The Dog House Dog or Alive slot review
With a maximum win potential of 10,000x, The Dog House Dog or Alive forms part of the long-running, popular canine slot series by Pragmatic Play.
Released in 2024, the dogs have ditched their kennels in favor for the Wild West, combining familiar Sticky Wild mechanics with high volatility. Its base RTP sits at 96.52% and the game is played across a standard 5×3 grid with 20 paylines.
In this The Dog House Dog or Alive slot review, I’ll find out whether this rendition of the game is top dog or if it’s just barking up the wrong tree.
Highlights
RTP 96.52%
Volatility High
Stakes range 240
Max win 10000x
Number of reels 5
Number of rows 3-
Number of paylines 20 -
Jackpots No -
Slot type Slots -
Slot theme Animals -
Software provider Pragmatic Play -
Launch date 28/03/2024
80/ 100
71% Playscore based on 7 critics
The Dog House Dog or Alive slot summary review
Featuring cigar-smoking dogs with cowboy hats, The Dog House Dog or Alive is a Wild West take on man’s best friend that was released by Pragmatic Play in 2024.
With 20 paylines across a 5×3 grid layout, the game retains many of the features that made the original The Dog House slot so popular. This includes 2x and 3x Wild multipliers during the base game.
However, the Free Spins round has been enhanced compared to its latest predecessor The Dog House Multihold slot, with Sticky Wilds now capable of doubling their multipliers when the third, fourth, and ninth Wild appears within view. Each of these milestones also awards three additional spins, something which the original lacks.
With above-average RTP values, high volatility, and a max win of 10,000x your bet, The Dog House Dog or Alive blends familiar themes with new mechanics that make it stand out on its own.
Pros
10,000 max win potential
Above-average RTP values
Multipliers can double during Free Spins
Cons
Only 20 fixed paylines
Long dry spells expected
Identical payouts across card symbols
The Dog House Dog or Alive comprehensive review
For this slot review, I’ll find out if The Dog House Dog or Alive has enough bite to stand out on its own. I’ll be breaking down its gameplay from top to bottom, including RTP, volatility, payouts, and bonus mechanics.
RTP and volatility
The Dog House Dog or Alive slot RTP comes with two separate values. The expected long-term return sits at 96.52% during the base game and 96.54% in the Free Spins round.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| RTP | 96.52% |
| Maximum win | 10,000x |
| Number of paylines | 20 |
| Volatility | High |
Winning combinations are registered from left to right across 20 fixed paylines. The game itself is played on a traditional 5×3 grid and comes with high volatility.
The 20 fixed paylines are quite limiting, but the favorable RTP values help balance things out on paper, with both figures sitting above the usual 96% industry average.
Elsewhere, the gameplay was pretty consistent with high-volatility Pragmatic Play slots like Sweet Bonanza and Gates of Olympus. Across 100 test spins, I recorded a hit rate of 19%. This included 17 consecutive spins without a single win.
I will say that my wins were quite well clustered together. Early on, I recorded five wins in a row, while my top three hits accounted for over half of my total return during the session. This included one spin where I managed to win $40.80.
Alexander Teoli
Bonus features
The Wild symbol appears on reels one, two, and three during the base game and Free Spins round. Represented by a sheriff’s badge, Wilds substitute for all other icons except Bonus symbols and come attached with random 2x or 3x multipliers.
Bonus symbols are depicted as partially opened vaults with gold coins spewing out of them. Landing three of these on reels one, three, and five will trigger the Free Spins round. Alternatively, you can use the Bonus Buy feature at a cost of 100x your bet.
Once activated, the reels make way for a 3×3 grid made up of barrels. Every time the dog to the side of the reels fires his gun, a barrel settles on either one, two, or three spins. This means that the minimum number of free spins you can land is nine, while the maximum sits at 27.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Bonus features | Wilds, Scatters, Sticky Wilds, Free spins, Multipliers, Sticky Wilds can double multipliers during bonus game |
| Top features | Sticky Wilds |
| Jackpot | N/A |
During the Free Spins round, every Wild that lands on the grid will remain there for the duration of the bonus game. These are referred to as Sticky Wilds.
When the total number of Sticky Wilds on the screen reaches three, six, and nine, the game awards an additional three spins each time. Plus, the multiplier attached to each Sticky Wild doubles to increase payout potential.
The Free Spins round is essentially an enhanced version of the one seen in the original The Dog House slot. Both variants feature Sticky Wilds and a pre-bonus round with a 3×3 grid that determines how many free spins you receive.
However, unlike the original, this version can award additional spins during the round, while Sticky Wilds can also double their multipliers. This creates stronger payout potential, giving it a clear edge over its predecessor, in my opinion.
The base game does include Wild multipliers, but otherwise, you’re mostly playing for that Free Spins round. Sure, those multiplier boosts are a bit of a pain to trigger, but it’s always refreshing to see a developer take that extra step to make a follow-up game feel more engaging. The Bonus Buy option is also a major plus.
Alexander Teoli
Symbols and paytable
The Dog House Dog or Alive features 11 pay symbols, including five card icons (A, K, Q, J, and 10). The six remaining high-paying symbols consist of four dogs with cowboy hats, one collar, and one bone.
Each symbol consists of three payout tiers, awarding wins for three, four, and five matches across 20 paylines. The maximum win potential in the game sits at 10,000x your bet.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Theme | Dog Cartoon |
| Reel layout | 5×3 grid |
| Highest paying symbol | Rottweiler |
| Adjustable paylines | N/A |
| Visuals | Very good |
| Sound | Very good |
| Mobile quality | Very good |
The cigar-smoking rottweiler with a cowboy hat is the game’s highest-paying symbol, rewarding 37.5x your stake for five matches, 7.5x for four, and 2.5x for three.
The three remaining dogs pay 25x, 15x, and 10x your stake for five matching symbols. The collar and bone are next in line, awarding 7.5x and 5x your stake respectively for five matches.
A and K share identical payout tiers, rewarding 2.5x, 0.50x, and 0.25x for five, four, and three matches respectively. Q, J, and 10 are the lowest-paying symbols, each one sharing identical pay tiers of 1.25x, 0.25x, and 0.10x for five, four, and three matches.
The paytable is an exact replica to the one used in the original game. The identical payouts across low-paying icons make the game feel a bit stiff, but the top dogs are pretty well balanced. Overall, nothing too remarkable.
That said, the 10,000x max payout is higher than The Dog House (6,570x) and The Dog House Multihold (9,000x). For this reason, I’m actually not that mad about the identical pay symbols.
Now, The Dog House Megaways does have a higher max win of 12,000x your stake, but its symbols for standard payouts are far less appealing than this version.
Alexander Teoli
How to play The Dog House Dog or Alive slot?
The Dog House Dog or Alive has a bet range of $0.20 to $240 per spin. Selecting the plus and minus icons opens up a small betting menu. From here, you can set your wager by adjusting your coins per line, coin value, or by simply changing the total bet.
To start playing, press the big spin button with two circular arrows. Selecting the Autoplay option beneath it will open up a small menu where you can use a toggle to set your preferred number of autospins. You can also switch Turbo Spin, Quick Spin, and Skip Screens on and off.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Min bet | $0.20 |
| Max bet | $240 |
| Autoplay | Yes |
| Turbo mode | Yes |
| Game history | Yes |
The speaker icon lets you adjust the volume. For additional settings, you can select the hamburger icon with three horizontal lines. This will allow you to separate game sounds from music. You can also engage Battery Saver, switch off the intro screen, view your game history, and adjust your total bet.
The ‘i’ icon gives you access to the paytable and provides a breakdown of the game rules, including bonus mechanics.
Casinos where to play The Dog House Dog or Alive
Pragmatic Play is one of the world’s leading developers of casino games. Its slot entries can also be found across many licensed gambling platforms. If you’re looking to play The Dog House Dog or Alive, below are some of my top online casino recommendations:
| Casino Logo | Rating | Bonus | Go-to-casino button | Show more | T&C |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1
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89/100
Expert rating
by T2P contributor
91%
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based on
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100% up to $1,000 + $25 On The House
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2
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85/100
Expert rating
by T2P contributor
86%
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based on
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100% up to $1,000 and 2,500 Reward Credits on a $25+ wager
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3
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88/100
Expert rating
by T2P contributor
92%
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based on
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Spin the Wheel up to 1,000 Bonus Spins
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Expert verdict
They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but The Dog House Dog or Alive proves otherwise. The mechanic that awards new spins and doubles Sticky Wild multipliers is simple but super effective.
It makes the Free Spins round feel fresh and gives the game a bit more bite when compared to the original in my opinion.
For many slot enthusiasts, the name will bring back memories of other Western-themed titles like Wanted Dead or a Wild by Hacksaw Gaming. But, beyond the wording, this is where the similarities end.
The Dog House Dog or Alive is less about gritty shootouts and is more in keeping with Pragmatic Play’s usual style of polished, feature-led gameplay with simple mechanics. It’s fun.
My main critiques are that multiplier boosts are hard to come by. The paytable is also not super inspiring and the high volatility means you can expect long dry spells.
Regardless, the enhanced Free Spins round, 10,000x max win, and familiar Dog House charm make this rendition one of the stronger follow-ups in the popular slot series.
FAQs
What is the RTP of The Dog House Dog or Alive?
The RTP sits at 96.52% during the base game and rises slightly to 96.54% in the Free Spins round. Both values place the expected return comfortably above the 96% industry average.
What is the maximum win potential of The Dog House Dog or Alive slot?
The maximum win potential sits at 10,000x your bet. Your best chance of reaching this lies in the Free Spins round. If the cap is reached, the round ends automatically.
How do I trigger free spins?
To trigger the Free Spins round, you need to land three Bonus symbols on the first, third, and fifth reel. Alternatively, you can manually trigger the feature by using the Bonus Buy option at a cost of 100x your bet.
What makes The Dog House Dog or Alive different from the original The Dog House slot?
The Free Spins round can award additional spins, while Sticky Wilds can also double their multipliers. The max win potential has also increased from 6,570x to 10,000x.
What is the volatility of The Dog House Dog or Alive?
The Dog House Dog or Alive comes with the high volatility typically associated with Pragmatic Play slots. Expect long dry spells, less frequent wins, and stronger payout potential thanks to boosted multipliers.
