Before Pokemon Go

The video game Pokemon Go is all the rage at the moment.  I do struggle with the fact that people seem to be willing to walk into traffic or drive their car off the road while playing a game…

Long before Pokemon and video games, there were dexterity puzzles.  These handheld games were a game of skill:  the aim was to roll a ball or other shape into a designated hole/space or through a maze.

The puzzles date back to the 1800s, and were still being manufactured through the 1950s, 60s and 70s. Produced in large numbers, often sold through country fairs and amusement parks, or given as favors at children’s birthday parties, they were manufactured in a wide range of countries including the United State, France, Germany and Japan.

Here are just a few dog-themed examples:

A 1950s example

A 1930s example of a dexterity puzzle featuring a bull breed dog

So when you’re ready for a break from Pokemon Go, hop into your local antique/collectible shop, onto Etsy, or visit the weekend garage sales and see if you can find some dog-themed dexterity puzzles of your own.

Kathleen Crisley, specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, The Balanced Dog, Christchurch, New Zealand