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Review: Walk the Dog

In our household, educational games are considered essential; there is nothing quite like the "stealth learning" that occurs when a child is fully immersed in a challenge, unaware that they are actually refining their cognitive abilities. We are longtime fans of SmartGames, and the latest addition to our collection, Walk the Dog, is a standout. The premise is charming yet intellectually rigorous: you must position dog walkers and their pets on the grid so that no two animals are placed side-by-side, as they might not get along. The game pieces are exceptionally durable, which is a significant plus for any parent dealing with the high-energy play of a five-year-old.


The kit is wonderfully comprehensive, featuring the game board, a decorative tree, three dog walkers with their dogs, two cats, and an additional dog. It also includes a convenient storage bag and a manual packed with 80 challenges. These puzzles are meticulously sequenced, starting with simple layouts and progressing to "Master" levels that would give most adults pause. The rules are specific: leashes cannot cross, they must be extended to their full length, and they can be wrapped around the tree to navigate obstacles. While I initially had to explain the mechanics to our daughter, the pictorial nature of the manual makes it very accessible for young learners.


As we worked through the early levels, our daughter breezed through them, but the difficulty curve eventually caught up. I’m a firm believer in letting her "wrestle" with a problem to build those critical thinking skills, but if she hits a wall, I offer a small scaffold. I let her choose one walker for me to place, and that single "hint" usually gives her the momentum to solve the rest of the board herself. Interestingly, she initially resisted the rule about leashes being fully extended—arguing that our real-life dog doesn't always walk on a tight lead—but she eventually accepted the "game logic" and moved forward.


Beyond the logic, I’ve been delighted to see her creativity spark while playing. She often narrates elaborate stories about the dogs and their personalities as she moves the pieces, merging STEM-based problem solving with imaginative play. Because the instructions are visual, it has also become a fantastic "independent work" resource. I can manage household chores or tend to "little sis" while knowing she is engaged in high-level brain work. Even though she is only five, she is already tackling some of the expert levels with just a touch of guidance, proving that these skills are like a muscle that grows with exercise.


Whether you are a homeschooling family or simply looking for a way to sharpen your child’s problem-solving skills, Walk the Dog is a fantastic investment. We source all our SmartGames through Timberdoodle because their curated selection is unmatched. Critical thinking is a skill that translates into every other subject, from math to literature, and this game makes that development a joy rather than a chore.

Are you ready to guess our next review from our second-grade Timberdoodle kit? Here are your clues:

  • Uses colored blocks

  • Fun for the whole family

  • Works on critical thinking



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