fbpx

Check out our new merch today!

December 9, 2014

The Oldest Game on Earth?

Humans know how to have a good time but we certainly don’t have a monopoly when it comes to fun. Play behavior has been documented in just about every animal out there. So I got to wondering – what’s the oldest game on earth? After over three minutes of exhaustive
Humans know how to have a good time but we certainly don’t have a monopoly when it comes to fun. Play behavior has been documented in just about every animal out there. So I got to wondering – what’s the oldest game on earth? After over three minutes of exhaustive research I think I have my guess as to what the answer might be. Here’s what I’m thinking:Rhodesian Ridgeback, puppy, beach, Chicago

Hunting has been around forever. Sure there’s instinct, but the only way to get good is practice

Rhodesian Ridgeback, puppy, beach, Chicago

Generally speaking, the hunted are not eager to help the hunters. So what’s a creature to do? Penny’s impish grin might give you a hint 

Rhodesian Ridgeback, puppy, beach, Chicago

The answer is to practice hunting your friends, of course!

Rhodesian Ridgeback, puppy, beach, Chicago

Penny loves nothing more than a good play-hunt at the beach

Rhodesian Ridgeback, puppy, beach, Chicago

As with any good game, it’s important to take turns. Sometimes you chase, sometimes you get chased

Rhodesian Ridgeback, puppy, beach, Chicago

Tag: the world’s oldest game

Welp, now it’s just time for me to sit by the phone and wait for the Nobel Prize committee to call. While I wait, let me know what you think. Can you think of a game that might be older and more universal than tag?

Comments for The Oldest Game on Earth?

  1. Maybe finding a bone? That would be Dakota’s fave! YAY!! I AM BACK!!!!! Last night I spent a TON of time digging through the WordPress archives and stumbled into how to fix my not receiving WP blog problem myself!!! I think when they automatically updated Dakota’s blog they clicked on “stop emails from WP” (I never checked that box so it wasn’t me!)…..I changed my settings and HERE YOU ARE!! Back in my inbox! I am soooooooooooooo happy!!

  2. Victoria says:

    i immediately guessed tag too! whether its animals or people tag works – getting prey or mate – its all the same in this dog eat dog world!

  3. yes, we all were hunters once ( or we nearly all, except my mom) so it must be really the oldest game :o) btw: can I hold the laudation for you when you get the noble nobel prize?

  4. I love how in the first two pictures you made everything B&W except Penny 🙂 <3

  5. Nope! Thanks for the great pics!

  6. Emmadog says:

    Chase and wrestle is out game of tag and during the chase portion, we hounds often let out our hunting calls too.

  7. raisingdaisy says:

    I’d say chase, find (and dig) and tug-o-war would be at the top of the list!

  8. coastingnz says:

    I think you nailed it on the head there. Keep an eye out for that Nobel Peace Prize – has to be yours for sure!

  9. dashlilly says:

    I just watched our lower school kids play tag on the playground. It looked just like Dash and Lilly playing in the backyard!! Yep, oldest game around.

  10. Nikitaland says:

    Gosh, I love all of Penny’s expressions so much! She never lets us down on her facial expressions! Over here at our house, we play hide-n-seek with the dogs! They always find us, but some times it takes a little whimpering on their part when they can’t find Mommy and I have to let out a “peep” sound for them to find me. It is always tons of fun!

  11. harrispen says:

    We play that every day in our back yard. It’s really fun to run around the shrubs and trees and try to fake out the other one as to where you will come out next.

    Millie & Walter

  12. I think begging for treats is the oldest game. Wait. What?? Is that even a game? It is when I “play” it.

    Love and licks,
    Cupcake

  13. Kyla says:

    Don’t give our terrier secrets away. We’re bred for this.

  14. fredrieka says:

    hunting is fun especially when the hunted is up in a tree so I can circle it a hundred times and bark. we have plenty of trees to circle

  15. That looks like so much fun. Whee like playing chase or piggy train which usually involves us running round the living room after each other!

    xxxx

  16. I just love all those action shots! Your pups have the most amazing muscle tone and your pix capture that perfectly. 🙂

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Follow Us on Instagram

@markingourterritory