Dog Pumpkin Carving Stencils
Free, simple dog stencils for your jack-o'-lantern. Tap one, choose your pumpkin size, print and carve your favorite pup.
- ✓Free, no sign-up
- ✓Carve-checked
- ✓Prints to fit your pumpkin
- ✓Step-by-step carving mode
Easy: a few big shapes, kids 6+ help, about 20 min. Medium: more parts, ages 10+, about 45 min. The pictures of carved pumpkins are AI-made examples.
All 11 dog stencils as one PDF: US Letter · A4
Make Your Own Jack-o'-Lantern Face
Pick eyes, a nose and a mouth. Every mix is carve-checked: the parts always stay at least ⅝ in (15 mm) apart, so nothing breaks or falls out.
Every stencil prints at the right size for your pumpkin, with numbers that show the carving order.
How to Carve a Dog Pumpkin with a Stencil
- Pick a stencil and your pumpkin size. We scale the print so the dog fits the smooth front of your pumpkin.
- Open and scoop the pumpkin. Cut the lid in the back, not on top. Scrape the front wall to about 1 in (2.5 cm) thick.
- Tape the stencil on. Small snips in the paper edge help it lie flat on the round pumpkin.
- Poke the outline. Push a pin tool through the lines about every ⅛ in (3 mm). Take the paper off and connect the dots with a marker.
- Carve in number order. The numbers on the sheet show the order: small parts first, the big shape last. Saw straight in and don't twist.
- Light it up. An LED tea light is bright and safe. A dog silhouette shows best in front of a glowing moon.
Carving with a phone next to you? Open a stencil and tap Carve along. Your phone shows one piece at a time and the screen stays on. Too young for a saw? Kids under 6 can poke the dots, or tap Color it and color the dog online.
Moon Window, Silhouette or Dog Face?
Moon window
A big round moon glows and the dog stays as dark pumpkin skin. It looks amazing from the street.
Silhouette
The whole dog glows. You cut only one or two big shapes, so it is the easiest kind to carve with kids.
Dog face
Eyes, nose and floppy ears go right on the pumpkin. The pumpkin becomes the dog's head.
Measure your pumpkin from the bottom to the stem before you print, so the stencil fits the smooth front.
What Size Stencil Fits My Pumpkin?
The stencil should cover about two thirds of your pumpkin's height. Every stencil here is checked at each size: if a bridge would get too thin, that size is not offered.
| Pumpkin height | Stencil size | Stencils that fit |
|---|---|---|
| Small: about 8 in | 5.1 in | 10 of 11 |
| Medium: about 10 in | 6.4 in | 11 of 11 |
| Large: about 12 in | 6.7 in | 11 of 11 |
| Giant: 13 in and up | 6.7 in (one sheet) | 11 of 11 |
Most carving problems come from thin bridges, a soft pumpkin or a stencil that is too big.
Questions and Answers
How do I put a dog stencil on a pumpkin?
Print the stencil at the size for your pumpkin and tape it to the smooth front. Push a pin tool or a thumbtack through the lines about every ⅛ inch (3 mm). Take the paper off and connect the dots with a washable marker. Then carve along the dotted lines in number order.
Why did a piece fall out of my pumpkin?
A piece of pumpkin skin falls out when nothing holds it, or when the strip holding it is too thin. Carvers recommend bridges of at least ¼ inch (6 mm) at the printed size. Our software checks every stencil at every size we offer: if a bridge or a strip between two cut-outs would get thinner than that, the size is not offered or the stencil is not published.
What does WD-40 do for pumpkins?
Some people use WD-40 to keep carved pumpkins from rotting, but it is not safe. It is flammable and bad for wildlife. If a real dog or squirrel licks the pumpkin, they can get sick. Use a simple mix of water and a little bleach instead, and always use an LED light.
Is a carved pumpkin safe around my dog?
Use an LED light instead of a candle. A happy dog with a wagging tail can easily knock over a real candle. Plain pumpkin is safe if they lick it, but throw the pumpkin away when it gets soft or moldy.
How to cut a pumpkin for a dog design?
Look for a pumpkin with a smooth, flat side. This makes it easier to tape the stencil flat. Scrape the inside wall down to about 1 inch (2.5 cm) thick so your saw can easily cut through the small details like ears or paws.
Can I print all the dog stencils at once?
Yes. You can tap Print all to get a single PDF file with all the dog stencils. You can look through them with your kids and pick your favorite breed to carve.