How to Draw a Jackal: Easy 9-Step Guide for Kids

Bring the African savanna to your sketchbook with this fun, beginner-friendly jackal drawing guide. Designed for ages 5 and up, this activity requires only a pencil, eraser, and paper to build confidence in character design. Follow along to create a charming, stylized jackal while learning how to use simple geometric shapes to build complex animal forms.

10 Steps

🎯 Final Result

Colorful illustration of a friendly cartoon jackal standing in the savanna.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Sketching the Snout and Nose

Close-up pencil sketch of a jackal's nose and snout showing the initial construction lines.

Start by drawing an irregular round shape for the nose pad. Extend two curved lines outward to form the snout, and a third curved line below for the jaw. Tip: Keep the snout compact to give your jackal a cute, cartoonish look.

Step 2: Adding Eyes and Ears

Drawing the jackal's ears and eyes with jagged lines for fur texture.

Add two small circles inside the nose for nostrils. Sketch the top of the head using jagged, short lines to mimic fur texture. Draw two pointed ears on top. Tip: Use quick, flicking motions with your pencil to make the fur look realistic and soft.

Step 3: Defining the Neck and Chest

Outlining the jackal's neck and chest area using textured fur lines.

Use overlapping curved lines to connect the head to the body. Continue using those jagged, short strokes to suggest a thick, furry neck. Tip: Imagine the jackal is wearing a fluffy scarf to help you place these fur lines naturally.

Step 4: Sketching the Front Leg

Adding the front leg and paw to the jackal's body outline.

Draw the front leg using long, smooth lines for the limb and shorter, overlapping lines for the paw. Tip: Ensure the paw is slightly wider than the leg to give it a sturdy, grounded appearance.

Step 5: Forming the Back and Rear Leg

Drawing the jackal's back and rear leg structure.

Extend a long, graceful curve from the neck to create the back. Add the rear leg using similar long lines. Tip: Keep the back line smooth to contrast with the textured fur around the neck.

Step 6: Adding the Remaining Legs

Adding the far-side legs to complete the jackal's stance.

Draw the legs on the far side of the body to create depth. Use slightly lighter lines for these to make them appear further away. Tip: Remember that the legs should look like they are supporting the animal's weight.

Step 7: Drawing the Bushy Tail

Sketching the large, bushy tail using jagged fur lines.

Finish the final paw, then start the tail. Use jagged, zigzag lines to make the tail look thick and bushy. Tip: A bushy tail is a signature feature of a jackal, so don't be afraid to make it nice and large!

Step 8: Adding Markings

Adding the dark back markings to the jackal's fur.

Complete the tail and add a dark patch along the back using jagged lines. Tip: This patch helps define the jackal's unique coat pattern.

Step 9: Final Touches

Adding final fur texture lines to the completed jackal sketch.

Add a few extra curved lines throughout the body to suggest fur direction. Tip: Less is more—a few well-placed lines are better than cluttering the drawing.

Step 10: Bring Your Jackal to Life with Color

A fully colored, cartoon-style jackal with tan fur and dark back markings.

Time to color! Use tan for the main body and black or gray for the back and tail markings. Tip: Use light pressure with your colored pencils to create a soft, natural look.