Commanding a PFS animal companion to grapple

[Ezekiel W]

In PFS, is there a way to dependably command an animal companion to perform a grapple maneuver or is this going to require a DC25 Handle Animal check to Push an animal to perform an action not covered by the standard list of animal tricks?

This question was prompted by a thread in the general Advice forum from a player with an animal domain cleric acquiring a new ape animal companion. Last year's blog on intelligent animals and the associated threads I read seemed critical of using any nonstandard or complex tactics with animal companions.

[Andrew Christian]

you'd have to push them.

[Ezekiel W]

Andrew Christian wrote:

you'd have to push them.

That's what I suspected. Thanks for the quick reply.

[Callarek]

Andrew, I would say it is conditional.

For somethign with a grab or grapple attack as part of their normal attack routines, like a constrictor snake, it shouldn't require a push.

No more than it requires to get a wolf companion to perform a trip check....

[Andrew Christian]

That's true Callarek. I suppose a Large Cat has the grab ability. So as long as they attack first, they would automatically try to grapple as well.

But for the Large Cat, if you want them to grapple without biting or clawing first, that would provoke an AoO, and thus you'd have to push them.

Same with the Snake. Their grab or constrict ability only works as improved grapple if they successfully bite first. So to get them to grapple and take an AoO without biting normally first, would require a push.