
- BGG rank
- BGG #23,628
- BGG rating
- 5.6
A Dog's Life
- 2–6 players
- 90 min
- Complexity 1.8/5
- 2001

2017
Rules assistance for A Dog's Life
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 2 players

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
A Dog's Life is a board game released in 2017 for 2–6 players, 30–60 minutes per game, and ages 6 and up. It was designed by Christophe Boelinger and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Area Movement, and Simulation.
A German Shepherd, a Poodle, a Whippet, a Boxer, a Labrador, and a Fox terrier take a break from their masters in order to experience an adventure in town. But they aren't used to taking care of themselves though. They need you, your family, and your friends to care for them! You have to decide when your dog needs to: Beg in restaurants. Search through trash. Deliver newspapers. Fight rival hounds. Drink from fountains. Piddle on lamp posts. Hide from the dogcatcher. Do it right and your dog could be the first one to bury 3 bones in his den and win the game of A Dog's Life!
A Dog's Life supports 2–6 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for A Dog's Life is 30–60 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists A Dog's Life for ages 6 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
A Dog's Life has a complexity rating of 1.6 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
A Dog's Life belongs to these categories: Animals. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Area Movement, and Simulation. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of A Dog's Life are: Christophe Boelinger. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists A Dog's Life as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.