Embark on a delightful journey of canine companionship in the virtual world of Nintendogs! This comprehensive guide will equip you with the knowledge and techniques to teach your Nintendogs a variety of tricks, strengthening your bond and showcasing their adorable skills.
### Understanding Nintendogs Learning
Before diving into trick training, it’s crucial to understand how Nintendogs learn. Unlike real dogs, they don’t respond to traditional reward systems like treats or physical praise. Instead, they learn through repetition, positive reinforcement using verbal praise, and consistent actions.
* **Repetition is Key:** Nintendogs learn through repeated exposure to commands and actions. The more you practice a trick, the more likely your dog is to master it.
* **Verbal Praise:** Positive reinforcement is vital. When your dog performs a trick correctly, shower them with enthusiastic verbal praise using the touchscreen and microphone. Phrases like “Good dog!” “Yes!” and “Well done!” work wonders.
* **Consistency:** Use the same command word and gesture for each trick. Consistency helps your dog associate the word and action with the desired behavior.
* **Patience:** Nintendogs, like real dogs, learn at their own pace. Be patient and avoid frustration. If your dog isn’t getting it right away, take a break and try again later.
* **Mood Matters:** A happy and energetic dog is more receptive to learning. Ensure your Nintendog is well-fed, watered, and has had plenty of playtime before starting a training session. An unhappy dog will simply not perform the tricks.
### Essential Tools for Trick Training
While the Nintendogs game doesn’t require any physical tools, these virtual tools and considerations are helpful for successful trick training:
* **The Touchscreen:** The touchscreen is your primary tool for interacting with your Nintendog. You’ll use it to pet, groom, feed, and, most importantly, teach tricks.
* **The Microphone:** The microphone is essential for verbal commands. Ensure your Nintendo DS microphone is working correctly and that you speak clearly and audibly.
* **A Quiet Environment:** Minimize background noise during training sessions. A quiet environment allows the Nintendo DS to accurately pick up your verbal commands.
* **A Consistent Schedule:** Try to train your Nintendog at the same time each day. This establishes a routine and helps your dog anticipate training sessions.
* **The Trick List:** Keep track of the tricks you’re teaching and your dog’s progress. This helps you stay organized and identify areas where your dog needs more practice.
### Foundational Tricks: Sit, Stay, and Lie Down
These basic commands are the building blocks for more advanced tricks. Master these first before moving on.
**1. Teaching “Sit”:**
* **Step 1: Get Your Dog’s Attention.** Call your dog’s name to get their attention. Make sure they’re facing you and focused.
* **Step 2: The Lure.** Gently use the stylus to tap your dog’s nose or forehead, guiding their head slightly upward. This often encourages them to sit naturally.
* **Step 3: The Command.** As your dog starts to sit, clearly say the word “Sit.”
* **Step 4: Positive Reinforcement.** The instant your dog’s rear touches the ground, shower them with verbal praise: “Good Sit!” “Yes, Sit!” Pet them enthusiastically.
* **Step 5: Repetition.** Repeat this process several times. Be patient. If your dog doesn’t sit right away, keep trying.
* **Step 6: Gradual Removal of the Lure.** Once your dog starts to associate the word “Sit” with the action, gradually reduce your reliance on the stylus. Eventually, you should be able to get them to sit with just the verbal command.
* **Troubleshooting:** If your dog keeps jumping, try holding your stylus lower. If they don’t respond at all, make sure they’re not tired or hungry.
**2. Teaching “Stay”:**
* **Step 1: The “Sit” Prerequisite.** Your dog needs to know “Sit” before you can teach them “Stay.”
* **Step 2: Command and Hand Gesture.** Once your dog is sitting, say the word “Stay” in a firm but gentle tone. Simultaneously, hold your hand up in front of you, palm facing your dog, like a stop sign.
* **Step 3: Short Duration.** Start with very short durations. Say “Stay” and hold your hand up for just a second or two.
* **Step 4: Positive Reinforcement.** If your dog stays sitting for the entire duration, immediately praise them enthusiastically: “Good Stay!” “Yes, Stay!”
* **Step 5: Gradual Increase in Duration.** Gradually increase the amount of time you ask your dog to stay. Start with 3 seconds, then 5, then 10, and so on.
* **Step 6: Repetition.** Practice “Stay” multiple times during each training session.
* **Step 7: Release Command.** Always use a release command, such as “Okay,” to signal to your dog that they can move.
* **Troubleshooting:** If your dog breaks the stay, calmly say “No” and repeat the process. Don’t scold or punish them. Just start again.
**3. Teaching “Lie Down”:**
* **Step 1: Get Your Dog’s Attention and Command.** Call your dog’s name to get their attention. Clearly say “Lie Down.”
* **Step 2: Lure with stylus.** Gently use the stylus to guide their nose towards the floor. As you guide, reinforce the “Lie Down” command.
* **Step 3: Positive Reinforcement.** As soon as your dog is lying down, reward them with praise.
* **Step 4: Repetition.** Repeat this process several times.
* **Step 5: Gradual Removal of the Lure.** Once your dog starts to associate the word “Lie Down” with the action, gradually reduce your reliance on the stylus.
### Intermediate Tricks: Shake, Beg, and Roll Over
Once your dog has mastered the basic commands, you can move on to more challenging tricks.
**1. Teaching “Shake”:**
* **Step 1: The “Sit” Prerequisite.** Make sure your dog knows how to sit reliably.
* **Step 2: The Tease.** Hold your hand out, palm up, close to your dog’s paw.
* **Step 3: The Command.** Say the word “Shake” clearly and enthusiastically.
* **Step 4: The Guide.** If your dog doesn’t lift their paw, gently tap their paw with your hand. This often encourages them to lift it.
* **Step 5: The Grasp.** As soon as your dog lifts their paw, take it in your hand and gently shake it.
* **Step 6: Positive Reinforcement.** Praise your dog enthusiastically: “Good Shake!” “Yes, Shake!”
* **Step 7: Repetition.** Repeat this process several times.
* **Troubleshooting:** If your dog tries to bite or nip your hand, stop the training session immediately and try again later. Make sure your dog is in a good mood.
**2. Teaching “Beg”:**
* **Step 1: The “Sit” Prerequisite.** The dog needs to know how to sit first.
* **Step 2: The Lure.** Get your dog into a sitting position. Hold stylus in front of your dog’s nose and raise it slowly.
* **Step 3: The Command.** As your dog begins to reach its paws up to follow the stylus, say the word “Beg.”
* **Step 4: Positive Reinforcement.** Praise your dog enthusiastically: “Good Beg!” “Yes, Beg!”
* **Step 5: Repetition.** Repeat this process several times.
**3. Teaching “Roll Over”:**
* **Step 1: The “Lie Down” Prerequisite.** The dog needs to know how to lie down first.
* **Step 2: The Lure.** Lure the dog from the lying down position towards one shoulder, then continue moving the treat along its back encouraging it to roll over onto its other side.
* **Step 3: The Command.** As the dog starts to roll over, say the word “Roll Over.”
* **Step 4: Positive Reinforcement.** Praise your dog enthusiastically: “Good Roll Over!” “Yes, Roll Over!”
* **Step 5: Repetition.** Repeat this process several times.
* **Troubleshooting:** If your dog doesn’t seem to understand, break the trick down into smaller steps. First, lure them to lie down on their side. Then, lure them to roll slightly further. Gradually increase the amount they roll until they’re completing the entire trick.
### Advanced Tricks: Jump, Dance, and Play Dead
These tricks require more patience and coordination, but they’re incredibly rewarding to teach.
**1. Teaching “Jump”:**
* **Step 1: The “Stay” Prerequisite.** Your dog needs to know how to stay in a sitting position.
* **Step 2: Holding stylus.** Hold stylus in front of your dog.
* **Step 3: The Command.** Say the word “Jump” clearly and enthusiastically.
* **Step 4: The Lure.** Move stylus slightly upwards to encourage the dog to jump.
* **Step 5: Positive Reinforcement.** Praise your dog enthusiastically: “Good Jump!” “Yes, Jump!”
* **Step 6: Repetition.** Repeat this process several times.
**2. Teaching “Dance”:**
* **Step 1: The “Sit” Prerequisite.** Your dog needs to know how to sit.
* **Step 2: The Lure.** Hold stylus just above your dog’s head, slightly out of reach.
* **Step 3: The Command.** Say the word “Dance” clearly and enthusiastically.
* **Step 4: Encouraging Movement.** Gently move the stylus in a circular motion. This will encourage your dog to lift its front paws and move them in a dancing motion to follow the stylus.
* **Step 5: Positive Reinforcement.** Praise your dog enthusiastically: “Good Dance!” “Yes, Dance!”
* **Step 6: Repetition.** Repeat this process several times.
**3. Teaching “Play Dead”:**
* **Step 1: The “Lie Down” Prerequisite.** Your dog needs to know how to lie down.
* **Step 2: The Lure.** Get your dog to lie down.
* **Step 3: The Command.** Say the word “Play Dead” clearly and enthusiastically.
* **Step 4: The Body Language.** Gently use the stylus to roll your dog onto its side.
* **Step 5: Positive Reinforcement.** Praise your dog enthusiastically: “Good Play Dead!” “Yes, Play Dead!”
* **Step 6: Repetition.** Repeat this process several times.
### Tips for Successful Trick Training
* **Keep Training Sessions Short:** Nintendogs have short attention spans. Keep training sessions to 5-10 minutes.
* **End on a Positive Note:** Always end training sessions with a trick your dog knows well. This leaves them feeling successful and motivated.
* **Be Patient and Understanding:** Don’t get discouraged if your dog doesn’t learn a trick right away. Be patient and keep practicing.
* **Vary the Tricks:** Don’t focus on the same trick for too long. Vary the tricks you’re teaching to keep your dog engaged.
* **Use the Environment:** Try training your dog in different locations. This can help them generalize the tricks and perform them in any situation.
* **Celebrate Successes:** When your dog masters a new trick, celebrate with extra playtime, petting, and verbal praise.
* **Bonding Time:** Ultimately trick training provides great bonding time with your Nintendog.
### Troubleshooting Common Problems
* **Dog Not Responding to Commands:** Make sure your microphone is working correctly and that you’re speaking clearly and audibly. Also, ensure your dog is in a good mood and not tired or hungry.
* **Dog Getting Distracted:** Minimize distractions during training sessions. Train in a quiet environment.
* **Dog Refusing to Perform a Trick:** Don’t force your dog to do anything they don’t want to do. Take a break and try again later.
* **Dog Forgetting Tricks:** Regularly practice tricks your dog already knows to prevent them from forgetting them.
### Conclusion
Teaching your Nintendogs tricks is a rewarding and enjoyable experience. With patience, consistency, and positive reinforcement, you can unlock your dog’s potential and strengthen your bond. So, grab your Nintendo DS, gather your virtual furry friend, and embark on an exciting journey of trick training! Remember to have fun and celebrate every success along the way. Your Nintendog will appreciate your efforts, and you’ll be amazed at what they can learn!