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Free Pumpkin-Carving Stencils of Favorite Dog Breeds
Stencil designs by Diane Starkey
Your dog is the best dog in the world, right? So show the world how much you care about Max or Buddy or Molly or Princess by carving a Halloween pumpkin with his or her likeness. The American Kennel Club's list of top breeds inspired this series of pumpkin-carving stencils. The following slides will introduce you to our favorite dogs and the free downloadable carving stencils that bear their looks.
For all stencils: Start by cleaning out the pumpkin, scraping the flesh thinnest in the region in which you'll carve the design. Attach the pattern (enlarged on a photocopier) to the pumpkin with tape. Use a pin to make closely spaced pin pricks along the stencil lines, piercing the paper. Remove the pattern. Cut completely through solid lines (as shown on the stencil), but only peel away the skin within the dotted lines to enhance features.
Lucy is a beagle-terrier mix with a love for little kids, their sticky fingers, and their leftover snacks. Diet? Now, seriously. Who can manage to put a beagle on a diet? Especially with those big, beautiful brown eyes begging for more.
-- Stacey Willey, Lucy's owner
Matilda is a 5-month-old flashy fawn boxer (that just means she's brown with a lot of white). Matilda is no different than any other boxer; she's a total clown. She loves all people, especially children.
-- Aynsley Starbuck, Matilda's owner
Luca is a 96-pound, 10-month-old American bulldog. His full name is Luca Brasi, after the slow-witted but muscular character who helps protect Don Corleone in The Godfather. Luca goes to work every day with my husband Nick at a personal training gym.
-- Mary Beth Rouse, Luca's owner
I adopted Maya, a Chihuahua-miniature pinscher mix, when she was 1 year old. She is a spunky little girl that entertains our entire neighborhood in the summer months. She loves her toys and squeaks them as she runs through the house.
-- Becky Irish, Maya's owner
Mouse is a supersweet, supertough glamour girl as well as a miniature dachshund. Her special passions include sunbathing, fine jewels, department store escalator rides, and chasing chipmunks in the garden.
-- Karin Edwards, Mouse's owner
Tela's hobbies include shredding Mom's hostas, chewing through every new toy she gets, and being Dad's all-around pride and joy. However, her true passion is playing with (actually, harassing) her 10-year-old beagle sister, Abby, with whom she spends endless hours playing tag.
-- Jessica Saari Christensen, Tela's owner
I rescued 6-year-old Howie two years ago after his owners decided he shouldn't be a stud anymore. After living in a kennel for all those years, he had to learn how to be a house pet. Now he claims his own couch and a basket full of squeaky toys. He loves bananas more than any other treat.
-- Debra Steilen, Howie's owner
Scout is an 8-year-old rough-coated Jack Russell terrier who lived her first three years as a city dog in New York City. She likes all things that begin with the letter "P": popcorn, potato chips, pretzels, pistachios, peanuts, pepperoni, and even wasabi peas.
-- James Baggett, Scout's owner
Darby is an 8-year-old, spoiled-rotten, dearly loved chocolate lab who has been a member of our family since she was 8 weeks old. She comes from a long line of hunters. But she also sits, drops, speaks, crawls, dances, spins, begs, and gives kisses, all on command.
-- Diane Brunia, Darby's owner
Carl Barkley is a proud descendent of a Westminster champion. Carl and his mother, Flossie, devote their time to lounging on furniture and annoying Percy Dove Tonsils, the cat. Carl would like to see world peace and wants to be a model when he grows up.
-- Tom Perrine, Carl's owner
Chunky is about 6 months old. He sits, occasionally shakes hands, and chases his tail like a doofus. When he does, my two kids always laugh and yell, "That's not a banana, Chunky. That's your tail!"
-- Chris Colwell, Chunky's owner
Gigi, who weighs 20 pounds, is almost 2 years old. She has a big bark for such a small dog. Her favorite things are watching people or cars go by, dirty socks (she likes to steal them out of the hamper), saltine crackers, and peanut butter.
-- Veronica Toney, Gigi's owner
Yorkshire terriers consider themselves to be big dogs. They have no idea that they are small. Gordie "Killer" Blevins weighs only 3.7 pounds. But what he lacks in size, he makes up for with his personality.
-- Ann Blevins, Gordie's owner
Do you own a breed of dog not pictured in this slide show? A mixed-breed dog? Could you possibly be a cat person? Please send your suggestions for additional pumpkin stencils this way, and we'll try to add them next year.
Please e-mail holidays.editor@meredith.com with your ideas for additional dog-breed stencils or cat-breed stencils for Halloween 2010.
