Dog Paper Bag Puppet Craft with Free Printable

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Paper bag puppet crafts are nostalgic and timeless! They’re a fun, low cost activity that kids can really use their imaginations with. I used to love making these as a kid! I love activities that use simple supplies like these puppet crafts and paper plate crafts too!

This is a dog puppet that kids can make using only a brown paper lunch bag, printer paper, markers and our free template. It’s perfect for pretend play and putting on a full puppet show with storytelling, and it is a great activity for preschool and kindergarten kiddos.

Paper bag puppet made to look like a dog.

Why Make a Paper Bag Puppet Craft?

Crafts like this one encourage imagination and creative play along with working on fine motor skills. It’s a great activity for a rainy or snowy day and can be fun for zoo themed units or birthday parties. I love how affordable it is and that the craft uses basic supplies. Puppets can help kids practice making up stories during pretend play too!

Supplies for Making Your Puppet

Making Your Paper Bag Puppy

Template with pieces to make a dog puppet with a paper bag.

Print out your dog template and color in the face, body, paws and tail. You could also use this as a template to craft the dog with construction paper or cardstock!

Printed pieces of a dog cut out to make a paper bag puppet.

Cut out the pieces to your dog and glue onto your paper bag with a gluestick. You can also pre-cut these pieces for smaller hands. Add the tail to the back and use the paws as either hands or feet!

Use your puppet and practice it’s bark! Teach kids that they control the mouth of the puppet by opening and shutting the bottom of the bag with their hand. This is a fun way to make easy paper bag puppets with kids of any age.

Ways to Customize Your Puppy Puppet

Instead of using markers or crayons you could trace the template and make on construction paper.
Add spots or stripes, make it look like your own pup or your favorite cartoon one!
Use tissue paper or paper scrapes for the fur.
Use pom poms, squiggly eyes or other craft supplies to customize and decorate your dog.

Dog Paper Bag Puppet Template

Download and print the dog puppet template. If you’re looking for the full set of 6 paper bag puppet templates use this link.

Looking for more paper bag puppets? Use this link for the full set of 6 puppet templates! If you’re looking for a specific animal try these: