A Virtual Reality Serious Game for Improving Pet Dog Care Skills

This paper addresses the important issue of canine welfare, particularly in Hong Kong, where dog ownership is prevalent. With the rise in dog-related accidents due to inadequate pet care knowledge and skills, there is a critical need for improved education among dog owners. This study presents a novel solution in the form of a Virtual Reality (VR) serious game designed to enhance pet care skills. The game provides tutorials on key aspects of dog ownership: cleaning, feeding, housing, and dog-walking. Three VR games specifically address the latter three aspects, which educates users on appropriate food for dogs, creating a safe living environment, and dog walking etiquette. The design of these serious games is expected to provide valuable insights for education practitioners on utilizing VR technology to enhance pet welfare, extending beyond dogs.