Free Little Amigurumi Dog Crochet Pattern Best Small Puppy Designs

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If you’re anything like me, you know there’s something almost magical about tiny crochet dogs. They’re cute, quick to make, and dangerously addictive. You start with one little pup… and suddenly you’ve made a whole basket of them in different colors and personalities.

I still remember the first little amigurumi dog crochet pattern I tried. I thought it would be “just a small project” between bigger pieces. But honestly? I fell in love with how fast it worked up and how adorable it looked sitting on my desk. In my opinion, small projects like these are perfect for relaxing evenings, craft fairs, gifts, and even stash-busting leftover yarn.

In this post, I’m sharing 5 free little amigurumi dog crochet pattern ideas that are beginner-friendly, quick to make, and totally customizable. I’ll also share tools and materials I personally recommend (with handy Amazon links), so you can start right away.

What You’ll Need Before You Start

Before we dive into the patterns, let’s quickly go over basic supplies. Most of these projects use similar materials:

🧶 Yarn

Light worsted (DK) or worsted weight yarn works best for small amigurumi dogs.

I recommend:

  • Red Heart Super Saver Yarn – affordable and holds shape well
    👉 Check THIS ONE
  • Lion Brand Basic Stitch Yarn – soft but structured

Check THIS

🪝 Crochet Hook

For tight stitches (very important in amigurumi), go slightly smaller than yarn label suggests.

  • Clover Amour Crochet Hook Set

CHECK THIS

👀 Safety Eyes

🧸 Stuffing

Now let’s get into the fun part.

1. Tiny Puppy Keychain (Beginner-Friendly)

This is one of the easiest free little amigurumi dog crochet pattern styles you can try. It’s small enough to turn into a keychain or backpack charm.

Why You’ll Love It

  • Works up in under 2 hours
  • Minimal sewing
  • Great scrap yarn project
  • Perfect handmade gift

Basic Pattern Structure

Head & Body (worked as one piece):

  • Round 1: 6 sc in magic ring
  • Round 2: inc in each stitch (12)
  • Round 3: (sc, inc) x6 (18)
  • Rounds 4–8: sc around
  • Round 9: (sc, dec) x6
  • Stuff
  • Round 10: dec around

Ears:

  • 5 sc in magic ring
  • Slip stitch, fasten off
  • Sew onto sides

Add safety eyes between rounds 4–5, about 5–6 stitches apart.

You can make floppy ears, pointy ears, or even long dachshund-style ears just by adjusting row count.

2. Mini Sleeping Puppy

If you love cozy projects, this free little amigurumi dog crochet pattern is perfect. A sleeping puppy with embroidered closed eyes feels so peaceful and giftable.

Why It’s Great

  • No safety eyes needed (kid-safe)
  • Simple oval body
  • Super fast project

Body (Oval Shape)

  • Chain 6
  • Round 1: sc across, 3 sc in last stitch, sc back across, 3 sc in last stitch
  • Round 2: inc around corners
  • Rounds 3–6: sc around

Stuff lightly and sew closed.

Use black embroidery thread to stitch curved sleeping eyes. Add a tiny embroidered nose and optional blush.

This pattern is amazing for:

  • Baby gifts
  • Craft fairs
  • Pet memorial keepsakes

3. Little Sitting Dog

This one has more personality and is slightly more detailed but still beginner-friendly.

Structure

Head:

  • Standard amigurumi sphere

Body:

  • Slightly smaller sphere

Legs:

  • 6 sc in magic ring
  • Round 2: sc around
  • Stuff lightly

Attach legs to the front so the dog appears seated.

You can customize this free little amigurumi dog crochet pattern into different breeds:

  • Brown with floppy ears = Labrador
  • Black and tan with pointy ears = Mini German Shepherd
  • Cream with curly stitch texture = Poodle-inspired

4. Pocket-Sized Sausage Dog (Dachshund Style)

This one is so fun and works beautifully as a desk decoration.

Body

  • Chain 10
  • Round 1: sc across, 3 sc in last stitch, continue around
  • Rounds 2–6: sc around

Keep it long and low. Add tiny cylinder legs and long ears.

This is where color changes can really shine:

  • Classic brown
  • Black with tan accents
  • Cream
  • Spotted style

If you enjoy making breed-specific designs (like poodles, labs, corgis), this structure makes it easy to experiment.

5. Mini Puppy With Sweater

Okay, this one is adorable beyond reason.

Make a standard small dog body, then crochet a tiny removable sweater:

Sweater

  • Chain to fit around body
  • Join and sc in rounds
  • Add small arm holes
  • Fasten off

Use contrasting colors or even stripes.

This project sells very well at craft markets because it looks detailed but takes under 3 hours.

Tips for Perfect Amigurumi Dogs

Here are some tricks I’ve learned over time:

1. Use Tight Tension

Loose stitches make stuffing visible.

2. Invisible Decreases

Always use invisible decreases for smooth shaping.

3. Shape With Fingers

After stuffing, gently massage and shape the head.

4. Keep Eyes Low

Placing eyes slightly lower makes dogs look cuter.

5. Embroidery Adds Personality

Small eyebrows or blush stitches change everything.

Yarn Color Ideas

If you want realistic-looking pups:

  • Golden brown
  • Chocolate brown
  • Cream
  • Black
  • White with patches
  • Gray

If you want cute toy-style:

  • Pastels
  • Rainbow yarn
  • Neon

Can You Sell These?

Yes! Most free little amigurumi dog crochet pattern designs allow you to sell finished products (but not redistribute the pattern).

They are perfect for:

  • Etsy
  • Craft fairs
  • Holiday gifts
  • Custom pet replicas

Storage & Finishing Tools

A few extra tools make life easier:

Why Little Amigurumi Dogs Are So Popular

I think small crochet dogs are trending for a few reasons:

  1. They’re quick wins
  2. They make adorable gifts
  3. They’re customizable
  4. They don’t require much yarn
  5. They’re beginner-friendly

Plus, let’s be honest… tiny dogs are irresistible.

Final Thoughts

If you’ve been looking for a free little amigurumi dog crochet pattern to start with, I truly recommend trying one of these today. In my opinion, small projects like this build confidence fast and are way less overwhelming than big blankets or sweaters.

You don’t need expensive supplies.
You don’t need advanced skills.
You just need yarn, a hook, and a little patience.

Once you make one… I promise you’ll want to make five more.