It's a good game and all, but after about a week you will be bored.
Gameplay:7/10
The dogs will keep you saying oh they're so cute for about 3 days and then you will get bored of this game because of it's lack of content. You can only enter each dog in 3 contests per day, you can only take it on a walk every half hour, and you can only go so far when you walk the dog. These limitations are what will bore most people. But what it does have is an innovative interface when you are "at home" that allows you to pet the dog, teach it tricks and play with it.
Graphics:9/10
For a DS game, the graphics of Nintendogs are very good. They resemble late Playstation. Which is what a DS game should look like.
Sound:8/10
There is not much audio in this game but what is there is pretty good. There is not very much music, but the few tracks it does have are enjoyable to hear, the first couple of times. You will hear the same music so much that it will drive you nuts. And the incessant barking of the damn dog is enough to drive a sane person crazy. I mean the first couple of times the dog barks is okay, but they wind up barking like 10 times and it is very annoying at times.
Value:8/10
The game is not worth its $35 price tag, so if you can find a copy used get it, but if you get it new you will regret spending the money unless you don't get bored within the first week.
Overall:8.2/10
The game is good, but it has so many flaws that it is not really worth its price. If you want it wait until it comes down in price first.