Dog, Cow, Deputy

Gameplay

• 4+ Players 👥

• 3-5 Minutes ⏱️

What You’ll Need

• Nothing but your hands and energy

• A screen or phone to show the reference video (optional)

Setup

• Teach players the three hand symbols:

  • Dog – Shadow puppet-style: thumb, middle, and ring finger form the muzzle; pointer and pinky stick straight up as ears

  • Cow – Flick your pointer finger like a kicking hoof

  • Deputy – Form a taser: ring and pinky tucked, middle and pointer out, thumb up (like a two-finger gun)

• Demonstrate the interactions:

  • Dog bites Cow 🐶➡️🐄

  • Cow kicks Deputy 🐄➡️👮‍♂️

  • Deputy tases Dog 👮‍♂️➡️🐶

How to Play

• Pair players up face-to-face.

• Count down together: “Dog, Cow, Deputy – SHOOT!”

• Each player forms one of the three signs at the word “SHOOT.”

• Determine the winner based on the hierarchy:

  • Dog beats Cow

  • Cow beats Deputy

  • Deputy beats Dog

• Tie? Replay!

• Rotate winners to the next round or keep it casual for laughs.

Say Something Like
"Let’s settle this like legends from a viral video – no boring Rock, Paper, Scissors here. In this town, it’s Dog vs Cow vs Deputy. Get your hands ready and make your move!"

Variations

• Elimination Rounds – Losers sit out each round until one winner remains

• Group Duel – Everyone chooses a sign at the same time. All losing types sit down

• Team Battle – Teams of two or three must all agree on one sign per round

Discipleship Teaching Points
Sometimes, we try to fight battles on our own — but like this silly game, it can go in circles. Real victory comes when we follow God's way. “The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the Lord.” – Proverbs 21:31

Secular Teaching Points
This game builds quick decision-making and helps kids handle wins and losses in a fun, low-stakes environment. Great for teamwork, reactions, and social interaction.

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Keywords: Dog Cow Deputy, Rock Paper Scissors alternative, youth game, hand signs, viral video, quick game, funny, icebreaker

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