The people we work with frequently have small children who are about to have their first puppy. This is a great treat for a child and an amazing way to teach responsibility. But do you think your child will be ready for this upcoming bundle of joy? I received a game for Christmas this year and I thought it was a cute idea to give kids just a taste of what owning a puppy may be like, Nintendogs for the Nintendo DS and 3DS system.
In this adorable game, you pick out your puppy from the kennel, take it home, and care for it. Your puppy will recognize his own name called and learn tricks even! What I like about this little “simulation” is that your dog will get hungry and thirsty, it will need to be walked, and it will need baths. An added feature for the 3DS is that there is a pedometer on this hand held system and your counted steps count as walking your pooch, promoting outside exercise! If you stop taking care of your pooch, it will lose it’s ideal physique and become rebellious, after all, a real dog never takes a day off from needing to be taken care of.
I know that a real dog is something you can never really replicate, but I believe it can be an effective way to engage your child in the care of a puppy while you wait for your Manor Lake Labradoodle to arrive.
Is it just me or does that Toy Poodle look really familiar to you?


















