Hunter - Teaching pet skirmisher tricks

[Netkoizmase]

Hello all

I have a question that needs clarifying concerning hunter pet learning skirmisher tricks.

The text says:
The animal companion can use skirmisher tricks when commanded, a number of times per day equal to half its Hit Dice plus its Wisdom modifier.

So HUNTER does not know the tricks himself, the animal companion both knows and performs them.

Some of them are very self explanatory... For instance:

Aiding Attack (Ex): The Ranger can use this trick as a free action when he hits a creature with an attack. The next ally who makes an attack against the target creature before the start of the Ranger’s next turn gains a +2 circumstance bonus on that attack roll.

Nothing too confusing there, pet performs the trick and next ally attacking the target gets +2 bonus.

But then we come to:

Bolster Companion (Ex): The Ranger can use this trick as an immediate action when his animal companion is hit with an attack or a combat maneuver. The companion’s AC and combat maneuver defense increase by +4 for the purposes of that attack. If the attack still hits, the animal companion only takes half damage (if any). The animal companion must be able to see and hear the Ranger to benefit from this trick.

How exactly does this work? Is Ranger animal companion in that and companion is hunter (so AC bolsters the hunter), or does the AC just bolster himself? Or it doesn't work at all?

Same with:

Cunning Pantomime (Ex): As a standard action, the Ranger can communicate with a single creature as if using the tongues spell for 10 minutes. Because the communication is slow and lacks subtlety, the Ranger suffers a –4 penalty on all Bluff and Diplomacy checks relating to the creature he is communicating with when using this trick.

Do we get Lassie with "woof, woof, 3 bad men at the mill come quickly, woof, woof!" scenario?

Some insight would be appreciated :) I tried looking around for answers but all I find are mentions of uses of tricks per day (which are not in question :)).

Thank you all in advance.

[Netkoizmase]

Anybody? Anybody at all? :)

[Java Man]

This is an unclear point. The consensus seems tk be to swap the term 'ranger' for 'Fido' and apply logic to which tricks the critter can use. I suggest a discussion with your GM on their take on this before play.

[dragonhunterq]

Java Man has the right of it. IMO It really isn't as complicated as it first appears.
When someone mentioned many of the tricks having problems many moons ago I responded thusly:

me, a while back wrote:

...

And out of 27 tricks I spot only 8 that could be issues, and only 2 of those that really are problematic.
4 flat out cannot be used, the 3 that require an animal companion and 1 requiring favoured enemy. Don't select those as your AC doesn't have either.
2 require a ranged attack, slug or camel might find some small use for them, I wouldn't select them for any other AC though.
And 2 are reactive. The 2 reactive ones are really the only problematic ones. How can you instruct your AC to use catfall if it falls when it's not your turn?
8 out of 27 requiring some thought ... and 2 out of 27 being truly problematic...

Bolster Companion simply doesn't work.

Cunning Pantomime does indeed turn your AC into Lassie.

But do discuss it with your GM, they may have a different opinion.