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A Dog's Life
2001
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.
- 2–6 players
- 90 min
- 8+
- Complexity 1.8/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for A Dog's Life
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 2001 for 2–6 players, 90 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Christophe Boelinger and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Area Movement, and Simulation.
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About the game
The object of the game is for a dog to locate four bones and carry them safely back to his home. Bones tend to be found in trash cans and are sometimes given as rewards for successfully delivering newspapers to various establishments. Players must also pay close attention to their bellies as their hunger level drops with each passing round. So, finding food is also a top priority. Life on the streets is tough as not only must players search for food and bones, but they also must fend off rival dogs and that pesky dog catcher.
Categories
Designers
Publishers
- Descartes Editeur
- Eurogames
Questions and answers
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 90 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 8 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 1.8 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.