There are three versions of Nintendogs: Dachshund and Friends, Chihuahua and Friends and Labrador and Friends. Although they are essentially the same game, the differences are the version's exclusive items and the selection of dogs during the initial adoption. It is possible to acquire all the items found in all three versions, though you must wirelessly connect with someone with a different version and retrieve their items from their inventory.
There are a total of 18 different breeds that you can acquire in each version of Nintendogs. You can unlock more breeds by increasing your owner points. Owner points are determined by your performance in contests, interaction with neighbors, and the daily upkeep of your puppy. To check the amount of your accumulated owner points, go the main menu, click on "Go Out" icon, "Info" tab, and then "Trainer Info."
Dogs are not created equal. Nintendogs is modeled after the personality traits of real-world dogs. Depending on the breed, your dog may excel at learning, physical activities, or finding and retrieving things. For example, a German Shepherd's size and natural running ability makes it the perfect choice for the Agility and Disc competitions, while the Pembroke Welsh Corgi has an uncanny knack of learning new tricks. Consider the following when choosing a puppy: intelligence (trainability), physical attributes (contests), grooming habits and personality (daily care).
