Nintendogs +Cats (3DS): How To Unlock New Breeds And Other Questions Explained...

It has become apparent over the last few days that many of you are still searching for answers about the new Nintendogs + Cats 3DS game. Mini Gamers takes a look at some of the more common questions about the game and attempts to provide you with the answers.

Q1. How do I unlock new breeds of dog?

 If your dog takes part in competitions with opponents whose breeds have not yet become unlocked, and if your dog wins First Place in the competition, then there is a good chance that the opponents' breeds will become unlocked the next time you visit the kennels.

Rather annoyingly, this game does not tell you when a new breed becomes available, so it is worth checking the kennels regularly to see if a new breed has become unlocked. Please note, however, that if new breeds have recently become unlocked, it may be some time before the method above will unlock any more breeds.

Q2. How can I make money in Nintendogs + Cats?

There are different ways to make money in Nintendogs + Cats. For example, you can sell any unwanted items back to the Second-Hand Store. This can also include items found when you are walking your dog.

 Enter your dog in the Daily Competions. The more skilled your dog gets at each competition, the higher they will progress and the more money you will earn.  You can enter each competition twice a day and can make several hundred pounds in this way.

If you have more than one dog, each dog can enter a competition twice a day, which means that you will make even more money over time.

If your dog wins the Nintendogs' Cup for the first time, they will get a Gold Crown along with their £500 prize money. This Crown is worth £1,500 when sold to the second-hand store.

However, please note that it is only possible to win the Gold Crown once for each of your dogs in each of the three competitions on offer. Once these crowns have been sold there is no way to earn them back again.

The other option for making money is to find Piggy Banks on your walks. If your dog is lucky enough to find a Piggy Bank, wait until you get home and then drop the piggy bank on the floor to break it open. You will unlock a random amount of money inside.

Q3. Can cats go for walks or take part in competitions too?

Unfortunately, the answer to this is no. Cats behave very much like their real counterparts in this game and pretty much do their own thing. We hate to say it, but cats do seem very much like the - well - underdogs in this game really.

It would have been nice if there had been a Cat Show competition in the game, but this has not been included. You might find that your cat randomly brings you a present every now and again, but that is about it.

Q4. I own the original Nintendogs game as well, is there a way to transfer or import my old dogs into the new Nintendogs + Cats game?

Again, the answer to this is no. Unfortunately, the two games are incompatible with each other and there is no way to import your old dog into the new game.

Q5. How many cats and dogs can I actually own in Nintendogs + Cats?

Although there are twenty-seven breeds of dogs and three breeds of cat in Nintendogs + Cats, you can only own a maximum of six pets in total. This includes three pets at home and a further three pets in the Hotel.

This is a stark contrast to the original Nintendogs game, which allowed players to keep up to eleven pets in one go, three at home and eight in the Dog Hotel.

Mini Gamers was very disapointed to learn that the number of pets had been reduced as this has a serious negative impact on the overall replay value of the game.

Q6. What is the 'Surprise Me' function about in Nintendogs + Cats?

The 'Surprise Me' option mixes together different colours and fur patterns to create several varients on the traditional fur patterns that are available within each of the main breeds of dogs and cats available in the game.  If you don't know what colour of dog you would prefer, select this option. You might be pleasantly surprised by what you find!

Q7. Can Puppies and Kittens grow up or have their own puppies and kittens?

No, your puppies and kittens are designed to stay cute and adorable forever. If, however, you do want a game in which your dogs or cats can grow, you might want to check out the PETZ range of games on the Nintendo DS, but this is not available for the 3DS. Sorry.

Q8. Where can I find the 'Secret Path'?

The secret path does not always seem to appear in the same place within the game, although it almost always leads your dog to the Mountain trail. You must look for a signpost with a woman walking her dog on it. Select 'yes' when prompted and you will soon find yourself on the secret path, which means a lot more presents and items to sell.

Q9. Why are there Traffic Cones on my walks?

The Traffic Cones are actually a hidden mini-game. Guide your dog successfully through each of the coloured cones on your walk and you could find yourself rewarded with an extra present at the end of your walk. It takes practise though!

That marks the end of our Mini Gamers Nintendogs + Cats FAQ. We hope that you found it useful. If you would like to read more about this game, please take a look at our full hands-on review of the game.