From the publisher’s rulebook
Starting rule for Ist da wer?!
Zoch English rules

The person who most recently petted an animal shakes the thicket first.
Rule details
After the thicket is set down facing everyone, all players grab animals at the same time. The selection assigns the opening shake, not a first grabbing turn.
Source & edition
- Ist da wer?!: Zoch rulesZoch · Course of the Game: Shake the thicket; Grab the animals; PDF pages 7 · Checked 2026-09-23Printed page references: 7
Image: © Zoch Verlag and any cover-art licensors or artists (precise ownership not stated on product page) · Zoch Verlag
If there’s a tie
The rulebook doesn’t say.
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