Doggone crazy board game

This is an extremely educational game, but it was designed to help your child have fun while learning important key elements, such as when NOT to go near a dog, when to ask for the help of an adult, and when a dog appears to be safe.

Doggone Crazy was a fun game. I liked learning about dogs. My brother loves animals so it was really fun being able to play a game he actually liked. This game is a good game because it teaches us to be safe around dogs. There was some stuff I didn't know and now I know I will be safe. MyKaela 9 year old expert children's product reviewer. MyKaela's mom says that MyKaela couldn't help but tell all her friends about her new board game and what she learned.

It's best for ages , but younger kids love it too. One person with 3rd grade reading skills is required to read the question cards. The Doggone Crazy game was created by Joan Orr and Teresa Lewin, internationally recognized experts in humane education and dog training.

Game prototypes were sent for testing to many experts including professional animal behavior specialists, veterinary behaviorists, general practice veterinarians, dog trainers, elementary school teachers, early childhood education specialists, humane educators, humane society professionals, social workers and mental health professionals.

Studies have shown that kids learn better from realism than from cartoon drawings. There are lots of other subtle body language signs that we could teach about, but these are not necessary for kids to learn to speak dog. Experienced teachers know that keeping it simple and including lots of repetition and opportunity for practice is the best way to teach. A panting dog is dealing with the stress by panting. A stressed dog that is not panting is much more dangerous because it has no mechanism to relieve the stress and is therefore more likely to react.

Not all stress is bad stress. The dog might be waiting for a child to come and say hello. The waiting and wondering causes mild stress and the dog starts to pant. We are trying to keep things simple for children. They obviously cannot be expected to tell the difference between a dog panting under mild stress or a dog panting with rapid frantic breaths that indicates extreme stress still a dog less likely to bite than a highly stressed dog that is not able to pant.

Other things that the children learn during the program should prevent them from interacting with a dog panting out of extreme stress. They are taught to stand sideways and allow the dog to come to them and sniff their fist. A very nervous dog is apt to move away and not come forward to sniff - so they would leave that dog alone. They may also see the half moon eye or the fore paw lift and realize that the dog is anxious. They are taught that if the dog stops panting when they approach it, that the dog does not want to meet them.

Hopefully, handlers whose dog are very anxious will say no, when a child asks to pet the dog. So for the most part a panting dog is a dog waiting with happy anticipation for something good to happen, or at least is a dog that is dealing with its stress.

We also teach that children should ask the dog handler to tell the dog to sit before they meet it. The cue "sit" is a stress reliever for most dogs because it is familiar and generally has a positive association and gives the dog some control of the situation. A dog that does not sit for the handler is not under sufficient control for a child to pet.

An extremely anxious dog is unlikely to follow instructions and is ruled out on that basis, whether panting or not. Folding their hands gives the children something to do with them and makes them less likely to put their hands up.

Some dog bite prevention programs advise putting hands in pockets and backing away child could trip , or folding hands across the chest. Bringing hands up towards the face like this brings the attention of the dog up towards the face. Keeping hands low keeps dog's head low. Here is a series of photos that illustrates this.

The movement of the hands upward attracts the dog to move closer and investigate the hands. The dog's head tends to follow the hands. A smaller dog might even jump to check out the hands. This puts the dogs teeth closer to the throat and face. We have tested many tree configurations with kids and friendly dogs and overly excited puppies and the less movement the better. We suggest that children watch their roots grow look at their feet.

This gives them something to look at other than the dog. It gives them a positive image to focus on roots growing. We also tell them to count in their head to the highest number they know, over and over until help comes or the dog goes away. This gives them something to do with their minds while they are frightened.

We have tested looking at feet versus looking ahead with groups of adults. Everyone reported that it is easier not to look at the dog while focusing on your own feet. Every person admitted to sneaking a peek at the dog while trying to look ahead, but not if they were looking at their feet. Children respond much better to specific instructions such as "look at your feet".

There is no interpretation involved with this and it is easy to remember. In a high stress situation, the less judgment a child needs exercise the better. Someone suggested to us that it is better for the child to look ahead but not at the dog so that they will know when the dog is gone. So we tested this also. Even with your head down a person can see at least 40 feet ahead and to the side, certainly far enough to be able to know if the dog is still in the immediate area.

Try it yourself. Some dog bite prevention educators do suggest this. We stress that if the child stands still and quiet the dog will most likely go away eventually and may come close, but is unlikely to attack if they are still. The movement of holding out the knapsack or book may be threatening enough to trigger a bite that would not have otherwise happened. We have had many stories of the tree working even with a moving and pushy dog.

Movement is a major trigger and even trying to block with a knapsack etc may backfire since the kids are moving, probably looking at the dog and acting like victims. Some people suggest that if a dog is coming fast and looks aggressive and there is time, then trying to feed it a book or knapsack may be a good idea. But then what?

If they move away at that point the dog will most likely leave the object and chase them. If they stay still then the dog may lose interest in the object and approach them again. So there is not much difference here from just standing still in the first place.

What if the dog was not intent on biting, but the child thought it was and the object enraged or excited the dog? A bite could be provoked that would not otherwise have happened. Unfortunately if a dog is really intent on attack there is really nothing a child can do to prevent it. This is a rare situation and most dogs do not want to attack. If the dog is predatory, then standing still is the least interesting thing to the dog.

If the dog is aggressive then standing still is the least threatening thing to the dog. No-one has tested this with children in a real-life situation for ethical and safety reasons. We have seen a mock situation in a video in which a child is holding a knapsack and backing away while the dog jumps and barks at him. In this scene the dog does not back off and in fact appears to be getting more excited. There is no evidence that backing away and holding out the knapsack is discouraging the dog from attacking.

The Doggone Crazy! It makes a great holiday or birthday gift! Click here for more information or to buy a game. Download the free Doggone Crazy! Parent Guide so you can start teaching your kids right away. This guide explains all the concepts covered in the game Doggone Crazy! This unique and colorful game is fast paced and absorbing even for the most fidgety of youngsters. Watch out for the doggy doo doo!

For ages 4 and up. One player with 3rd grade reading skills required. Takes about 40 minutes to play with 4 players. Doggone Crazy! Kids can be doggy detectives, trying to figure out what the dogs are saying with their body language in the more than photo cards.