Guard Dogs and improving them

[Bakamoichigei]

In a game that has recently started up, my character (an archery based fighter) purchased two guard dogs. The GM is allowing me to use the stats for Riding Dogs for them, and the subject of improving them came up as I level up.

How would you guys recommend doing so? In rules for monster advancement, it says they can take class levels, would it just be easiest to have them become fighters?

[Nefreet]

Usually the only way to advance an animal would be to have an Animal Companion type class feature, such as with a Druid or Ranger. That's one of the boons of playing those types of classes.

I'd be leery as a GM of giving another class that ability. Each class is generally balanced with the features it has. Adding something akin to an Animal Companion that advances in power with you can be upsetting to game balance.

You could always take one level of Druid, or some other class that grants an Animal Companion, and take the "Boon Companion" feat. That will give you a stronger animal that, over time, still isn't as powerful as what an actual Druid would get.

[Bakamoichigei]

Hm, fair point. I was thinking of taking Leadership at lvl 7 and claiming one to be a cohort, but couldn't figure out a way to get both of them to be one

[Nefreet]

Oh, I forgot about the new Nature Soul feat. Lemme see if I can grab you a link.

It's Animal Ally. Nature Soul is a prerequisite feat.

[Kalridian]

If you want to keep both for flavour reasons, you could ask your GM to allow you to give them both a lower class level instead of one gaining the full cohort-levels. If you give them both your normal cohort level -2, mathematically speaking they add up to the same CR as one of your cohort level.

[Bakamoichigei]

I could take Nature Soul, Animal Ally, and Leadership. This seems, by the rules, to be able to let me keep both dogs and advance them.