Can a Witch familiar attack unnatural creatures

[shade2077]

My level 4 Gnome witch rides around on her pig familiar. Recently we got attacked by some undead and a zombie tried to eat the witch. I wanted the familiar to bite the zombie and the GM called for a Handle Animal check. Can anyone point me to rules that require familiars to be taught how to attack 'unnatural' creatures (as per the rules for Handle Animal) or that a Witch riding her familiar would need to make Ride checks to control the mount in battle? How would you go about getting a familar 'combat trained'?

[The Beard]

A witch's familiar should be intelligent enough (and under control enough) not to require any of the above. They are not treated as a normal animal of their type like an animal companion might be. If I were you, I'd show him the familiar growth chart--they aren't a slave to their instincts as clearly indicated by the significant INT boost they get just for being a familiar. Handle animal largely implies simple animal interaction as between a dog and a trainer. Well, your familiar is both sentient and intelligent. Why, then, would you control it with Handle Animal? Likewise you should not require mounted combat just to be able to ride it, although I will say it would make you better able to keep it safe if it became a target. Losing your familiar can be pretty rough.

In any case, the basic rules for familiars should be more than sufficient. Take note of the intelligence of the creature and descriptions offered therein.

[darkwarriorkarg]

Your GM is incorrect. Familiars are magical beasts that are at least as smart as a dumb orc. One dies not do handle animal checjs with familiars. The rules would say so.

[Claxon]

Witch familiars start with an int of 6, making them different from normal animals (int <= 2), besides which they are also magical beasts.

If you can communicate your desire to your familiar they should be able to perform it.

[Nefreet]

You would still need to make Ride checks, though. Those involve different rules from Handle Animal.