The Dog House (Pragmatic Play): Review

The Dog House is a goofy, lovable and fairly straightforward 5-reel, 20-payline slot from Pragmatic Play. At first glance it could pass for a bright little pc-game made for kids, but in reality it’s a high-volatility gambling title with real teeth. It also shows how slot studios can deliver strong results without making things overly complicated. This dog-themed slot can be played for between 0.20 and 100 Eur per spin on all devices.

The heart of The Dog House is its 2x and 3x multiplier wilds, which become especially powerful during the free spins bonus where they stick in place whenever they land. As big fans of NetEnt’s Dead or Alive, a slot that’s reached near-legendary status and is often seen as the benchmark for sticky wilds, we were eager to give this one a spin.

We don’t often single out Pragmatic Play for standout visuals, and there’s nothing particularly advanced going on here either. Even so, it’s difficult not to be won over by the bright, cheerful cartoon look and the oversized symbols that stubbornly refuse to sit neatly in their frames. The waltz-like background tune definitely adds to the charm as well.

The game is set in a picture-perfect suburban neighbourhood in the middle of summer. With neat houses and lawns behind the action, the reels sit inside a huge dog house. Most of the reel space is filled with stylised playing cards from 10s to Aces, while the higher-paying symbols include bones, leads and four different doggos. The Doberman leads the pack and pays 37.5 times your stake for landing 5 on a payline. Even more important is the dog house wild symbol. Wilds only show up on the three middle reels and carry a random 2x or 3x multiplier, allowing them to combine and boost payline wins by as much as 9x

The Dog House (Pragmatic Play): Features

Watch for the jewel paw symbol. When it lands on reels 1, 3 and 5 at the same time, it triggers the free spins bonus—where things really start to heat up. Before the spins begin, the game shifts to a shed scene where a Doberman spins a crude wooden device to determine how many free spins you receive. The minimum you can start with is 9 and the maximum is 27.

During the free spins bonus, alternative reel strips are used where premium symbols can appear fully stacked on the reels. On top of that, any multiplier wild that lands will stay locked in place until the feature ends. Together, this creates a very powerful setup that can push winnings up to 6,750 times your stake.

The Dog House (Pragmatic Play): Verdict

There isn’t a huge amount going on in The Dog House, but what it does offer is undeniably fun. The theme won’t be for everyone, yet from a gameplay perspective it’s slots in their purest form—simple, volatile, and packed with enough potential to keep you alert.

It’s also very easy to play, and the overall build quality feels solid. Everything performs smoothly, and we didn’t spot any irritating issues, at least in our sessions. The graphics are pleasant and do what they need to do, even if they don’t break new ground. That said, the moment you trigger the bonus and see the dog operating the free spins machine is fantastic and does a great job of building anticipation before the free spins begin.

We had a great time with The Dog House, though we’ll admit we’re especially drawn to sticky wilds paired with high volatility. Anyone who’s ever hit a wild line will probably agree it’s one of the best feelings in gambling. And when you land and lock those bad boys onto winning paylines with plenty of free spins still left, it genuinely feels like you’re pulling one over on the casino—what could be better than that.

Don’t Miss…

If you enjoyed The Dog House, Pragmatic Play has also produced a Megaways version titled The Dog House Megaways, as well as The Dog House Multihold slot, which is a quad reel version with 9000x potential.