You don't always want to spend hours on a drawing. Here's the process I use for quick sketching. Just because a drawing is quick, doesn't mean you have to only do an outline. By observing across the dog's form and spotting the main areas of light, shade and texture, you can create an effective three-dimensional sketch.
I'm using a reference photo to work from so that you can see exactly what I'm looking at as I draw the dog. I'd use the same process to sketch from life, if the dog will sit still long enough! I wouldn't normally choose such a front-on image either - a three-quarter view is much easier to model. But front-on portraits are popular, and its a pretty cute shot, so I'll use this as an example.
