- Easy
- 20–30 minutes
- No glue
- about 3.6 × 3.7 in (9.2 × 9.4 cm)
With floppy golden ears, rosy cheeks, and a happy little tongue, this fluffy pup is ready to become your newest desk friend. Grab our free dog paper squishy template in US Letter or A4, which comes in 3 versions: full color, a coloring page, and a blank outline for custom markings. Once stuffed, your puppy pillow measures about 3.6 × 3.7 in (9.2 × 9.4 cm). Pair it with the chubby cat squishy for the ultimate pet duo!
What you need
How to make it, step by step
1Print the template
Print your puppy sheet at 100% scale on plain printer paper, making sure to turn off the “fit to page” setting. Check the scale line in the top corner—it should measure 2 inches (50 mm on A4). If you chose the coloring page version, color your pup’s fluffy coat, floppy ears, and pink tongue now, then let any marker ink dry completely before moving on.
2Tape the pieces
Lay strips of wide clear packing tape right over the front and back puppy illustrations, rather than taping the entire sheet. Press each strip down from the middle and smooth it outward toward the edges without pulling or stretching, because stretched tape will wrinkle later. This glossy coat makes your paper puppy sturdy, shiny, and super satisfying to squeeze.
3Cut out both pieces
Use your scissors to cut out both the front and back puppy shapes right along the solid outer black line. Take your time around the curves of the floppy ears, the little tail on the side, and the bumpy paws along the bottom, making sure to keep the narrow white border intact all the way around.
4Add a tape border to the back
Place the furry back piece printed side down onto strips of clear tape with the sticky side facing up. Trim the tape so it extends about 1 cm (½ inch) past the paper edge all around the puppy. Next, snip into this sticky border every 2 cm (1 inch) right up to the paper edge to create little tabs that will follow the curved ears and paws.
5Join front and back
Line up the smiling front piece right on top of the back piece with the white unprinted sides facing together. Fold the sticky tape flaps over onto the front one at a time, pressing them smoothly around the ears, tail, and paws. Leave a 3.5 cm (1½ in) gap open where the pink line shows in the illustration so you have room for stuffing.
6Stuff it
Tear your plastic bags, cotton, or fiberfill into small, fluffy bits and gently push them inside through the open gap. Tuck the first pieces right into the tips of the floppy ears, the curved tail, and the bottom paws before filling the round belly. Stop once your pup feels soft and plump, as overstuffing can make the taped seams pop open.
7Close the gap
Fold the remaining tape flaps neatly over the open edge to close up your puppy, then place an extra strip of clear tape right across the gap to lock it shut. Run your finger firmly around the entire outline—especially in the dips between the ears and cheeks—to make sure every single tape tab is pressed down tight.
8Squish!
Your golden puppy paper squishy is finished and ready for a squeeze! Give its fluffy belly a squish and watch it puff right back into shape. If you want an extra slow-rising feel, prick one tiny pinhole into the back of the puppy so the air escapes slowly when you press it.
Free Cute Puppy Squishy Template
- Color
- Coloring page
- Blank, design your own
- Step-by-step guide
One free PDF: the template in three versions (pages 1–3) and the step-by-step guide (pages 4–5). Print the template at 100% on plain printer paper.
Tips for the perfect squish
- Keep the floppy ears soft. If the puppy’s ears or belly feel stiff and hard, you packed in too much filling. Gently peel open the stuffing gap, pull out a few bits of filling, and tape the edge shut again.
- Smooth tape over the face. Wrinkles across the puppy’s big eyes and rosy cheeks happen when packing tape gets pulled tight. Use shorter strips and lay them gently onto the paper without stretching.
- Fix a popping paw seam. The curves around the bottom paws and the side tail take a lot of pressure when you squeeze. If a seam splits open there, place a fresh short strip of regular tape right across the edge, overlapping the old tabs.
- Prevent smeared fur colors. Coloring a spotted or golden coat with markers is fun, but wet ink will streak under packing tape. Let your marker colors dry completely before taping, while standard printer ink is ready right away.
Questions
How do you make a dog paper squishy without glue?
You don’t need any glue at all—in fact, glue won’t stick to tape-laminated paper and the seams would quickly pop open. Instead, you join the puppy’s front and back with a snipped clear tape border folded tightly over the curved edges.
What paper works best for a dog paper squishy template?
Standard plain printer paper (80–100 gsm / 20–24 lb) gives the best squish. Heavy cardstock is too stiff to fold smoothly around the puppy’s floppy ears and paws, so it won’t bounce back as nicely.
What can I stuff my puppy paper squishy with?
You can use torn plastic grocery bags for a light and crinkly feel, or cotton balls and fiberfill for a plush, cuddly puppy. Small pieces of memory foam also work great if you want a slow-rising squish.
Can I print the puppy squishy bigger or make a whole pet set?
Yes! To make a jumbo pup, print the sheet at a larger scale like 120% so the front and back grow together on the same page. You can also craft a whole litter of furry friends by pairing your pup with our hamster paper squishy.
Can I make this puppy squishy with a classroom or party group?
Definitely! Print one template sheet per child and pre-cut the tape strips before you start. Kids love coloring their own puppy markings while you help with the taping step—just plan for about 30 minutes total.
More paper squishies to make
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