Constantly having to stop so that your dog or follower can catch up to you is extremely maddening. So I don't use either.

0.00000001 I bought one and it died in a few hits

They are cheeky chaps but they do have a habit of chasing cats that are much more than they can handle, and being a Kahjit thats not good.

You should title the topic "companions, how useless are they?"

Because in my opinion, dogs are useless, but companions are just as useless...

Rajir loves his pet. Nothing better than being back home in Solitude and spending time with his wife and the family dog. He accompanies Rajir around town when shopping and spending time with the townsfolk. When Rajir is out adventuring, he stays at home to protect Camilla and the house. A loyal family pet is always useful. 7/10

I have had two die on me, and not to dragons or deathlords, just bandits and drug smugglers. When the stray died, I was upset; when Vigilance died, it was a case of 'never again'.

Barbas is great.
Clavius Vile can keep his damn mask and axe.
I'm keeping the dog.

I don't know about that? Barbas seems to be a little bit more pushy then the other dogs IMO, he's gotten me killed on several occasions on 5 playthroughs by pushing me off my high vantage points, he even pushed me to my doom once, I was trying to sneak my way past a dragon to get higher ground and it was working too even with Barbas in tail but it was once I got to my destination that he decided it was time to try and snuggle so he pushed me off my hidey-ho and right on top of the dragon who destroyed me faster then I could react after the fall

I give dogs a 5-6 out of ten, they don't complain as much as most of the companions you can get.

I think the game physics don't help here. I once thought my game was bugging out as I was stood in the Rift admiring the view and a noticed my character was suddenly sliding backwards. It transpired a dragonfly had flown into them and and it was pushing them along.

dog armor DLC

Companions in Skyrim = Cannon fodder

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_2oXH8AbQCfs/ST_fvcDAVRI/AAAAAAAACvY/wIoLDKul2aY/s400/Armor%20dog%2001.jpg

This. The constant nudging drove me so nuts I never took another dog with me. Actually, I try to kill them if I can.

-13.

Actually I give em a ten and move for bethesda to name Meeko and Vigilance as essentials, They do actually recover but much like a companion you have to be careful with AOE because if they are hit by u or an AOE while they are recovering they will die. I have used Meeko for a long time, (I refrained from getting him untill I was lvl 50 so he would start off at lvl 50 because companions are set to your lvl once you meet them for the first time,) But when he is fighting an enemy if he gets hurt he will often run when near death and then lay down to heal. Its also rather realistic that an archer should be careful where he is aiming. IRL if you shot an arrow near a friend who is charging an enemy your an idiot, however your companion should be careful where they are fin running!

I've always been a loner in TES games, so no dogs or companions for me.

I give them a 3, eh they die fast so thats why BUT they do offer a good distration but I totally prefer even a killable human companine since they help more :/

Hahaha

I've encountered multiple bugs with Barbas.
So overall I would give dogs a ZERO!

Why are they always barking?

As I got Meeko as a follower for my hunter,I thought it was the best decision ever.
15 minutes later I had to dissmiss him, I was so annoyed by him not following me properly, always getting in the way of my arrows, and barking constantly.

1/10

1. They dont fetch
2. They aint cute
3. No HUSKIES WDF!!!
4. They die 5min after i buy them
5. When i sneak, they run into traps and die
6. They always take the arrow in their ____
7. Barbas push me off the cliff
8. I tried to push Barbas off the cliff but he didnt die
9. When i sleep, they stand there wagging their tails just like Lydia wagging her **
10. Not worth the money. I rather spend my money on a crap follower

i want a mammoth as a pet.

I just started the quest with Barbas. I swore I would never do it again, but my current character demands it, for RPing. The pushing is worse than I remember. Before leaving on our next part of the quest, to basically trek across the map with this damn mutt, I quickly searched the Nexus for a mod. I knew SOMEONE had to have done something.

And they did! I immediately installed "Back off Barbas" http://skyrim.nexusmods.com/downloads/file.php?id=2686

I may actually start actually liking him...that is if I can find a mod to shut him up...I may just mod his vocal in the CK.