I'm one of the people that love the idea of having a fellow dog running around with me and helping me in my battles. I have a dog in real life so that adds to the feeling for me, but i often see alot of people that don't like the idea or hate the dog, since he stops being helpful after some time because they don't scale with you, or maybe it's just the barking. Iike i said i love the dog, going as far as feeling bad when i'm forced to kill an enemy's dog to defend myself, but i wish i could have him waiting for me inside my home sometimes (if he didn't leave on it's own after a while that wouldn't be a problem.)

So that left me curious and i felt like knowing how many of you actually like the dog companion running around with you? Or do you feel like having him simply as a house pet?

To that regard, is the wood elves racial powers any use? Really..

I like the idea of a Dog Companion. I don't like how it is implemented in the game.

1. The barking
2. They won't stay at home when asked to. Never tried, but will they stay if told to at a dungeon entrance?
3. Scaling as mentioned, but there is a way to fix that.

I haven't played as a Bosmer yet, but I can think of the typical wilderness situation: A dragon just landed behind you while a cave bear and a sabre cat were already attacking you. With their racial ability, the Bosmers could turn one of these critters into their friend for a minute to get rid of the other two evils.

If it is anything like the shout Animal Allegiance, then it is very effective.

The problem with that racial is that it's pretty limited and VERY situational. The most useful thing i can think of for that racial is to use it on a mamoth when your going to invade an area, or maybe need some meat shield to fight a dragon. Aside from that, there's actually a shout that does the same, so yeah, not really that useful.

I like the barking. It is not as annoying as some real dogs can get. They will stay where you tell them to wait. If you leave them for more than 3 days will they return home, wherever this is for them (btw, I have seen a new mod which allows to change a dog's home).

They need to learn to run away from a fight when they take too much damage/injury.

1-I'm not sure but i belive there was a mod that reduced barking alot
2- They will stay home if asked too, i've tried it, the problem is, after about 3 and a half days from leaving, the dog will go away (probably trying to emulate loneliness, since you left for a long time), if you check on the dog from time to time he will stay put, but to me that's not what i wish sometimes, since i usually leave him in my whiterun house, i tried to roleplay leaving my dog under lydia's care, but that can't really be done since he'll leave anyways.

Oh a mod to change their home? Lovely now i guess i can start having a dog as a pet, on a side not, dogs usually (at least for me) run away when they are faced with someone too powerful, or like the rest of the companions, will stay put when they reach zero health and will not die upon futher damage.

I like the non-daedric dogs, even with the annoying barking.
I dislike the occasional mystery vanishings of the Stray Dog, and as CCNA mentioned - they do not have the ability to be set to use a player home as a place to return to if they get lost.
Meeko will usually stay at the entrance to a dungeon, I have no idea about the one that can be purchased.

I took my first stray dog to Sky Haven Temple, and told him to wait there. He's still there, barking incessantly and being insulted for stupid dog. I've recently met a second stray dog, and now I'm trying the same with this one. I've already got the message that he went back home, so I should take a look whether he also sees Sky Haven Temple as "home" like the first one, or ran off.

Anyway, I like the dogs, but
1) They bark too much
2) They push me away. I am the dominant one, mutt, so I should be the one who gets to push you out of the way!
3) With very strong enemies, they run away. Enjoy investigating the whole area just to find them back after the fight, yay!
4) Only the commands Follow, Stay and Go Home? I want at least Attack, Fetch and Herd Sheep! (lol, j/k )

"Only the commands Follow, Stay and Go Home? I want at least Attack, Fetch and Herd Sheep!"

I want Attack, Fetch, and Herd Cats!

I did nearly this at a very low level (before finding Kynes Peace or Animal Allegiance). I controlled a mammoth to help in a fight. Was able to use it on bears and trolls at low level. Would not have entered some of those caves without the ability. At times I've used the special ability and was able to keep my shout in reserve. I've actually used this ability more than the Redguard stamina ability (on another character).

As to dogs - don't use them (too noisy). I would have preferred the potential to have a familiar from a range of animals (hawk, dog, wolf, etc.) with a special ability connected to them.

I would imagine CCNA might agree with you.

As far as animal companions.... no thanks. The AI is just too uncomfortable.... I would like a housecat or so.... One of the house mods has a mini-sabrecat as a pet inside the house; however the animations are just as annoying in miniature as they are full size. I marked it for delete....

In real life I am an animal lover so my respect for animals are 100% legit... however in skyrim I find that dogs are so weak and so useless that I tend not to let them follow me. The only sog that I actually liked was that daedric prince dog... and that's because he was listed as essential so he couldn't die while in battle.

I prefer my summoning magic.

I prefer dog companions over the human companions.

I would like an animal house pet, but I really don't like them as travel companions and going to find the enterance to the cave/dungeon after getting out is a royal pain.

I adore Meeko, though that might just be me missing my old dog. First thing I did once I found him was make him essential and install the quieter bark mod. The barking was just too much. But I find him pretty useful so far. He mostly has trouble with falling rock traps that Lydia's sprung in a fit of brilliance, and I've never had him run away. I hated Barbas, though. He followed way too close and constantly pushed me around whenever I'd stop or walk slowly.

I happened upon the random event mutt one time. Kept him for about 3 minutes until the constant barking got on my nerves.

I want a bear companion.

The sound Khajits make when they cough up a hair ball is too disturbing to use them as companions, so no.


EDIT: I second the bear thing. That would be great.

I detest the sound of barking both in real and in the game. OTOH, while only kind of a companion, I think Shadowmere a darned good animal to have around.

I think the OP hit the nail there, those are the very reasons I don't use a dog companion, I too am a dog lover and currently have a dog pet in real life, I am sensitive to dog's barking as I have a habit to look out for the happenings of my dog's interests in his daily life, and that style of bark is quite alarming for me.

Secondly, as I have a dog in real life, the barking coming from the speakers often disturb my dog, since the experience from Fallout 1's Dogmeat, I have always loved to experienced RPG adventures with a dog, but Skyrim dog barking is enough for me to abandon my interests.

Finally, all Skyrim dog look the same, perhaps one time I have met a stray dog which has a darker colour but I personally do not enjoy their look.

It would be nice if their barking and whining were done in a claim way, as well as having a vairty types instead of a big Schnauzer looking thing only.

I like that there are dogs, but as followers I get too worried the dog will die.
@OP I use Kyne's Peace shout on bandit dogs too, so no casualties there.
Not sure if it's a bug, but I've never had a problem with my dog living comfortably in the bedroom of my Whiterun house. The only problem I had was Lydia always calling him "Stupid dog", so I took her to meet Boethia.
I also get annoyed by horses fighting for me, and getting in my way. One of my gripes is that I can use Kyne's Peace on purchased horses but "Shadowmere is too powerful for Kyne's Peace". *sigh* I wish there were more options to tell horses/dogs to keep clear and stay alive...

P.S. The 'food' dogmeat disturbs me. I think I will have to mod it out of my game if I play much longer.

I thought so too.
However, I can't seem to make it work

Well, maybe herd Skeevers....

You mentioned Fetch, Dogmeat would do that for you in Fallout, even to the point of getting past locked doors and other places. I think it would be cool if while your walking along, the dog would go out and find things for you, like Alchemy Ingredients or Arrows or whatever you specify (within reason)