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A dog's status in the Dog Care Book in Nintendogs.
For information on how to care for a pet, see Care.
Status (Japanese: コンディション Kondishon) is a feature appearing in in Nintendogs and Nintendogs + Cats that allows the player to check their pet's needs-- mainly hunger, thirst, and cleanliness. In Nintendogs + Cats, owners can check a pet's physique and personality as well (which can change depending on how the dog is treated or fed).
A dog’s status in the Dog Care Book in Nintendogs + Cats
The Status screen can be accessed by tapping an icon at the corner of the pet's name, beneath the mugshot. It is only accessible at home in Nintendogs, while in Nintendogs + Cats it can be accessed anywhere, including the Park and Café Petrov.
The Status screen displays the pet's personality, time spent with its owner, hunger, thirst, coat (cleanliness), and the last food it ate (only in Nintendogs). It also shows the tricks that the pet knows-- which can be forgotten and relearned-- and the contests it has been entered into. In Nintendogs + Cats, the tricks menu even includes a descriptive diagram showing how a trick can be taught, which can be useful for the Obedience Trial.
Hunger & Thirst[]
Pets who are hungry or thirsty should be cared for as quickly as possible.
Hunger[]
- Full - If a pet is Full, it will not eat when offered food.
- Normal - A pet whose hunger is Normal won't be Hungry-- but also won't be Full. It will eat, but not very much.
- Hungry - If the player's pet is Hungry, it will eat a lot, and is close being Famished. This usually occurs when returning from a walk/contest.
- Famished - This is the hungriest a pet can get; a Famished dog or cat will usually eat an entire bowl of food. A dog can become Famished when it returns from a particularly intense walk or contest, or if it is neglected.
Thirst[]
- Quenched - When a pet is Quenched, it will not drink any more water.
- Normal - A pet whose thirst is Normal won't be Thirsty-- but also won't be Quenched. It will drink the water you give it, but not very much.
- Thirsty - If the player's pet is Thirsty, it will drink a lot, and is also close being Parched. This usually occurs when returning from a walk/contest.
- Parched - This is the thirstiest a pet can get; a Parched dog or cat will usually drink an entire bowl of water. A dog can become Parched when it returns from a particularly intense walk or contest, or if it is neglected.
Coat[]
A dog getting a bath in the DS version.
Pets can have two different coat lengths, either Long-Hair or Short-Hair. Pets will gradually get dirty over time, so whatever length their coat is, it will require owner maintenance. (There are different soaps for the length of their coat.)
- Beautiful - If a pet's coat is Beautiful, it is the cleanest it will get, and doesn't need to be groomed or bathed. It usually occur after taking a Bath or brushing the pet's fur. Having a Beautiful coat can win a dog extra points in the Obedience Trial.
- Clean - A Clean pet doesn't have a sparkling effect, but it will still be okay, and doesn't need another bath.
- Normal - When a pet's coat is Normal, it isn't Dirty, but isn't Clean. This coat level gives the player an opportunity to give their pet a bath before it gets dirtier.
- Dirty - When a pet's coat is Dirty, it will need a bath immediately. Dogs usually get dirty after playing in Puddles.
- Filthy - This is the dirtiest a pet can get; a Filthy animal needs a bath immediately. A Filthy dog's fur turns dark, and fleas jump out of it.
Physique (+Cats)[]
Physique is a Status feature introduced in Nintendogs + Cats, and is a measure of how much a pet weighs. This affects the size of the pet's belly and its speed.
When a dog is heavier (Plump, Overfed), it will run slower, leading to poorer performance in Disc and Lure Coursing competitions.
Weight[]
There are five weight types: Underfed, Skinny, Ideal, Plump, and Overfed.
- Overfed
For a pet that is Overfed, Diet Food is recommended, as well as plenty of exercise. Diet Foods are sold at BARC stores.
Players should avoid feeding an overweight pet treats from Café Petrov, which are fattening. Instead the player should try feeding their pet treats such as Puppy Chews, as they may help with weight loss.
- Plump
A pet that has been fed too much high-calorie food and received too little exercise may be starting to put on a few pounds. To maintain an optimal weight, they will need more exercise at places such as the gym, seaside park, or park in the mountains. Playing fetch, training for lure coursing, and taking long walks boosts a pet's mood, and sheds the calories.
It is preferable to play with toys that thrive in physical activity such as a soccer ball or flying disc while a pet is Plump.
Diet food is not mandatory, as it drops pounds fast and the pet may lose more weight than necessary, but will become necessary if the pet is overfed.
- Ideal
An Ideal pet is at an optimal weight, and it is necessary for it remain that way in order to stay healthy. Ideal weight is achieved by exercising the pet regularly, but not too much. Dogs should be given plenty of exercise-- walking a few miles regularly-- and fed treats along the walk or while training to keep their metabolism high.
- Skinny
Sometimes, a pet that is engaged in too much physical activity (i.e. too much Lure Coursing, too many Disc Competitions) or perhaps overdoses on Diet Food can lose too much weight. For Skinny pets, it is recommended to try Premium Canned or Wet Food to get it off the verge of being Underfed.
- Underfed
A pet who is Underfed has an unhealthy physique. It is recommended that an underweight pet be fed high-quality food, such as the treats at Café Petrov, so that it can reach the ideal weight. Wet Food is also a cheaper option, although it is higher in calories and should only be fed occasionally until the pet reaches the ideal weight. For example, when walking a dog, it should only be fed Wet Food as a treat.
Top Condition (+Cats)[]
When a puppy is well cared for, it is more likely to have a better performance during competitions. It is even capable of doing special tricks!
To ensure their puppy is in top condition, the player should see that it is Full, Quenched, and Beautiful. Energy, while not shown in its Status, is also important to the dog's wellbeing. Either the Naptime Record or Skaters' Waltz Record will give it enough rest if played in their entirety.
The player should immediately enter a competition upon perfecting all of their dog's stats. If done correctly, the host Ted Rumsworth will take note of the puppy's condition.