Guard Dog vs Riding Dog

[Aeglos Erikson]

Does one simply use the dog stats for the guard dog and not the riding dog stats?

[Disenchanter]

Well, based on a post over in this thread (three below the one linked - the link to post doesn't seam to work correctly in product threads), Sean K Reynolds says that guard dogs, combat trained dogs (in the Adventurer's Armory), and riding dogs all use the riding dog stats, and are all Combat Trained (from Handle Animal). The only difference is that the riding dog is the only dog trained to be ridden.

I don't think that matches the the pricing scheme, though. But it is the best, "most official," answer I can give you.

[Deiros]

Well I use other stats for the guard dog and war dog, the cost and the descriptions of those pets just doesn't make sense so I came up with something like this, since anyway my playerrs tend to buy at least 2 guard dogs or 1 guard dog to help protect wizards or other frail characters at low lvls. Besides I didn't find a better spot to post this and u just started a thread similar to what I was going to ask but rather came up with this answer.

Guardian Dog
Small Animal
HD: 2d8 + 4 (13 hp)
Initiative: 1
Speed: 40 ft
AC: 15, Touch 12, Flat-footed 12
BAB/CMB/CMD: +1/ +3/ +12
Full attack: Bite +4 melee (1d4 +2 + Trip)
Low-light vision 60ft, Scent, Natural Armor 1
Saves: Fort +5, Ref +4, Will +1
Str 15, Dex 13, Con 15, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6
Skills: Acrobatics +4, Perception +8, Survival +2, Stealth +5
Feats: Skill Focus Perception
Alignment: Always neutral

War Dog
Medium Animal
HD: 3d8 + 9 (21hp)
Initiative: 5
Speed: 40 ft
AC: 13, Touch 11, Flat-footed 12
BAB/CMB/CMD: +2/ +7/ +18
Full attack: Bite +5 melee (1d6 +3 + Trip)
Low-light vision 60ft, Scent, Natural Armor 2
Saves: Fort +7, Ref +4, Will +2
Str 17, Dex 13, Con 17, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6
Skills: Acrobatics +5, Perception +8, Survival +2
Feats: Skill Focus Perception, Improved Initiative
Alignment: Always neutral

And since the "best" dogs are from Molthune I just used the advanced template on the War Dog

Molthune War Dog
Medium Animal
HD: 3d8 + 15 (27hp)
Initiative: 3
Speed: 40 ft
AC: 17, Touch 13, Flat-footed 14
BAB/CMB/CMD: +2/ +8/ +21
Full attack: Bite +3 melee (1d6 +5 + Trip)
Low-light vision 60ft, Scent, Natural Armor 4
Saves: Fort +9, Ref +7, Will +4
Str 21, Dex 17, Con 21, Int 2, Wis 16, Cha 12
Skills: Acrobatics +7, Perception +11, Survival +5
Feats: Skill Focus Perception, Combat Reflexes
Alignment: Always neutral

Well this is not final so I would like some review also.

Edit: Corrected some horrid typing, yes I know me bad.. but english is not my first language so apologies in case I missed some.

PS: Best Regards to you all.

[drsparnum]

Since they are combat trained can they wear armor?

[fantome]

dog, guard versus dog, riding

The question about what types are these dogs from the core rulebook was answered for me from the Players Companion Adventurers Armory after finding this thread in which it wasn't quite addressed.

dog, guard is a small dog (as defined in the bestiary), though its price is justified as trained for combat as in the handle animal skill.

dog, riding is a medium dog (as defined in the bestiary), trained for carrying small riders.

And the skills for handle animal also now says that you can change a medium riding dog into a medium combat dog (though it will then forget how to be a riding dog) so you could train larger dogs for combat, though the prices listed in the core rulebook are as above:- dog, guard is a small dog trained for combat, and a dog, riding is a medium dog trained for riding.

[Wolf Munroe]

drsparnum wrote:

Since they are combat trained can they wear armor?

Saw this answered recently. Can't remember which thread though. Answer is no, since wearing armor without penalties requires armor proficiency, and combat-training isn't equivalent to essentially a free feat. The suggestion there was to consider swapping the existing feat for the armor proficiency feat.