Red Dog, Blue Dog Game: How to Play With Preschoolers
By Orchard Toys | Published: 2026-11-03
Category: How-to Guides
A simple, step-by-step guide to playing Red Dog, Blue Dog with toddlers and preschoolers, including setup, turn-taking tips, and common mistakes to avoid.
Quick answer
Play Red Dog, Blue Dog as a simple lotto game: give each child a board, shuffle the coloured cards, and take turns matching a card to the same picture and colour on your board. The first to fill their board wins.
Why this game suits very young children
Red Dog, Blue Dog is designed as a first colour matching lotto game, so it works well for children who are just learning to take turns and recognise colours. The friendly illustrations of everyday objects and characters help children connect the game to things they know.
Because it is a lotto game rather than a competitive race, it keeps the focus on matching and observation rather than complex rules. That makes it a good choice for a first board game for a 2 year old, as long as you keep sessions short and playful.
What to expect from the first few plays
Young children may not grasp the full turn-taking structure at first. Expect them to want to grab cards or match them out of turn. That is normal; gently guide them back to the idea of waiting for a turn.
The game includes a variety of colours, so you can start by naming colours together before introducing the matching rule. This helps build vocabulary alongside the game.
How to play Red Dog, Blue Dog step by step
- Set up the boards: Give each player one board. Place all the coloured cards face down in a pile in the middle. For very young children, start with just two boards and a small selection of cards to keep the game short. Check that every board has a matching card in the pile before you start.
- Explain the matching rule: Show your child how to turn over a card and look for the same picture and colour on their board. Say the colour and name the object together to reinforce learning. If your child is not yet matching by colour, start by matching only the picture.
- Take turns turning over a card: Players take turns to turn over the top card. If it matches a picture on their board, they place it on the board. If not, they show it to everyone and return it face down to the pile. Keep the pile within reach so children can turn cards themselves.
- Help younger children: For a 2 year old, you may need to guide their hand or point to the matching picture. Offer praise when they find a match, and model turn-taking by saying 'my turn' and 'your turn'. Avoid correcting every mistake; let them explore and self-correct when possible.
- Finish the game: The game ends when one player has filled their board with matching cards. Celebrate everyone's effort, not just the winner, to keep the experience positive. For very young children, you can end after each player has matched three cards to keep attention high.
Product facts
- Red Dog, Blue Dog Game: This first colour matching lotto game features fun and friendly illustrations of everyday characters and objects which children will recognise, from teddy bears to cars to bunnies. Familiar pictures help toddlers connect the game to their world, making it easier for them to stay engaged and learn colour matching.
Red Dog, Blue Dog Game
