How word searches work
The dog list is all breeds — a beagle, a boxer, a corgi, a labrador — with PUPPY thrown in for the one word everyone finds first. Breed names are unusually good word search material because they were coined to be distinct from each other, so the letter patterns rarely overlap.
GREYHOUND and DALMATIAN are the nine-letter anchors. HUSKY carries a K and a Y, which makes it easier than its length suggests. BOXER has the only X on the board, and a single rare letter is the fastest route to a word there is.
The grid regenerates every time you load the page, so the same theme never gives you the same arrangement twice. Words run in all eight directions including backwards and diagonally, and your fastest completion time for each grid size is saved in your browser.
The dog word list
| Word | Letters | Notable letters |
|---|---|---|
| BEAGLE | 6 | common letters only |
| BULLDOG | 7 | common letters only |
| POODLE | 6 | common letters only |
| LABRADOR | 8 | common letters only |
| DALMATIAN | 9 | common letters only |
| HUSKY | 5 | K, Y |
| TERRIER | 7 | common letters only |
| SPANIEL | 7 | common letters only |
| BOXER | 5 | X |
| GREYHOUND | 9 | Y |
| CORGI | 5 | common letters only |
| MASTIFF | 7 | common letters only |
| PUPPY | 5 | Y |
| COLLIE | 6 | common letters only |
How to find words faster
- Find the longest dog words first. DALMATIAN is the longest entry at 9 letters, and long words have far fewer possible placements than short ones. Clearing them early removes a disproportionate share of the grid.
- Target the uncommon letters in this list. The rare letters present here are K, X, Y. Each one appears only a handful of times in the random filler, so finding the letter usually hands you the word.
- Leave HUSKY until last. At 5 letters it is the shortest entry, which means it has the most possible positions on the grid and hides best. Short words are always the least efficient thing to hunt first.
- Read every candidate in both directions. Roughly half the placements in any grid are reversed. If an area looks empty, try reading it backwards before moving on.
Frequently asked questions
How many dog breeds are in the puzzle?
Thirteen breeds plus PUPPY, for fourteen words in total. The smallest grid may not fit both nine-letter names, and the word list shows only what was placed.
Which dog word is hardest to find?
CORGI or PUPPY. Both are five letters; CORGI has no repeated or rare letter to anchor on, and the double P in PUPPY reads as filler until you are looking for it.
Is this suitable for children?
Yes. Breed names are familiar to most children and the theme is friendly. The ten by ten grid is the comfortable starting size. The puzzle is built for a general audience.