you can see each fold.

Before you start

You need

Decorating (optional): Draw the eyes, nose and mouth with a marker. You can add spots or a tongue too.

No square of origami paper? No origami paper? Fold the corner of a printer sheet over to the opposite edge, then cut or tear off the extra strip to make a square.

How to place the paper before the first step
Your paper: Put the square down like a diamond, with one corner pointing up and the white side facing up.
  • Valley fold: blue dashes. Fold toward you, like a valley.
  • Mountain fold: pink dash-dot. Fold away from you, like a mountain.

Step by step

Each step shows what to do (left) and how it should look after (right).

  1. Step 1: valley fold, shown on the paper Do this
    Step 1 result Result
    Step 1 of 6 Valley fold Fold the top corner down to meet the bottom corner. Press the fold flat.
  2. Step 2: valley fold, shown on the paper Do this
    Step 2 result Result
    Step 2 of 6 Valley fold Fold the left corner down along a slanted line to make a floppy ear.
  3. Step 3: valley fold, shown on the paper Do this
    Step 3 result Result
    Step 3 of 6 Valley fold Fold the right corner down the same way to make the other ear.
  4. Step 4: valley fold, shown on the paper Do this
    Step 4 result Result
    Step 4 of 6 Valley fold Fold up the bottom point of the top layer only, to make the snout.
  5. Step 5: mountain fold, shown on the paper Do this
    Step 5 result Result
    Step 5 of 6 Mountain fold Fold the last bottom point behind the face so the chin is flat.
  6. Step 6: draw, shown on the paper Do this
    Step 6 result Result
    Step 6 of 6 Draw Draw two eyes and a nose with a marker. Your dog is ready!
A brown origami dog face with two floppy ears, a white snout, two eyes and a black nose.

You made it!

Yours may look a little different. That is part of making things by hand.

Print the steps

If something goes wrong

The ears are different sizes.

Fold the second ear so its tip is at the same height as the first. Unfold and try again if needed: the creases will guide you.

The snout fold catches both layers.

Lift just the top layer with your fingernail before you fold it up.

The chin will not stay folded behind.

Press the fold line hard with your fingernail, then fold the point behind again.

Helpful hints

  • Line up the corners exactly before you press each fold flat.
  • Run your fingernail along every fold to make it sharp.

The traditional dog face, a widely taught beginner model. Diagrams drawn for PlayOwl.

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