Similar pumpkin stencils
View all stencils →About this stencil
The Pug pumpkin stencil is a free printable PDF template. Print it, tape the pattern on, and trace it onto your pumpkin. A grinning pug puppy sits upright in this detailed pumpkin stencil, its flat wrinkled muzzle, round cheek circles, floppy ears, curled tail, and stubby paws all rendered in interlocking cut shapes. The pug's body is largely solid orange pumpkin skin held together by thin bridges between cut sections, so the face details and surrounding silhouette glow from behind. Carve the two circular eye areas and the small nose last to avoid weakening the bridges around the mouth before the outer body is complete. It makes a fun jack-o'-lantern design for Halloween night. It is rated Advanced. Actual time varies with preparation, pumpkin size and experience. Fine details and narrow supports need careful planning. Follow the cutting and shading key in this design’s PDF.
Pumpkin size guide
- 🎃 Small (5 to 7"): print at 80%
- 🎃 Medium (7 to 10"): print at 100% (recommended)
- 🎃 Large (11 to 13"): print at 130%
- 🎃 Giant (14"+): print at 150% on tabloid paper
Frequently asked questions
Can I resize this stencil?▾
Yes. The PDF is vector so it scales cleanly. Print the pattern at 100% for a 7 to 10 inch pumpkin, 130% for 11 to 13 inch, or 150% for a giant. Use your printer's "Fit to page" or "Custom scale" setting.
What kind of paper works best?▾
Standard 20 lb letter or A4 printer paper is fine. Heavier paper is harder to bend around the pumpkin curve. If your printer supports it, set the quality to 'best' so the lines are crisp.
How long will the carved pumpkin last?▾
Usually 5 to 10 days. Coat all cut surfaces with petroleum jelly and store the pumpkin somewhere cool overnight. Avoid direct sun. Battery LED pumpkin lights produce no heat and help it last longer.
Can I sell pumpkins carved with this stencil?▾
Yes, the carved pumpkin you make is yours. The license covers personal and small-scale commercial carving (selling carved pumpkins, photographing them, posting on social). You may not resell the PDF file itself.
What if my printer doesn't print the whole stencil?▾
Set 'Page scaling' to 'Fit' in the print dialog and uncheck 'Auto-rotate'. If it still cuts off, the design includes 0.25" of safe-area margin so a small crop won't ruin it.
How to carve this stencil
- Print and tape the stencil, then use a poking tool to transfer the outline and all interior cut zones.
- Start with the outer silhouette cuts around the ears and body to establish the pug's shape while the stencil sheet still holds everything in place.
- Carve the tail curl and paw details next, keeping narrow connecting bridges intact.
- Move to the face: cut the two circular eye openings, the eyebrow slits, and the wrinkle lines around the muzzle.
- Finish with the small round nose and the smile gap below it. The thin bridge between nose and mouth is fragile, so use a thin detail blade here.
- Light from inside with an LED tealight to keep the intricate face detail crisp without heat warping.
Tools you'll need
For a advanced carve like this you'll want a fine-detail pumpkin saw, spoon / scoop, pin transfer tool, and small gouge if the pattern includes shading. Here's the kit we reach for, but start with whatever you already own.
Elmchee Pumpkin Carving Kit
13-piece kit with carrying case
Saws for the larger cutouts, plus a scoop for hollowing. Covers both jobs in one kit.
View on Amazon ↗
HOME MOST LED Pumpkin Lights
4-pack, battery operated, with remote + timer
Orange glow made for jack-o'-lanterns. The remote and timer light the pumpkin every evening without reaching inside.
View on Amazon ↗
Speedball 4131 Lino Cutter Set
Handle + 5 interchangeable cutters
Interchangeable cutters for peeling and shading the face. Useful for the finer details.
View on Amazon ↗
Reviews from carvers
Every rating comes from a written review by someone who downloaded this stencil.
Carved this one?
Reviews are open to carvers who downloaded the stencil. Grab the free PDF, then come back and tell everyone how it went.
Community Pumpkin Carving Ideas
Carving ideas that use stencils like this one.
Related stencils
More patterns with a related subject. Compare their skill levels before you choose.
AdvancedEnglish Bulldog Pumpkin Stencil
A stocky English bulldog puppy sits front-facing in this detailed dog pumpkin stencil, its wrinkled forehead, round cheek pouches, upturned nose, and splayed paws all rendered in interlocking cut sections. Large open areas in the chest and outer body frame a web of narrow pumpkin-skin bridges that define the jowls and snout; lit from inside, those bridges glow amber against the dark recesses. Work the tiny nostril dots and cheek-spot circles first with a small drill bit or punch, then carve outward to avoid collapsing those delicate interior pieces.
IntermediateThe Happy Frenchie Pumpkin Stencil
An adorable French bulldog face with the breed's signature upright bat ears glowing at the top, round eyes, a button nose, and a tidy mustache-like muzzle with a small mouth below. The ears, eyes, nose, and muzzle are pierced openings while the skin between them shapes the flat Frenchie face. At medium difficulty the big ear panels are easy, but take care around the narrow gap between the nose and mouth so the bridge stays intact.
IntermediatePuddles the Puppy Pumpkin Stencil
A sweet puppy face fills the pumpkin: two long floppy ears drooping down the sides, small round eyes, a rounded nose, and a short curved smile beneath it. The ears, eyes, nose, and mouth are all cut through, so the whole dog glows warmly after dark. Rated medium mainly for the large ear openings; leave a generous strip of wall between each ear and the eyes so the face stays sturdy.
IntermediateBiscuit the Pup Pumpkin Stencil
An adorable puppy face with two long floppy ears hanging down the sides, big round eyes, a small triangle nose, and a happy curled smile. Each feature is cut fully through, so the whole face beams once it is lit. The ears are the largest openings and the curled smile ends are the finest cuts; start with the small mouth curls while the pumpkin wall is still rigid, then open up the big ear shapes last.
IntermediateDog Bone & Four Paw Prints
A chunky dog bone sits at the center with four paw prints scattered around it, one near each corner. Instead of cutting through, you peel away just the orange skin inside each shape so the bone and paws glow as smooth pale panels against the untouched rind. A medium shading pattern that forgives wobbles; score each outline first, then lift the skin in shallow strips with a peeler or gouge.
Expert / ProCorgi Pumpkin Stencil
A fluffy corgi puppy sits front-facing on this dog pumpkin stencil, its large upright ears, round eyes with pupils, small round nose, and thick fur ruff all rendered in fine irregular cut lines that break the coat into tufts of light and shadow. The design has many small to medium cut sections across the face and body connected by thin fur-texture bridges. When lit, the corgi face glows warmly with every fur gap illuminated. Cut the small facial features first: the pupil circles inside the eyes, the nose, and the mouth line, before tackling the broader chest and body sections.