Dog Crochet Pattern (Floppy-Eared Puppy, Free)

Everybody loves a puppy, and a crochet puppy never needs walking and never chews your shoes. This free dog crochet pattern gives you a sweet floppy-eared puppy amigurumi with a round head, soft droopy ears, a plump little body, and a wagging tail. It sits up on its own, fits in the palm of a childs hand, and makes a wonderful gift for dog lovers, new pet owners, and anyone who needs a loyal friend on their shelf.

This is an original Little Loop Finds design, written in US terms and completely free. The puppy is built from simple shapes: a round head, an oval body, and small tubes for the arms and legs. The floppy ears are the star of the show, and they are much easier than they look. Each ear is a flat oval worked in rows, with a gentle curve that makes it flop naturally over the side of the head. If you can work a magic ring, single crochet, and increases, you can make this puppy.

A quick note on scope: this post is about a floppy-eared puppy amigurumi, not a dachshund, not a dog sweater, and not a dog hat. If you want other dog projects for your shelf, we have those too, and you will find links to them below.

Key Takeaways

• Free original pattern: this dog crochet pattern is a Little Loop Finds original design, written in US terms, and completely free.
• Classic floppy-eared puppy: soft round head, long droopy ears, plump body, and a wagging tail.
• Beginner friendly amigurumi: simple rounds, easy increases and decreases, and no complicated colorwork.
• Weekend project: about 4 to 5 hours from first stitch to finished smile, including assembly.
• Wonderfully giftable: perfect for birthdays, baby showers, new pet owners, and anyone who loves dogs.

Table of Contents

• Why You Will Love This Puppy
• Finished Size, Skill Level, and Time
• Materials You Need
• Abbreviations (US Terms)
• Gauge and Sizing Notes
• Part 1: Head and Body
• Part 2: Ears, Muzzle, Tail, Arms, and Legs
• Part 3: Face and Assembly
• Variations: Breeds, Colors, and Accessories
• Troubleshooting Puppies That Wobble or Lean
• Care Instructions
• Frequently Asked Questions

Why You Will Love This Puppy

Dogs are the most popular pet in the world, and a crochet puppy captures everything people love about them: the big eyes, the floppy ears, and the hopeful little face. A crochet puppy keeps all of that charm in a toy that never sheds, never barks at the postman, and never needs a trip to the vet. It is the perfect companion for a childs bed, a desk, or a car dashboard.

This design is also a great stash project. One skein of tan or cream worsted weight yarn makes the whole puppy, with yarn left over for the ears, muzzle, and tail. You can work the body in an evening, then add the ears and face the next morning. Kids love receiving a toy that was clearly made just for them, and adults love them too, especially new dog owners and veterinary nurses. The finished puppy is soft enough to cuddle and sturdy enough to sit on a shelf or a bedside table.

Finished Size, Skill Level, and Time

• Finished size: about 9 inches tall sitting up and 6 inches wide including the ears, in worsted weight yarn.
• Skill level: Easy. You need a magic ring, chains, slip stitches, single crochet, half double crochet, and double crochet, plus simple increases and decreases.
• Time: about 4 to 5 hours total: roughly 1 hour for the head, 1 hour for the body, 1 hour for the ears and limbs, and 1 hour for the face and assembly.

Materials You Need

Acrylic yarn is a great choice here because it is soft, washable, and comes in every dog color from cream to chocolate. Cotton gives crisper stitch definition and a slightly firmer toy. Whichever you choose, work with a hook one size smaller than usual, because a firm fabric keeps the stuffing hidden and the shape smooth.

Abbreviations (US Terms)

• ch = chain
• sl st = slip stitch
• sc = single crochet
• hdc = half double crochet
• dc = double crochet
• inc = increase (2 sc in the same stitch)
• dec = decrease (sc 2 together)
• BLO = back loop only
• FLO = front loop only
• st(s) = stitch(es)
• rnd(s) = round(s)
• rep = repeat
• MR = magic ring

Gauge and Sizing Notes

Gauge for this puppy is more about firmness than exact numbers. Work 4 inches of single crochet in the round and check that you cannot easily see stuffing through the fabric. If you can, go down a hook size. If your fabric feels stiff like cardboard, go up a hook size, because you still need to be able to push a needle through for assembly and face embroidery.

To make a smaller puppy, use DK yarn and a 3.5 mm hook for a palm sized friend about 7 inches tall. For a larger one, use chunky yarn and a 5.5 mm hook for a cuddly version about 12 inches tall. The proportions matter most: the head wide and round, the ears long enough to flop past the chin, and the body plump and sturdy.

Part 1: Head and Body

The head and body are worked as one piece from the top of the head to the bottom of the body, which means fewer seams and a smoother shape. Work in continuous rounds (do not join) and use a stitch marker to mark the first stitch of each round. Stuff as you go, adding a little at a time so the shape stays even, and stop stuffing two rounds before the end so you can close neatly.

Head

With tan or cream yarn, MR, ch 1.

• Rnd 1: 6 sc in MR. (6 sts)
• Rnd 2: inc in each st around. (12 sts)
• Rnd 3: (sc, inc) rep around. (18 sts)
• Rnd 4: (2 sc, inc) rep around. (24 sts)
• Rnd 5: (3 sc, inc) rep around. (30 sts)
• Rnd 6: (4 sc, inc) rep around. (36 sts)
• Rnd 7: (5 sc, inc) rep around. (42 sts)
• Rnd 8: (6 sc, inc) rep around. (48 sts)
• Rnd 9: (7 sc, inc) rep around. (54 sts)
• Rnd 10: (8 sc, inc) rep around. (60 sts)
• Rnds 11 to 18: sc around. (60 sts)
• Rnd 19: (8 sc, dec) rep around. (54 sts)
• Rnd 20: (7 sc, dec) rep around. (48 sts)
• Rnd 21: (6 sc, dec) rep around. (42 sts)

This is a good moment to place the safety eyes. Put them between Rnds 14 and 15, about 10 stitches apart, with the washers secured firmly inside. If this puppy is for a baby or a toddler, skip the safety eyes and embroider two small black ovals instead, because embroidered eyes can never come loose. Stuff the head firmly now, shaping it into a wide, round dome with your hands, and keep stuffing lightly as you continue down the body.

• Rnd 22: (5 sc, dec) rep around. (36 sts)
• Rnd 23: sc around. (36 sts)
• Rnd 24: (5 sc, inc) rep around. (42 sts)
• Rnd 25: (6 sc, inc) rep around. (48 sts)
• Rnds 26 to 32: sc around. (48 sts) This straight section is the plump body.
• Rnd 33: (6 sc, dec) rep around. (42 sts)
• Rnd 34: (5 sc, dec) rep around. (36 sts)
• Rnd 35: (4 sc, dec) rep around. (30 sts) Stuff the body firmly, keeping the bottom flat so the puppy can sit.
• Rnd 36: (3 sc, dec) rep around. (24 sts)
• Rnd 37: (2 sc, dec) rep around. (18 sts)
• Rnd 38: (sc, dec) rep around. (12 sts)
• Rnd 39: dec around. (6 sts) Fasten off and weave in the end, closing the small hole with a tapestry needle.

Part 2: Ears, Muzzle, Tail, Arms, and Legs

Ears (make 2)

The ears are what make this puppy a puppy, so give them your full attention. Each ear is a flat oval worked in rows in brown yarn, long enough to flop past the chin. Make two identical ears.

With brown yarn, ch 8.

• Row 1: sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. (7 sts)
• Row 2: ch 1, turn, inc, sc in next 5 sts, inc. (9 sts)
• Row 3: ch 1, turn, inc, sc in next 7 sts, inc. (11 sts)
• Rows 4 to 10: ch 1, turn, sc in each st across. (11 sts)
• Row 11: ch 1, turn, dec, sc in next 7 sts, dec. (9 sts)
• Row 12: ch 1, turn, sc across. (9 sts)
• Row 13: ch 1, turn, dec, sc in next 5 sts, dec. (7 sts)
• Row 14: ch 1, turn, sc across. (7 sts)
• Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Do not stuff the ears; they should stay flat and floppy.

Muzzle

The muzzle is a small oval worked in white or cream yarn, sewn onto the lower front of the head. It gives the puppy its friendly face and a perfect spot for the nose.

With white yarn, MR, ch 1.

• Rnd 1: 6 sc in MR. (6 sts)
• Rnd 2: inc in each st around. (12 sts)
• Rnd 3: (sc, inc) rep around. (18 sts)
• Rnd 4: (2 sc, inc) rep around. (24 sts)
• Rnd 5: sc around. (24 sts)
• Fasten off, leaving a long tail for sewing. Stuff very lightly, just enough to give the muzzle a gentle puff, before you sew it on.

Tail

With tan yarn, MR, ch 1.

• Rnd 1: 6 sc in MR. (6 sts)
• Rnd 2: inc in each st around. (12 sts)
• Rnds 3 to 7: sc around. (12 sts)
• Rnd 8: (sc, dec) rep around. (8 sts)
• Rnd 9: sc around. (8 sts)
• Fasten off, leaving a long tail. Stuff very lightly, just enough to hold the shape, because a tail that is stuffed too firmly sticks straight out instead of wagging.

Arms (make 2)

With tan yarn, MR, ch 1.

• Rnd 1: 6 sc in MR. (6 sts)
• Rnd 2: inc in each st around. (12 sts)
• Rnds 3 to 6: sc around. (12 sts)
• Rnd 7: (sc, dec) rep around. (8 sts)
• Rnds 8 to 9: sc around. (8 sts)
• Fasten off, leaving a long tail. Stuff very lightly, just enough to hold the shape, because arms that are stuffed too firmly stick out at odd angles.

Legs (make 2)

With tan yarn, MR, ch 1.

• Rnd 1: 6 sc in MR. (6 sts)
• Rnd 2: inc in each st around. (12 sts)
• Rnd 3: (sc, inc) rep around. (18 sts)
• Rnds 4 to 6: sc around. (18 sts)
• Rnd 7: (sc, dec) rep around. (12 sts)
• Rnd 8: sc around. (12 sts)
• Fasten off, leaving a long tail. Stuff lightly, keeping the bottom of each leg flat so it helps the puppy sit upright.

Part 3: Face and Assembly

Assembly is where a pile of tan and brown pieces becomes a puppy, so take your time and pin everything before you sew.

1. Sew the muzzle to the lower front of the head, centered below and between the eyes, stuffing it very lightly just before you close the last few stitches.
2. Embroider the nose on the muzzle with dark brown or black yarn: a small triangle of satin stitch at the top of the muzzle, with a short vertical line down to the smile. Add a curved smile line on each side, like a little upside down V, for a friendly puppy mouth.
3. Sew the ears to the sides of the head, starting at about eye level and letting them flop down past the chin. Pin first, check that both ears hang at the same length, then sew along the top edge only.
4. Sew the tail to the back of the body, low down and centered, angled slightly upward so it looks like it is wagging.
5. Sew the arms to the sides of the body, about halfway down, angled slightly forward so they look like they are reaching out for a hug.
6. Sew the legs to the bottom front of the body, spaced evenly, so they act like little feet that help the puppy sit up.
7. Weave in all ends, then fluff the puppy with your fingers.

If you want a matching outfit for your puppy, a crochet dog collar pattern makes a sweet accessory, and a dog sweater pattern keeps a real dog warm on winter walks. For a complete dog themed shelf, the dog hat crochet pattern is a fun next project.

Variations: Breeds, Colors, and Accessories

• Chocolate lab puppy: work the whole puppy in chocolate brown yarn, with tan ears and a cream muzzle, for a sweet Labrador look.
• Black and tan puppy: use black yarn for the body and tan yarn for the muzzle, chest patch, and eyebrows, for a little terrier or Rottweiler mix.
• Shih tzu style: make the ears extra long by adding two more rows before the decreases, and add a tiny topknot of yarn on the head. Our shih tzu crochet pattern has more ideas for small fluffy breeds.
• Long dog friend: if you love long dogs too, the crochet weiner dog pattern makes a dachshund in the same style, so the two look perfect together on a shelf.

If your puppy needs an aquatic friend on the shelf, the axolotl crochet pattern in this same series makes a cute pink axolotl in the same size and style, so the two look perfect together.

Troubleshooting Puppies That Wobble or Lean

• My puppy will not sit up. The bottom of the body needs to be flat and firmly stuffed, and the legs need to be sewn on evenly. Press the puppy on a table, add a little more stuffing to the thin side, and reposition the legs so they sit flat.
• The ears stick out instead of flopping. Sew only the top edge of each ear to the head, and let the rest hang free. If the ears still stick out, add one more row of single crochet to lengthen them.
• One ear hangs lower than the other. Unpick the higher ear, re-pin it while looking at the puppy from the front, and sew again.
• I can see stuffing through the stitches. Go down a hook size for the next piece, and for the finished puppy, add a thin inner lining of tan felt inside the worst spot if needed.

Care Instructions

Dust your puppy with a soft dry cloth. If it gets grubby, hand wash it gently in cool water with a tiny amount of mild soap, squeeze it gently without wringing, and let it air dry completely. Do not machine wash a puppy with safety eyes, because the agitation can loosen them, and do not put it in the dryer. Reshape the ears with your fingers while it is still damp, and store it away from direct sunlight.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this dog crochet pattern good for beginners?

Yes, as a second or third amigurumi project, not your very first. You should be comfortable with a magic ring, single crochet, and increases. If those feel familiar, the head and body are just the same increase rhythm you already know, and the ears are simple rows of single crochet.

How big is the finished puppy?

About 9 inches tall when sitting up and 6 inches wide including the ears, in worsted weight yarn with a 4.0 mm hook. Chunky yarn gives a puppy closer to 12 inches tall, while DK yarn gives a palm sized friend around 7 inches tall.

Are safety eyes safe for a baby gift?

Safety eyes are not recommended for children under three, because any plastic part can come loose with enough chewing and pulling. For a baby gift, embroider the eyes with black yarn instead, using small ovals of satin stitch.

What yarn is best for a crochet dog?

Soft acrylic is the most popular choice because it is washable, comes in perfect dog colors, and is gentle enough for cuddling. Cotton gives crisper stitch definition and a firmer toy. Avoid fuzzy yarn for your first puppy, because it hides your stitches.

Can I make the puppy look like my own dog?

Absolutely. Match the yarn to your dogs coat, add a patch over one eye, or change the ear length to match your breed. Floppy ears suit spaniels and labs, while shorter ears suit terriers.

How do I keep the ears floppy?

Sew only the top edge of each ear to the head, and let the rest hang free. If the ears curl, smooth them flat with your fingers while the puppy is still slightly damp after washing, and store the puppy with the ears hanging down.

Can I sell puppies made from this pattern?

Yes, you may sell finished puppies made from this free pattern, with credit to Little Loop Finds. Please do not sell or republish the pattern text itself.

Happy stitching, and may your home be full of wagging tails, floppy ears, and one very good puppy.