What Is Virtualbark? How to Play the Online Virtual Dog Game
Virtualbark is a browser-based virtual dog game where you adopt and raise your own dog online. It is aimed at players who want a pet of their own, including those whose parents have said no to a real dog. You can choose from more than 50 dog breeds, keep more than one dog, and care for them with food, drink, collars, and dog houses. The site also includes social features: a messageboard, forums, blogs, and kennels where you can meet other players.
What you can do in Virtualbark
The game centers on owning and caring for virtual dogs, with several layers of activity:
- Choose a breed. The site offers more than 50 kinds of dogs, so you can pick the type of dog you like rather than being limited to one default pet.
- Keep multiple dogs. You are not restricted to a single dog; you can breed and own more than one.
- Customize their home. There are many different dog houses to choose from.
- Buy accessories. You can buy pretty collars for your dogs.
- Feed and water them. You can give your dogs many different kinds of food and drink.
- Breed dogs. Married couples in the game can have puppies.
How to start playing
- Go to the site. Virtualbark runs in your browser at virtualbark.com, so you do not need to install a separate game client.
- Sign up. The homepage has a "Sign Up" link and asks "Aren't you a member?!" with a sign-up option. Create your account there.
- Log in. The login area on the homepage has fields for Nick (your username) and Password. Enter the credentials you created.
- Get your dog. Once you are in, you choose from the available dog breeds and begin caring for your dog.
- Report problems if needed. A "Bug reporting" link is available on the homepage if something does not work.
The homepage also shows a "turn" field alongside the login area, which suggests the game runs in turns rather than in continuous real time. Expect to log in and take actions for your dog rather than watching it move around in real time.
The social side of Virtualbark
Virtualbark is not only about the dog itself. The site describes itself as a place to find friends and company:
- Messageboard: Send messages to your friends.
- Forums: Talk about many different kinds of topics.
- Chat: The site says you can "chat non-stop."
- Blog: Write about yourself on your own Virtualbark blog.
- Kennels: Found a kennel or join an existing one.
- Profile page: Tell the world who you are on your profile.
The site claims hundreds of players are online all day long, so there is usually someone to interact with if you want the social side of the game.
Who Virtualbark is for
Virtualbark suits you if:
- You want a dog but cannot have a real one — the homepage explicitly addresses players whose parents have denied them a pet.
- You enjoy browser games that do not require a download.
- You like caring for a pet over time, including feeding it and buying it things.
- You want a game with a community attached, through forums, chat, blogs, and kennels.
- You are interested in breeding dogs and getting puppies, which requires being part of a married couple in the game.
It is less suited to you if you want a fast-paced action game or a fully 3D pet simulation, since Virtualbark is a text-and-image browser game built around management and community.
Practical notes
- Language: The site is in English (en-EN), and it also links to related sites under other domains (virtualhund.com, cainevirtual.ro, mojpsik.eu), suggesting a multi-language family of games.
- Account required: You need to sign up and log in to play; the homepage repeatedly asks whether you are a member and points to the sign-up page.
- No pricing information is given on the homepage. The page does not state whether any features cost money, so do not assume the game is free or paid based on the homepage alone — check inside the game after signing up.
- Latest news: The site posts news for players, such as a holiday game prepared for Easter that can be read after login, so logging in also gives you access to seasonal content.