For the dog in Dragon Age II, see Dog (Dragon Age II).

Character Dog
Race:	Mabari
Gender:	Male
Class:	Warrior
Title:	Mabari War Dog
Appearances:	Dragon Age: Origins Witch Hunt

"Dog" is the default name of a Mabari war hound who can join the party at the Deserted Farmland or Highever (Human Noble Origin) and serves as the Warden's faithful companion. Dog is a full party member, counting as a warrior who has war hound-specific abilities that he can learn, and character specific equipment in the form of collars and kaddis. He also has party banter and interactions, as well as a territory-marking exploration game, which involves locating and subsequently having Dog "mark" various points in the different locales the party visits. Doing so activates Mabari Dominance, which is detailed lower on the page. Not all locations have landmarks to mark, however.

Background

Dogs are an essential part of Ferelden culture, and no dog is more prized than the mabari. The breed is as old as myth, said to have been bred from the wolves who served the legendary hero Dane.

Involvement

Dog is obtained in one of two ways in Origins; a third, "last chance" opportunity is added with the Return to Ostagar DLC.

“We now have a dog and Alistair is still the dumbest one in the party.” — Morrigan This article contains spoilers for Dragon Age: Origins. Click here to reveal them.

Human Nobles obtain Dog during the origin story (see Mischief in the Larder). At this point he can be named and becomes a companion. During missions at Ostagar, he will wait with Duncan until Alistair and the Warden are sent to light the signal fire atop the Tower of Ishal (at which point only the Circle Mage will join the party).

A Warden of any other origin who wishes to recruit Dog must complete The Mabari Hound (after arriving at Ostagar, before the war council). (The quest is still available to human nobles, but will not result in a second Dog!). If the quest is completed, Dog will be found in a World Map encounter (Deserted Farmland) while the Warden travels from Flemeth's Hut to Lothering. After a band of darkspawn is defeated, the new 'recruit' can be discussed briefly with Alistair and Morrigan, then named.

In Witch Hunt, Dog aids the Warden or the Warden-Commander in the quest to trail Morrigan.

In The Darkspawn Chronicles he is named "Barkspawn", and is one of Alistair's three companions fighting the Archdemon. An unlockable mabari npc named Barkspawn is also a companion in Dragon Age Legends.

Note that Dog is not an 'automatic' or 'required' companion unless the Warden is a Human Noble - the Kennel Master can be ignored; the hound can be killed instead of muzzled; the Wilds Flower can be ignored or never turned in.

Initial statistics

See Dog talents for a list of its talents.

Relative attribute weightings on auto-level: strength 1.2, dexterity 1, willpower 1.5, magic 0, cunning 0, constitution 1.1.

Dog has access to a series of talents unique to it. On the console editions of the game, it can also access warrior talents. pc In Witch Hunt, Dog can also learn Second Wind, Peon's Plight, Grievous Insult and Massacre talents, like other warriors.

It can also sense Stealthed enemies such as Genlock Rogues at fairly close range. The Stealth is not counteracted and there is no in-game notification except for an angry warning growl. In any case, only a mage has any significant response options (such as inscribing a Glyph of Repulsion to repel an initial melee attack).

Finding items

Dog can be asked, "Do you see anything interesting?" almost everywhere outside of camp (though not while he is injured). In most areas he will have a random chance to return with either a minor item from the generic treasure list (such as Elfroot), or one of a limited number of unique items:

There are also area-specific items he can dig up:

Duty may refer to:

• Duty (helmet), a massive helmet in Dragon Age: Origins.
• Duty (quest), a companion quest in Dragon Age II.
• Sadatt, a templar in Dragon Age Comic.

This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the same title. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article.

Assorted gemstones - at the Mountain Top

Notes

• pc^1.04 ps3xbox360 There is apparently a bug where you get the message, "Dog has brought you an item!", but you will receive nothing in your inventory. If you get that message but no item icon on the lower left corner of the screen, you will receive no item.
• The human noble unsurprisingly has the earliest access to found items, as any of the non-area-specific ones can be found within Castle Cousland. Piece of Wood is of particular interest, as it could be of use (however brief) to the Circle Mage who joins the new Warden at the Tower of Ishal.

Landmark explorations

see Codex entry: Mabari Dominance

Throughout Ferelden are several objects, labeled with the word "Landmark", which when 'marked' by Dog will give area-only stat bonuses to Dog. These objects may have a sparkling aura much like containers. Using a landmark without Dog in the party will do nothing; if Dog is in the party, but is not the one to select the landmark, a message will hint that Dog may be interested. Mabari Dominance is only activated when Dog selects the landmark, and after one 'marking' should automatically reactivate whenever Dog is active in that location.

• Lothering - A tree on a small rise northeast of the windmill.
• Redcliffe - A tree next to the windmill.
• Redcliffe Castle Courtyard - A small tree near the ground-floor door.
• Lake Calenhad Docks - An overturned boat on the shore.
• Brecilian Forest - A tree between the Grand Oak and the haunted camp.
• East Brecilian Forest - The Mad Hermit's tent.
• Dalish Camp - A tent.

“We now have a dog and Alistair is still the dumbest one in the party.” — Morrigan This article contains spoilers for Dragon Age: Origins. Click here to reveal them.

Note: This landmark disappears if you side with the Werewolves in Nature of the Beast

• Denerim Market - An overturned cart (during The Battle of Denerim).
• Elven Alienage - The Vhenadahl (not during the City Elf origin).
• Ostagar - A woodpile in the King's Camp. (only during the Return to Ostagar)

Gifts

Naturally, Dog likes bones. However, his approval starts at the cap of +100 and cannot be lowered by any means, but gifting him the Stick from Feastday Gifts will give him more dexterity (the same as other companions). Protective Cone from Feastday Pranks can be given to him as a prank.

Name	Notes	Description
Beef Bone	Location: Ostagar and Circle Tower	A shoulder of beef, with bone attached.
Found Cake	Found by Dog	A soggy cake-like object that has probably seen better days. Flecks of dog spittle still cling to it.
Lamb Bone	Located: Redcliffe Castle	The bone from a leg of roast lamb.
Large Bone	Located: Haven and Soldier's Peak	This large bone is of indeterminate origin. It still looks tasty.
Ox Bone	Located: West Brecilian Forest	This ox bone still has some tendon attached to it.
Tangled Ball of Yarn	Found by Dog	A tangled ball of grey-brown woolen yarn. It is still slimy from having been in the mabari's mouth.
Veal Bone	Located: Denerim Alienage	A juicy veal bone.
Stick	'	This sturdy stick is well-weighted for throwing.

Quotes

Main article: Dog (Origins)/Dialogue

• Sten: (Snarls.)
• Dog: (Growls angrily.)
• Sten: (Lets out a terrifying roar.)
• Dog: (Barks angrily and lunges at Sten.)
• Sten: "You are a true warrior, and worthy of respect."
• Dog: (Barks excitedly.)

• Morrigan: "Does this mean we are going to have this mangy beast follow us around? Wonderful."
• Alistair: (Adoringly) "He's not mangy!"

• Morrigan: "I know it was you rooting in my pack, mongrel."
• Dog: (Innocent whine)
• Morrigan: "Who else? Alistair? He's a likely suspect, I admit, but no."
• Dog: (Bows head shamefully)
• Morrigan: "I notice you avoided the hemlock."
• Dog: (Happy bark!)
• Morrigan: "Yes, yes, very clever. Next time I will disguise it more carefully."
• Dog: (Sad eyes)
• Morrigan: "Do not even try it! I would not give you a biscuit had I one."
• Dog: (Sadder eyes)
• Morrigan: "Oh... very well. But tell no one!"

• Shale: I am watching you, dog. Do you know how many of your kind urinated on me in that village? And all I could do is stand there and watch, helpless. If I see one of those legs of yours lift so much as an inch in my direction -- pow!
• Dog: (Confused whine!)
• Shale: I am glad we have this understanding. At least your kind can be reasoned with... unlike those damned feathered fiends!

(If Dog is chosen as the Warden's champion to duel Loghain)

• Loghain: "Will you face me yourself, or have you a champion?"
• Warden: "My mabari will be my champion."
• Dog: (Happy bark!)
• Arl Eamon: "Ah, Warden... No. I'm afraid we can't leave the fate of all Ferelden up to your dog. Anyone with a leftover ham bone could buy his allegiance. Choose someone else."

• Finn: Dog! What is that in which a tree is covered?"
• Dog: (Bark!)
• Ariane: (Sigh)

Trivia

• A long-standing joke between the people who frequent the official Dragon Age: Origins forum is that Dog's "official" name is really Rabbit (which was used as an example name by one of the writers, Mary Kirby), and he is still occasionally referred to as such.
• Dog is referenced in a Penny Arcade comic in which the character, speaking in an irreverently comical modern slang, informs a NPC that he's named his dog Barkspawn. In the DLC The Darkspawn Chronicles, Alistair named him Barkspawn after saving him at Ostagar.
• If you speak to Dog while he has an injury, he will whine instead of his usual greetings, and you will be able to either comfort him, saying, "You've done well", or scold him for "being a baby". This has no real effect though, as you of course can't affect Dog's approval for better or worse.
• Dog is voiced by a real dog. According to an EA rep, his body was modeled after an American Bandogge Mastiff.^{[citation needed]}
• If a mage casts Flaming Weapons or a similar spell on the party's weapons, Dog will be given the visual effect on his entire body.
• If you talk to Dog whilst covered in blood, you can ask, "Can you do something about this gory mess?", to which Dog will happily bark and clean the blood from your character. Dog receives health for doing so.^{[confirmation needed]}
• Unlike most other characters, whose movement speed slows when entering combat, Dog speeds up, moving at a slightly increased rate.
• As of the Witch Hunt DLC, it's said in his newly edited codex that Dog has sired many puppies.

See also