Do Animal Companions and Mounts Get AoOs?

[setzer9999]

If a creature does something within the threatened area of an animal companion, can that animal companion make an AoO? The handler/owner of the AC can't tell it to attack when its not their turn can they?

What about a mount that the owner/handler is currently mounted upon? Can the mount be directed to do an AoO during the provoking creatures turn while ridden?

[BigNorseWolf]

Yes, they get whacks of opportunity. You don't have to command your animal to "bite bite bite" every action, you just tell it to attack and it goes.

[Quantum Steve]

So long as it knows the attack trick, it will take AoO's when you order it to attack. As BNW wrote, you don't have to command your animal to attack every action, just once is enough until you command it to do something else or combat ends. Actually, even if it doesn't know the attack trick you can still push it.

However, your animal will only attack "apparent enemies" unless you command it otherwise. What exactly that means is up to your GM. A newcomer to the fight that hasn't threatened you or your animal might not be "apparent" to your animal, even if you know him to be an enemy.