
- BGG rank
- BGG #8,535
- BGG rating
- 6.5
Steam Donkey
- 2–4 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 2.1/5
- 2014

2015
Rules assistance for Barking Up The Wrong Tree
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.
Barking Up The Wrong Tree is a board game released in 2015 for 2–5 players, 10–30 minutes per game, and ages 14 and up. It was designed by Gary Dicken, Steve Kendall, and Phil Kendall and its main mechanics are Hand Management and Set Collection.
In Barking Up The Wrong Tree, players must try to collect the most trees, preferably of different types. To do this, they place dogs barking up the trees of their choice, and the most dogs wins the tree. Normally a player can place only one breed of dog per tree, but if a player plays a cat card, then more dogs can join the throng. The game is played over five lively game rounds, with increasing numbers of dogs, cats and trees available each round. Deceptively simple, this game works a treat.
Barking Up The Wrong Tree supports 2–5 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 Barking Up The Wrong Tree is 10–30 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 Barking Up The Wrong Tree for ages 14 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.
Barking Up The Wrong Tree has a complexity rating of 1.3 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.
Barking Up The Wrong Tree belongs to these categories: Card Game and Humor. Its main mechanics are Hand Management and Set Collection. 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 Barking Up The Wrong Tree are: Gary Dicken, Steve Kendall, and Phil Kendall. 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 Barking Up The Wrong Tree 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.