Houndism - Faqs

General

How do I edit my information such as my username and password?
Just click on the link above that says 'profile' and it will take you to your profile (obviously). Scroll down to the bottom of the page and you will see where you can change this information.

How do I get a layout?
click on the link 'Kennel' above and it will take you to your kennel page. Scroll to the bottom and you will see a big box that says 'description'...this is where you put your HTML for your layout. If you do not know what HTML is a simple search on google with the words 'basic HTML tutorial' will help you out. I am sure there will be some HTML tutorials posted by users on the boards too.

What is HDT and how do I get it?
HDT are Houndism Tokens. HDTs are obtained by donating to the site on the Donation page. When you receive you HDT you may spend them in the tokens area. You may purchase various things with them, such as an upgraded account or HDD. You are also able to buy items for HDT that enhance dogs.

How do messages work?
Messages are very simple to use. All the messages sent to you will go to your inbox. To view these just click on the link above named 'Inbox'. All your messages from other players can be viewed there. To send a message, simply go to your inbox and click on 'Send a message'. All you have to do is put the players ID number into the 'send to' box, type your message, and send it. It is really very simple.

How do I use the bank?
To get to the bank click on the link above called 'World'. Then look for the link called 'Bank'. You many choose to deposit money, or withdrawl it. Every sunday 3% of the money you have in the bank will be added on top of what you already have. So the more money you have in the bank, the more money you will get each Sunday =)

How does the transfer tool work?
The transfer tool is useful when you want to transfer money, a dog, or HDT to another player. You may simply choose which dog or how much money to transfer, type in the players ID number that you want to send it to...and thats it. The transfer tool is loacated in 'World'.

How do I create shows?
To create shows, click on the link above named 'Shows'. Below the search shows box you will see a link that says 'Create Shows'. That is where you may create your shows. Basics can create 15 shows a day, and Diamonds can create 40 shows a day.

How big should username tags be?
A username tag, should be no bigger than 150 x 150 pixels.

How do I earn money?
Enter your dogs in shows, put your money in the bank weekly to gain interest, offer public services, or train dogs and sell them

What is the retirement home, and what is its purpose?
The retirement home is for dogs that are no longer wanted. They go there, where they are able to be veiwed, only. Their health, happiness, groom, stamina and hunger remain filled at all times. It is a great life for them.

What happens when I euthanize my dog?
The dog is not deleted from the game. it comes a stray, and someone can pick it up. Stray dogs are unable to be veiwed, you just come across them.

What is the point of a dog pound?
The dog pound is where people put their dogs up for adoption. They are able to be veiwed and purchased.

Why can't dogs be deleted from the game?
We simply do not want the dogs lines to be broken. If a dog is deleted from the game, there becomes a hole in the pedigree.

What are the special flowers for?
These provide extra benefits for dogs. Each one varies, but they have a one time use only, and are only usable on one dog. They are unable to be transfered over.

I really want one, but I don't have HDT to pay for them.
Unfortunatly, this is a perk of donating money. Houndism needs money to function and pay for server fees.

What is the purpose of the redbull energy drink?
It is an item the restocks a dogs stamina to 100% so it can race again.

Hot Linking

There's been a small problem lately with pictures being hotlinked, both on people's kennels and on the profiles of dogs, and I wanted this to serve as a general reminder to people that hotlinking can be illegal, especially if the images are copywrited.

According to the site Altlab, hotlinking is described as "direct linking to a web site's files (images, video, etc.). An example would be using an <*img*> tag to display a JPEG image you found on someone else's web page so it will appear on your own site, eBay auction listing, weblog, forum message post, etc." In addition, hotlinking may very well be illegal, and can get you or an entire site in trouble.

Uploading your pictures to a free hosting site (such as Photobucket) take little to no extra effort, and ensures that you will not get in trouble for hotlinking. Once again, stealing bandwidth or copywrited pictures can get you AND Houndism in potential major trouble legally, and it's not worth the risk.

With that said, those found hotlinking pictures will get a three day warning, and if the pictures are not removed and/or uploaded onto your own server and hosting site, the pictures will be removed and your account will be banned for three days.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Dogs

How do I buy a dog?
To buy a dog click on 'World' then find the link that says 'Dog Store'. The dogs will show up on your kennel page when you purchase them.

How do I put a picture on my dog?
To put a picture on your dog, go to your dogs page and find the input box that is named 'picture'. Just simply put the URL of the picture you want to use, and press 'Edit Dog'. Please make sure the pictures are not copyrighted if you are going to use it, that would me much appreciated.

How do I put my dog for sale or stud?
The process for putting your dog for sale or stud is basically the same. Of course your dog has to be a male to be put for stud though. If you go to your dogs page, there will be two boxes that say 'sale price' and 'stud price'. Just put the price you want to set them for and press 'Edit Dog'. If you price a dog for $0 they are not for sale. Same for the stud price.

How do I enter my dog in shows?
To enter your dog in shows click on the link above called 'Shows'. Select the dog you would like to enter, the event type, and how many days the shows will run in. This will bring up all the shows in that event type that your dog may enter. All the shows displayed will be within the dogs level, and nothing else. Look to the right of the screen and you will see a link that says 'Enter' next to each show. Click on it and it will enter you dog in that show. Basic players can enter each dog in 75 shows at a time, and Diamond players can enter each dog in 175 shows at a time.

What determines which dog wins a show?
To have the best chance of winning in a show, make sure your dog is not hungry and he is as happy as possible. Also make sure he is groomed, and his health is full. The better their hunger and happiness the better chance they have of winning. Also keep your dog vacinated.

What determines which shows my dog can enter?
Every dog has a level which range from 1-6 that depends on the dogs stats. As the dog's stats improve, the dog's level will as well. Your dog may only enter shows that are set as the same level as he is. You may check your dogs level by searching for shows and reading what level it says at the top of the screen.

Where can I find items to buy for my dog?
All items such as Toys, Grooming, Food, and accessories can be bought at the Store. The link is located on the top banner that says 'Stores'. You will be able to choose which shop you would like to go to.

How do I train my dog in the training area?
To get to the training area go to the link on the top banner that says 'World' then find the link that says 'Training Area'. The training area is a place where you can take your dog once a week and train him in two specific stats that you choose. This is really beneficial if you remember to do it every week.

What can I do with my dogs points?
If you go to your dogs page and click on their points it will bring you to a page where you can exchange points to improve their stats. For every 5,000 points your dog has, you can allocate 1 stat point.

What age do dogs retire at?
Dogs retire at age 12. This means they are unable to enter shows but can breed until age 14. Once your dog reaches this age you may keep it or place it in the Retirement Centre.

How do I breed my dog?
To breed two dogs they must be of the same breed. Go to your male dogs page and you will see a link that says 'Breed'. When you click the link it will show all the females you have that are suitable to breed to the male. Just click on the female you wish to breed and you will have a pup on your kennel page. Once you breed a female, she may not bred again for a week.
Pups must be 2 years old to do most things.

The pups stats will depend on the parents stats. The better the parents stats are, the better the pups stats will be.

What can I do at the vet with my dog?
To get to the vet click on 'World' located on the top banner. Then find the link called 'Vet'. At the vet you can give your dog vaccinations. When you give you dog vaccinations it will increase some of your dogs stats, this can be done once a week. Another thing you can do at the vet is Neuter your dog. This will make them not able to produce offspring anymore, so be careful if you don't want to nuetur your dog.

I want to remove a flower from my dog. How do I do it?
You can't. So choose wisely what you do with your flowers that have been purchased.

I bought a buddy for my dog, what does it do?
Each buddy adds a different amount of stats to your dogs. They can be equiped, and removed, and the dogs stats will decrease when moved aswell back to regular.

I want to equip my dog with 2 of the same items. Why won't it let met?
Dogs do not walk around with 2 collars, or 2 leashes on do they? A dog here is able to equip one of 3 categorized items.

What are the categories?
Collars, leashes, accessories, shirts, and buddys.

What is the grooming bar?
The grooming bar is a bar the shows your dogs appearance.

How does a dog's grooming bar decrease?
Everytime you enter your dog in a class, there is a 2/3^rd chance that your dog will loose 1% of the groom bar and every night your dog's grooming bar will drop 2%.

How do I increase the grooming bar?
Go to the store, and buy a grooming item, and use it on the dog.

What are the effects of a low grooming bar?
Mainly when showing your dog as it is the stat that has the highest priority in your total judging score for each show.

What is the health bar?
The health bar determines if you dog can be trained, bred and do well in shows.

What are the effects of the health bar?
If your dog has below 50% health, you are unable to train and breed it. But you are able to show it.

Will my dog do good in shows if its health is not full?
Your dogs are still able to compete, but there is a very good chance that it will not place well.

How do I increase the health bar?
Go to the store, and buy a vitamins, and use it on the dog.

Do dogs health regenerate?
No it doesn't, you will be to purchase items from the Health store to restore your dogs health. Do dogs health deteriorate?
Yes it does, if any of your dogs bars other than health itself, are below 90% then your dogs health will slowly deteriorate daily.

Dog Viruses

How do I cure them?
You have to purchase the Virus Antidote from the Health Store.

What are the effects of viruses?
A dogs health will reset to 0% and you will not be able to restore it until your dog is healthy again.

What is rabies
Rabies is an acute and deadly viral infection of the central nervous system. This fatal, viral disease affects the brain and nerves. The Rabies virus belongs to the Rhabdoviridae family. The rabies virus usually grows in the muscle tissue and can go undetected for several days or even months.

What is lyme diesease
Bacteria is passed into the animal�s bloodstream when the tick bites. The tick must remain attached to the animal�s skin for at least one day before the bacteria can be transmitted. Approximately 90% of all cases of Lyme Disease occur on the East Coast of the USA. Infected dogs do not transmit the disease to people.

What is fleas?
Fleas are external parasites are light or dark brown in colour, very mobile and easily visible when in numerous quantities. Adult fleas feed on blood, whilst their larvae feed on organic debris.

What is worms?
As internal parasites they live off the puppy or dog robbing them of vital nutrients needed to stay healthy. Left untreated, intestinal parasites will stunt the growth and weaken young puppies

What is mange?
The word Mange comes from the Middle French word mangene meaning itching. It is caused by six varieties of minute parasitic mites which affect domestic animals and sometimes people. The most severe variety of canine dog mange is caused by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei, which also causes human scabies. It appears in the form of a variety of persistent contagious skin diseases characterized by frantic itching.

What is ringworm?
Ringworm is a superficial skin disease caused by infection with one of several types of fungus. It typically causes circular areas of hair loss, which is how the condition got its name. Ringworm has nothing to do with a worm. The medical term for ringworm is dermatophytosis because the fungi that cause it are called dermatophytes.

Dog Racing

To start off racing is started here at the racing page which is pretty self explanatory. Races are held with your choice of two or three dogs. Each dog runs 4 lengths with either 60, 80 or 100 yard sections picked at random.

Racing boils down to 3 main things. First is your dog stats. They have a factor over everything the races have to offer. Second is stamina. It determines your speed, and without speed you cannot go anywhere. Lastly and probably the biggest is your tactics. Tactics have 3 values which are layout out as x/y/z.

The first value (x) is the basis of the calculation of your dog�s acceleration. Acceleration determines how fast your dog is going to get to his max/top speed in each length. The second value (y) is the basis of the calculation of your dog�s max/top speed. The remaining value (z) is the basis of the calculation of your dog�s rest for the length. This goes hand in hand with stamina as each point you enter in rest is roughly 10 stamina points for your dog.

Tactics are chosen for each dog and each dog chooses 1 tactic per length, all done here. The most balanced tactic you can enter is 4/4/4. This is good for lengths of 80 yards because your top gets a fair top speed at a fair acceleration rate, without tiring himself too much.

If you step up your speed and go 3/5/4, your dog will obviously have a faster yard per minute speed but this is only good for a 100 yard length or maybe a 80 yard length as your dog will not accelerate fast enough to reach his max speed of a 60 yard length. Depending of how much you rest in the race your dog will probably tire pretty far into his stamina and you only want to race with high and mainly full (100) a. Your dog will regain 90 stamina nightly as long as he has 50 or more hunger. The race challenger is the player who chooses how much or whether the race will have a wager. Each dog in the race pays the wager and the winner takes the pot. The winner top also receives 2000 points to use towards his stats, 1000 for second (in a three dog race), and 500 for last.

Shops

How do I get items into my shop?
Click on the link above called 'Inventory'. This will bring you to where all the items you have bought are stored. Click on the item you wish to put into your shop and it will bring you to a list of things you can do with that item. Just click on the link that says 'Put item into shop' and the item will go to your shop.