Nintendogs Best Friends Quick Dog Unlock Tip That Saves Time
New dogs in Nintendogs Best Friends unlock with Trainer Points, so the quickest route is to focus your time on earning them. Here is how to do that without wasting days.
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You can unlock new dogs in Nintendogs: Best Friends faster by earning Trainer Points more quickly. Dog breeds stay locked until you earn enough of those points, so this tip speeds up a process the game already has. It is not a cheat code. There are a variety of dogs you can unlock, but to get them you'll have to earn Trainer Points [1]. Related reading: Nintendogs Best Friends Version Tricks.
That makes Trainer Points the thing to focus on. If you're waiting on one breed, every day spent earning points slowly is a day you wait longer.
Below, you'll see what unlocks to expect, how to earn points faster, and which dogs are worth chasing first. This method is short and practical, so you can start with the dog you already have today.
What kinds of unlocks should you expect?
Unlockables come in three kinds: new interior designs, new dog breeds, and items. [2] The game lists them on the top screen, so you can see what is on offer without digging through menus. That makes the top screen the quickest way to plan your next goal.
Dog breeds are probably the unlock you will think about most. The unlockable breeds include several Shih breeds, along with others on the full list. [1] If you enjoy small companion dogs, a Shih breed is a natural first target, and it gives your daily routine a clear focus.
Interior designs and items are the other two options, and they work well as side goals. If your dog's room already feels right, pick an interior design as your next target. If you like collecting gear, an item can give a short session a reward of its own.
Keep in mind that the top screen description comes from the Lab & Friends guide, not from Best Friends itself. [2] Use it as a picture of the kinds of unlocks to expect, and compare it with what your own top screen shows as you play. It also helps to read Nintendogs: Best Friends Version Walkthrough, Step by Step.
How do you earn Trainer Points faster?
The quickest way to earn Trainer Points is a short daily walk built around "?" boxes and an accessory swap. Breeds stay locked until you earn those points, so every walk should aim at building them. [1]
Treat the routine as a habit rather than a one-time push.
- Take your dog for a walk with another accessory ready to change into. Pick the second accessory before you leave, so you are not searching menus mid-walk. [3]
- Collect as many "?" boxes as you can before the walk ends. Head for each box you can reach, and keep count as you go. [3]
- Repeat the walk routine each day to build up points. A few boxes each day add up over a week, so a breed that felt far away gets closer.
For example, say you collect four boxes on Monday and four more on Tuesday. By the end of Tuesday you have eight boxes' worth of progress, and you did not need an extra trip. The total builds quietly, which is the point of the routine.
This walk tip comes from the Dachshund & Friends guide, so Best Friends may handle it slightly differently. Start with the routine and watch how your points grow. [3]
Which dogs are worth chasing first?
The clearest quick unlock example in this set is Golden Puppies, which a fan forum post ties to 20,000 Trainer Points in Lab & Friends. [4] That gives you a concrete target, but it describes Lab & Friends only, so it is not a general rule for the whole game.
The name needs a second look. Golden Puppies stands for Golden Retriever, so the kennel entry refers to that breed. [4]
Before you plan around this, check the Best Friends list.
This approach works best if you already play Lab & Friends or want one clear first goal. Pick the Golden Retriever as your target and track your Trainer Points each day.
Is the quick unlock tip worth using?
The quick unlock comes down to one idea: Trainer Points are what open new dogs, so every good day of play should push them toward the breed you want.
If you want the short version, earn points steadily and aim them at a single target. Random play spreads your progress thin, while a clear goal makes the quick tip work.
Keep your daily routine steady
Daily walks and collecting "?" boxes are the habits that build points fastest. Do them every day rather than in one long session, so each walk adds to the total instead of resetting your momentum.
Pick one target breed
Choose the breed you're chasing before you start, and keep it in mind on every walk. When you know the goal, each day's points go somewhere useful instead of being spent on things you don't need yet.
Your next step is simple: pick your target breed tonight, then take your dog on a walk tomorrow and aim every point at that goal.