Dog Games

DogGone Crazy Board Game for Kids and Parents

Statistics show that most dog bites are by the family dog. In most cases the family is stunned and did not see it coming. The dog has always been good with the kids, he loves kids, he bit out of the blue with no warning. These beliefs are generally false and stem from unrealistic expectations about the dog.

No-one has ever watched the dog closely to see whether he really does enjoy the attention he gets from the children, or whether there are signs that sometimes he does not want to be bothered. The family just assumes that because the dog has tolerated certain behavior from the kids (hugging, kissing, lying on the dog, lying in the dog's bed, taking the dog's toys and food away), that he will continue to do so, or that he "lets the kids do anything". The fact is that dogs do not bite for no reason and they give many warnings before they do get to the point of biting or growling. Most people simply do not know what to look for and so do not notice that the dog is communicating his discomfort with the kids. The Doggone Crazy! board game offers a fun way for children and parents to learn about the signals dogs send and how to tell if a dog is happy or anxious.

The game also teaches about the proper way to act in any scenarios with dogs that kids might encounter both with their own dog, with other people's dogs and with strange dogs running loose. Playing the game provides many opportunities to practice the critical skill of "being a tree" if a strange dog approaches or any dog is frightening or bothering them. This practice give kids a much better chance of being able to do the right thing in a stressful situation with a scary dog. Indeed many parents have written to tell us that their child (or even themselves) remembered to be a tree in a situation with a loose, threatening dog and the dog went away.

Parents have also told us that playing the game reduced a previous fear of dogs in their child. We think this is because the game clearly shows the difference between a safe and a dangerous dog and shows many ways of interacting safely with a dog. This knowledge empowers children to make safe choices and to know that dogs communicate their feelings and that happy dogs are safe. The notion that dogs have feelings too makes them less scary for kids with fears.

"Doggone Crazy! is the first board game in a long time to keep my kids attention...they played the game so much that I wasn't allowed to touch the game for review until the week-end was over." Alyice Edrich - Editor-in-Chief - The Dabbling Mum - National Parenting Magazine

"This game makes it fun for children to learn how to behave toward dogs, and how to understand what dog expressions and actions mean. It's a positive and reinforcing tool for enhancing child safety, reducing bite risk, and improving the human-animal bond." Karen Pryor, author of Don't Shoot the Dog and CEO of Karen Pryor Clicker Training (clickertraining.com).

"I love your game! It's the best...my dad, my mom, my sister and I played. We all loved playing your game. It taught me a lot about dogs and how to act around them." Rachel - Age 10.

Dog Games - Nina Ottosson Dog Brick

Level 2-3- Intermediate to Advanced dog Game

The Dog Brick is a tricky and stimulating game suitable for dogs and cats of all ages! Simply hide treats in the depressions under the sliding discs and let your dog look for the goodies by trying to pull the discs to the side with its paw or nose.

The Dog Brick settings can be varied to suit your dog’s exuberance for the game and level of experience.

This game is tough, hard-wearing and washable and has non-slip feet on the bottom.

Note: This game is an interactive game for you and your dog to play together. Your dog should not be left to play with the game without supervision.

Click to see a demonstration of the Nina Ottosson Brick Dog Game

Dog Games - Nina Ottosson Dog Casino

Level 3- Advanced Dog Game

The Dog Casino is for very clever canines or felines and has a high degree of difficulty and mental challenge but, as with all the toys, you should start out by making it easy. Your pet needs to figure out how to pull out the flaps in different directions in order to find the treats. In each flap there is a compartment where treats can be hidden.

Increase the degree of challenge by locking the flaps using the bone-shaped pegs on top. Your dog must then work out how to lift out the pegs in order to pull out the flaps and get the treats!

You can also place the Dog Casino on a tool which is appropriate to the size of the dog and attach a piece of string to the flaps which the dog then needs to pull in order to open them. A great source of stimulation for your dog and a fun game for both of you to play together.

Note: This game is an interactive game designed for you and your dog to play together. Your dog should not be left to play with the game designed without supervision.

Dog Games - Nina Ottosson Dog Finder

Level 2-3- Intermediate to Advanced Dog Games

With Dog Finder, your dog or cat will learn to look for treats by moving blocks with its paw or nose in four different directions. The block can only be lifted at the end of each track. Under the blocks there are hollows where treats can be hidden. You can place 1 or 2 blocks in each track. Increase the challenge by using more blocks in each track. This is a great dog game for teaching your dog to figure things out.

Teach your dog to understand words like: wait, go ahead, back off, find it, sit, etc, while you are playing the game. To teach your dog to use its nose or, if he is only using his paw, put the game on a chair appropriate to the size of your dog. This is helpful if your dog has an injured paw or has limited mobility or recovering from surgery or illness.

Note: This game is an interactive game designed for you and your dog to play together. Your dog should not be left to play with the game without supervision.

Click HERE to see a demo of the Nina Ottosson Dog Finder

Dog Games - Nina Ottosson Dog Activity Toys

Level 1 - Beginner

The Dog Smart is a fairly easy game for your dog or cat to play and is a great way to introduce beginners and puppies to the Nina Ottosson range of games. Hide treats under the hollow white plastic blocks so your dog has to look for them by trying to lift or push away one block after the other with his o  her nose or paw. A fun and stimulating game for you and your dog or cat to play together, and great for building strong relationships.

This game is tough, hand-wearing, and washable and has non-slip feet on the bottom.

Note: This game is an interactive game designed for you and your dog to play together. Your dog should not be left to play with the game without supervision.

Dog Games - Nina Ottosson Dog Twister

Level 2-3- Intermediate to Advanced Dog Game

The Dog Twister requires your dog or cat to learn to look for treats by moving one block after another around in a circle in different directions. There are hollows under the blocks where treats can be hidden.

To increase the degree of challenge, the blocks can also be locked in position with pegs in holes around the up-side of the game. Your dog learns to unplug the blocks by lifting the pegs one by one in order to be able to move the blocks and find the treats. You can also hide treats under all the pegs. Wow – what a challenge!

Teach your dog words like: wait, go ahead, go back, find it, sit etc. while you are playing.

Note: This game is an interactive game designed for you and your dog to play together. Your dog should not be left to play with the game designed without supervision.