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Description
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other guides

You are allowed to use, edit and trace this image for your learning experience. No need to ask for permission!
Though if you do learn something from it, please link back to this tutorial - Credit is always appreciated!

NOTICE:The measurements are NOT absolutely anatomically precise, and is meant more as a mental guide for when you want to practice paws and have no available from-life reference photos.
This is, however, one of the easiest ways (for me) to remember how to draw paws. I place my line guides more along the amount of toe visible, as they are usually semi-shrouded by the tufts of fur between them.

This is based off of a wolf's paw; Their toes are much longer than the average domestic dog.

I notice a lot of people have trouble drawing paws correctly (if they are actually trying to draw them with realistic anatomy, as opposed to "toony" anatomy)

So I cropped the paws out of a commission I was working on and made a super quick chart from it. I hope some of you may find it useful!

Also, regarding dewclaws; They CAN grow on hind paws, it's just uncommon. See here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dewclaw#…

Quick Notes:
• Claws are typically somewhat short and blunt (or with a rounded point), NOT sharp; Wolves are wild animals and not spoiled puppies, they trek a lot of rough ground their whole lives which (usually) keeps their nails worn. If claws are short, they point more outward rather than downward. The longer the claw, the more it curves down.

• Wolf paws are more of a rectangle shape, rather than round; Try to avoid making them too "soft", or make the toes too short and scrunched - A common mistake even I've made several times.

• Wolf toes are long and flexible - Don't be afraid to draw them splayed out on an uneven surface like fingers would. Some great examples: 2014 TS March 2 + Berlin 11

• Paw pads are squishy; Don't make the subject hover on their pawpads - Their body's weight pushes them flat against the ground, which makes them hard to see (usually) when standing.

• Canine legs have multiple joints; Avoid drawing exaggerated legs that are too bent or too straight. Study the joints of the legs so they flow better, so as to avoid "drumstick syndrome" -
(Where a leg protrudes "outside" of the body at the hip or shoulder, rather than flowing naturally with the body - Otherwise, it looks like a chicken drumstick. That's my explanation at least!)

For further reference, here are some amazing anatomical charts of a domestic canine body I've found on Google -
I in no way claim these works as mine and are used only for reviewing purposes.
• Canine - Top view
• Canine - Front view
• Canine - Rear view
• Canine - Hind legs structure
• Canine - Front legs structure

Description
« DA | FA | RPR | TUMBLR | PICARTO »

other guides

You are allowed to use, edit and trace this image for your learning experience. No need to ask for permission!
Though if you do learn something from it, please link back to this tutorial - Credit is always appreciated!

NOTICE:The measurements are NOT absolutely anatomically precise, and is meant more as a mental guide for when you want to practice paws and have no available from-life reference photos.
This is, however, one of the easiest ways (for me) to remember how to draw paws. I place my line guides more along the amount of toe visible, as they are usually semi-shrouded by the tufts of fur between them.

This is based off of a wolf's paw; Their toes are much longer than the average domestic dog.

I notice a lot of people have trouble drawing paws correctly (if they are actually trying to draw them with realistic anatomy, as opposed to "toony" anatomy)

So I cropped the paws out of a commission I was working on and made a super quick chart from it. I hope some of you may find it useful!

Also, regarding dewclaws; They CAN grow on hind paws, it's just uncommon. See here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dewclaw#…

Quick Notes:
• Claws are typically somewhat short and blunt (or with a rounded point), NOT sharp; Wolves are wild animals and not spoiled puppies, they trek a lot of rough ground their whole lives which (usually) keeps their nails worn. If claws are short, they point more outward rather than downward. The longer the claw, the more it curves down.

• Wolf paws are more of a rectangle shape, rather than round; Try to avoid making them too "soft", or make the toes too short and scrunched - A common mistake even I've made several times.

• Wolf toes are long and flexible - Don't be afraid to draw them splayed out on an uneven surface like fingers would. Some great examples: 2014 TS March 2 + Berlin 11

• Paw pads are squishy; Don't make the subject hover on their pawpads - Their body's weight pushes them flat against the ground, which makes them hard to see (usually) when standing.

• Canine legs have multiple joints; Avoid drawing exaggerated legs that are too bent or too straight. Study the joints of the legs so they flow better, so as to avoid "drumstick syndrome" -
(Where a leg protrudes "outside" of the body at the hip or shoulder, rather than flowing naturally with the body - Otherwise, it looks like a chicken drumstick. That's my explanation at least!)

For further reference, here are some amazing anatomical charts of a domestic canine body I've found on Google -
I in no way claim these works as mine and are used only for reviewing purposes.
• Canine - Top view
• Canine - Front view
• Canine - Rear view
• Canine - Hind legs structure
• Canine - Front legs structure