🐶 How to Crochet a Plushie Dog (Your New Best Friend in Yarn Form)


Let’s be honest: who doesn’t want a dog that doesn’t chew your shoes, beg for treats, or bark at 3 a.m.? Meet your perfect pet — the crocheted plushie dog! Fluffy, floppy, and full of personality, this little pup won’t shed on your furniture, but will steal your heart.

Whether you’re a crochet newbie or a yarn veteran looking for your next adorable amigurumi, this plushie dog is fun, fast, and fabulously cute. And the best part? You get to customize everything — from the breed-inspired ears to the tail wag.

So grab your hook, your yarn, and maybe a real dog to supervise — and let’s create your very own yarn puppy! 🧶🐾

🧺 What You’ll Need

No fancy supplies here — just a few crochet basics and a love of cuteness.

🧶 Materials:

  • Yarn: Super bulky plush yarn (like Bernat Blanket, Himalaya Dolphin Baby, Sweet Snuggles, etc.)
    – Main colour (for the body)
    – Contrast colour (for the muzzle, tummy, or paws)

  • Hook: 6.5 mm or as recommended for your yarn

  • Safety eyes: 12 mm (or black yarn to embroider if making baby-safe)

  • Stuffing: Polyester fibrefill

  • Yarn needle: For sewing parts together

  • Stitch markers: Trust me, you’ll want one for counting rounds!

  • Scissors

  • Black embroidery thread (for the nose and smile)

🐾 Pro Tip: Plush yarn is great for beginners. It hides tiny mistakes and makes the finished plush extra huggable!

🧵 Basic Stitches You’ll Use

If you know the basics, you’re good to go!

  • sc = single crochet

  • inc = increase (2 sc in the same stitch)

  • dec = decrease (single crochet two stitches together)

  • sl st = slip stitch

  • rnd = round

  • st(s) = stitch(es)

All parts are worked in continuous rounds unless otherwise noted.

🐶 Pattern Overview

Here’s what we’ll make:

  • Head + Body (one piece for simplicity)

  • Legs (x4)

  • Ears (x2 floppy cuties)

  • Tail

  • Muzzle

  • Optional tongue or spot

The best part? This doggo is endlessly customizable. Want a dachshund? Make a long body. Want a bulldog? Go chunky. Want a dalmatian? Spot it up!

🐾 Head & Body (Worked As One)

Start with your main colour yarn.

Rnd 1: 6 sc in magic ring (6)
Rnd 2: inc in each st (12)
Rnd 3: *sc 1, inc* around (18)
Rnd 4: *sc 2, inc* around (24)
Rnd 5: *sc 3, inc* around (30)
Rnd 6–10: sc around (30)

➡️ Insert safety eyes between Rnds 7–8, about 6–8 stitches apart.
➡️ Don’t insert the eyes too low or they’ll look like eyebrows!

Rnd 11: *sc 3, dec* around (24)
Rnd 12: *sc 2, dec* around (18)

➡️ Stuff the head firmly.

Rnd 13: *sc 2, inc* around (24)
Rnd 14: *sc 3, inc* around (30)
Rnd 15–18: sc around (30)
Rnd 19: *sc 3, dec* around (24)
Rnd 20: *sc 2, dec* around (18)
Rnd 21: *sc 1, dec* around (12)

➡️ Stuff the body firmly.

Rnd 22: dec around (6)
Fasten off and weave in tail.

🦴 Legs (Make 4)

Rnd 1: 6 sc in magic ring (6)
Rnd 2: inc in each st (12)
Rnd 3: *sc 1, inc* around (18)
Rnd 4–5: sc around (18)
Rnd 6: *sc 1, dec* around (12)
Rnd 7–8: sc around (12)

➡️ Lightly stuff the bottom half only.

Fasten off and leave a long tail for sewing.

👂 Ears (Make 2 – Floppy Style)

Rnd 1: 6 sc in magic ring (6)
Rnd 2: *sc 1, inc* around (9)
Rnd 3–6: sc in each st (9)

➡️ Flatten the ear, do not stuff.

Fasten off and leave a tail for sewing to the sides of the head.

🐶 Want pointy ears? Add a few increases and make them shorter!

🐕 Tail

Rnd 1: 6 sc in magic ring (6)
Rnd 2–6: sc around (6)

➡️ Don’t stuff. Flatten and sew to the back of the body.

🐽 Muzzle

Use a contrast colour.

Rnd 1: 6 sc in magic ring (6)
Rnd 2: *sc 1, inc* around (9)
Rnd 3: sc around (9)

➡️ Stuff lightly and sew to the face, centred between the eyes.

Use black embroidery thread or yarn to stitch a little triangle nose and smile!

👅 Optional Tongue

Just chain 3, turn, and sl st in each chain. Sew below the muzzle for maximum cuteness.

🧵 Assembly Time!

Let’s bring your pup to life! 🐾✨

  1. Sew head to body: Use whip stitch or invisible stitch.

  2. Attach legs: Two on each side — make sure they’re evenly placed.

  3. Attach ears: Floppy and low, or high and alert!

  4. Add tail: Sew to back or side.

  5. Add muzzle and face: Embroider a nose, smile, maybe even eyebrows!

Optional: Add a yarn collar, a button tag, or even a crocheted bone!

🐾 Customization Ideas

Once you’ve made one plushie pup, it’s impossible to stop. Here are some ideas to make each dog unique:

  • 🐕🦺 Breed Variations:

    • Long ears + short legs = Basset Hound

    • Curled tail + pointy ears = Shiba Inu

    • Spots = Dalmatian

    • Long body = Dachshund

  • 🎀 Accessories:

    • Tiny scarf

    • Mini bandana

    • Name tag

    • Toy bone

  • 🎨 Colour Combos:

    • Brown + cream

    • Grey + white

    • Black + tan

    • Pastels (for a whimsical pup)

🎉 Final Thoughts

Crocheting a plushie dog is more than a fun project — it’s the creation of a little yarn soul. Whether you gift it to a friend, keep it for yourself, or make a whole litter, this pattern is guaranteed to make tails wag.

You now have a soft, floppy-eared buddy who will never say no to cuddles. 🧶🐶💕

Did you make your own crochet dog? I want to see it!
Share in the comments below. Let’s flood the internet with fluffy, squishy puppies — one stitch at a time.


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