In A DOG'S LIFE, each player take on the role of a junkyard dog. The object? To be the first canine to collect 4 good bones in his den. In order to find the bones, he must scavenge from trashcans, frequent the kitchen doors of restaurants, or otherwise act like a ''dog about town''. However, competition is rough. Dogs must ''mark their territories'' in order to slow other dogs down and fight bravely against those who would rather steal their bones. Dogs must also of course avoid the merciless Dogcatcher. Fortunately, each dog is very different and has varying skills. When used properly these can allow you to reach your goals without too many worries. But the task is still not easy, and fortunes change at the flick of a tail. After all, it is ''a dog's life.''

Each dog, depending on his own characteristics, has a number of action points which he may spend on each turn in order to perform various actions. A clever system of cards determines the results of these actions and keeps the outcomes from being completely driven by luck. Players have a wide variety of choices to both work toward their own goals, and to harrass their opponents. The rules are very simple and logical, and allow the sorts of actions and choices that a junkyard dog would make.

Players quickly become attached to the dogs they are playing, especially as each dog has a unique personality and skills. The rules can be learned while playing, and are not hard to remember. The situations in the game, and the choices for players are nearly infinite. The entire family can easily pick up the game and enjoy playing it immediately. And the winner is not necessarily the most experienced, or the luckiest, but the best at just being a dog.