How to Play Logic Dogs

Master the art of logical deduction with our comprehensive guide

1. The Basics

Logic Dogs is a logic grid puzzle game where you use clues to figure out which items belong in each column. Each puzzle features multiple categories (like Dogs, Sports, Food, etc.), and your goal is to determine which specific item from each category goes in each column.

The Golden Rules

  1. Each column contains exactly one item from each category. If you have 4 categories with 4 items each, every column will have 4 items total — one from each category.
  2. Each item appears in exactly one column. If the Golden Retriever is in column 2, it cannot be in any other column.
  3. Every puzzle is solvable through pure logic. You never need to guess! If you're stuck, there's always a clue you haven't fully utilized.
ðŸ’Ą Beginner Tip: Start with 4x4 Easy puzzles. They have fewer items and simpler clues, making them perfect for learning the basics.

2. Game Controls

Making Moves

Tools

Auto-Fill Feature

When you eliminate all but one possibility in a cell, that item automatically fills in! This saves time and helps you see the cascade of deductions your eliminations create.

3. Understanding Clue Types

Clues describe relationships between items. Here's a complete reference:

Basic Position Clues

Symbol Meaning
[A] = 3 Item A is in column 3
[A] = leftmost Item A is in the first column
[A] = rightmost Item A is in the last column
[A] ≠ first Item A is NOT in the first column
[A] ≠ last Item A is NOT in the last column

Relationship Clues

Symbol Meaning
[A] ↕ [B] A and B are in the SAME column
[A] ≠ [B] A and B are in DIFFERENT columns
[A] → [B] A is somewhere to the LEFT of B (not necessarily adjacent)
[A] ↔ [B] A and B are ADJACENT (in neighboring columns)
[A] ðŸšŦ [B] A and B are NOT adjacent

Distance Clues

Symbol Meaning
[A] |1| [B] Exactly 1 column between A and B
[A] |2| [B] Exactly 2 columns between A and B
[A] â‰ĨN [B] A and B are at least N columns apart
[A] â‰ĪN [B] A and B are at most N columns apart

Advanced Clues (Hard Puzzles)

Symbol Meaning
[A] → [B] → [C] Items appear in this left-to-right order (not necessarily adjacent)
[A] | [B] | [C] B is between A and C (A and C can be on either side)
[A] = X or Y A is in either column X or column Y
[A] ⟋ [B] A and B are at diagonal positions (differ by 1 in both row and column)
[A] ♞ [B] A and B are at knight's move positions (L-shape: 2+1)
[A] ↔ Center ↔ [B] A and B are at symmetric positions around the center
[A] ≠ Edge A is in a middle column (not first or last)
[A] = Odd A is in an odd-numbered column (1, 3, 5...)
[A] = Even A is in an even-numbered column (2, 4, 6...)

4. Solving Strategies

1 Start with Definite Clues

Look for clues that give exact positions like "[A] = 3" or "[A] = leftmost". These are free information — apply them immediately!

2 Apply "Same Column" Clues

When you see "[A] ↕ [B]", these items must be together. Once you know where one is, you know where both are.

3 Eliminate Systematically

Use right-click to eliminate impossibilities. If "[A] ≠ [B]" and you know A is in column 2, eliminate B from column 2.

4 Look for Forced Positions

After eliminating, check if any item has only one possible column left. Also check if any column has only one possibility for a category.

5 Work Edge Cases

Clues like "[A] → [B]" limit positions. If A must be left of B, A can't be in the rightmost column and B can't be in the leftmost.

5. Advanced Techniques

Chain Deductions

Sometimes you need to follow a chain of logic: "If A is in column 1, then B must be in column 2 (from clue 1), but that means C can't be in column 2 (from clue 2), so C must be in column 3..."

Contradiction Testing

When stuck, assume something is true and follow the logic. If it leads to an impossibility, the opposite must be true. Use Undo to backtrack!

Process of Elimination on Categories

If you've placed 3 of 4 items from a category, the last one must go in the remaining column — even if no clue directly mentions it.

⚠ïļ Common Mistake: Don't assume items are adjacent just because a clue mentions them together. "[A] → [B]" means A is to the left, but there could be any number of columns between them.

6. Pro Tips

ðŸŽŊ Ready to practice? Head to Logic Dogs and try a 4x4 Easy puzzle. Apply what you've learned and see how quickly you can solve it!

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