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How to fold an origami german shepherd

Fold a kite body and swing the legs, the back ones angled back. Split a strip into two tall ears, crimp the long head, pleat the body and fold a strip down for the tail.

You need: 1 tan square (15 cm or bigger), scissors and a black pen. Hard, 22 steps, about 35 minutes.

Steps

  1. Diamond. Start white side up and turn the square so a corner points up, like a diamond.
  2. Crease the middle. Fold the top corner down to the bottom corner, crease and unfold.
  3. Kite. Fold the edges at the left point in on creases from the point to 8.3 cm above and below the middle crease. That end is the shepherd's head.
  4. Narrow the other end. Fold the edges at the right point in on creases from the point to 8.3 cm above and below the middle crease. That end is the tail.
  5. Tummy corners. Fold the top and bottom corners in on creases 4.3 cm above and below the middle crease. They will be hidden inside.
  6. Fold in half. Fold the top half down onto the bottom half along the middle crease. The long fold on top is the back, the flat bottom is the tummy.
  7. Crease two strips. Fold the bottom edge up 1.1 cm and the top edge down 1 cm, all layers, and crease both hard. These strips give the legs and the ears.
  8. Open it. Unfold both strips again.
  9. Slit the legs. Cut along the strip crease from the front end in 2.6 cm, and from the back end in 2.6 cm.
  10. Free the ears. Cut the top crease 3 cm in from the front end. Cut the top fold open 4.2 cm from the front point. Cut the top crease 3.7 cm in from the back end, for the tail.
  11. Tuck the strip. Fold the slit strip up along its crease, the front layers up in front and the back layers up behind.
  12. Front legs. Swing the front strip down on slanted creases from its inner end, the front layers one way and the back ones behind, a little apart.
  13. Back legs: angled back. Swing the back strip down the same way, the front layers forward and the back ones behind.
  14. Far ear. Fold the back layer of the split strip up behind, on a slanted crease from the end of its cut, so it stands up tall.
  15. Near ear. Fold the front layer up the same way in front, leaning a little forward, so the two ears stand side by side.
  16. Head: crease. Fold the head end over on an upright crease at the bottom of the ears, 3 cm from the tip. Leave the ears up.
  17. Head: crimp. Fold it back on a crease slanting a little from the same top point, so the long head tips down a touch.
  18. Rump. Fold the back end behind on an upright crease 2.6 cm behind the back legs, all layers except the tail strip.
  19. Pleat: fold over. Fold the back part over to the front on an upright crease through the body, all layers together.
  20. Pleat: fold back. Fold it back again on an upright crease 1.1 cm further forward. The body gets shorter and stronger.
  21. Tail down. Fold the wide tail strip down behind on a slanted crease from the end of its cut, both layers together, so the bushy tail hangs low.
  22. Stand alert. Tip the dog up a little at the front, so its back slopes down to the hips like a real shepherd's.

Good dog!

Colour a black saddle over the back. Draw a shiny eye and a black nose on the long muzzle.

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