If you have always wanted a pet, and your parents won't allow it, then Nintendo has just the thing to make your day. Nintendogs is the first virtual pet for the Nintendo DS, and is so cute that you may never feel the need for a real life canine companion again!

In Nintendogs, you are given the chance to choose and raise your very own puppy. You can choose the breed, name the dog, and train it, all on your Nintendo DS! Raising this puppy requires much of the same care you would give to a dog in real life, so be prepared to give it water when it's thirsty, food when it's hungry, a bath when it's dirty, pet it when it's feeling lonely, and play with it when it's feeling bored. The game utilizes the DS' microphone and teaches the dog its name and the names of tricks, so if you name your dog Sue and you want it to roll over, you can speak "Sue! Roll over!" into the microphone, and the dog will do it. Of course, getting the dog to respond to its name and the tricks does take some time, and so you will spend a lot of time repeating the same things over and over in hopes of getting a reaction from your pet.

You can also train the dog to do other things, like catch a Frisbee, and enroll him or her into competitions to show off their new skills. Competitions include obedience competitions, flying disc catches, and obstacle courses. In addition to the competitions, you can take your dog for walks, plot out the route around the neighborhood, and see what you encounter. Sometimes you will meet up with another dog, sometimes you will go to the park, and other times, your dog will uncover a present, which is usually a hair ribbon or something for the dog to wear.

Raising your own Nintendog takes a lot of hard work and patience, but the dogs are so adorable that the payoff is definitely worth it. In a very short amount of time, you will have a new best friend that barks, wags, and poops just like real dog!

If you've always wanted a real pet, or are just an animal lover in general, Nintendogs may fulfill your craving for man's best friend with ease!