Don’t have a dog, but your child desperately wants one? Dog games for kids may be the next best thing. At least they’ll provide a good temporary measure so you can curb the nagging!
Dog games give kids “a chance to role-play different situations, discuss issues and learn more about the responsibility of owning a dog,” says Dr. Stevanne “Dr. Toy” Auerbach, author of “Dr. Toy’s Smart Play / Smart Toys.“
The ideal dog games for kids have inviting components that make your child want to play, according to W. Erik Martin, editor at BoardGameGeek. Use those elements “as a springboard for discussion” and “for educational purposes,” he says. That would include educating kids about all the various duties associated with pet ownership — some fun, some not so fun.
Here are 20 suggestions of dog games to try if you want to offer your child all the joys of a dog experience without the actual dog:
- Hotel for Dogs
Build gadgets to feed, play and groom your dogs (Nintendo DS and Nintendo Wii).
- Puppy Luv 2
Choose a dog breed, walk, feed and teach it tricks (Windows).
- Petz Nursery 2
Features 22 pets to raise, including puppies. Feed and teach them and help them to fall asleep, but make sure they’re not neglected. The Ubisoft game is available for Nintendo DS.
- Woof and Me
In this board game, cards are drawn to determine what your dog needs and doggy dollars are earned to spend on spaying/neutering, sickness and obedience training.
- Late for the Sky Lab-opoly (also Beagle-opoly and Dachshund-opoly)
Buy as many dog toys as possible, but watch out for real-life issues presented by these games, such as fleas, peeing accidents and being forced to go to the kennel.
- American Kennel Club DVD Board Game
Learn about American Kennel Club-registered breeds and how to become a dog handler. Collect pawns and treats for dogs as players are tested about the needs of breeds.
- Diggity Dogs Game
A card game even the youngest dog enthusiast can play. Instead of a dog-matching game, cards are matched to what the dog wants or needs.
- Doggie Do
This an easy way to teach young children about responsibility. Feed and walk the pup and clean up the mess. It’s a game about the importance of the pooper-scooper.
- Pet City
If you’re comfortable letting your child play Facebook games, design and raise pets on Pet City and receive points for taking good care of them (Facebook).
- Sims 3: Pets
The Sims 3: Pets lets users create a human who cares for a dog and balance human needs with pet needs.
- Neopets
Neopets creates alternate universe animals — dogs become Lupes and Gelerts — and shows users how to care for them. Feed and play with the dog or they will starve and become sad.
- Doggone Crazy!
Read and respond to a dog’s body language. Collect the most bones by the end of the game to win.
- Pocket Pup
Adopt and train a puppy in this iPad game and keep an eye on his health and happiness. At the end, create a puppy story book (iTunes).
- My Virtual Pet
Raise, feed, train and participate in many other animal activities through mini-games (Google Play).
- Virtual Dog
In this iPod game, kids train, feed and love a dog, but if he’s neglected he goes off to doggy heaven (iTunes).
- My Little Virtual Pet
Digitally raise a dog and dress them up, but make sure they’re fed and cared for (Google Play).
- Dog Pound Game
You’ve probably heard the myth that all dogs look like their owners. From Mad Capp Games, players match lost dogs to their respective owners based on appearance. This game teaches responsibility, as well.
- Pet Detective
In this game, kids must work together to find a dog and his puppy. All you need are five stuffed pups and five kids willing to play. For rules and details, visit Kids Game Ideas.
- Virtual Pet Puppy
In this iPhone game, kids raise a puppy (iTunes).
- My Talking Dog Virtual Pet
Talk to your dog, play games, dress up the dog and so much more (iTunes).
Lisa Iannucci is a professional writer who has contributed to many national and regional parenting magazines.