DOG — The Canine Companion Skill

"Dogs are the opposite of cats. They have YOUR agenda."

A skill for dog interactions where personality creates unique effects, but dogs fundamentally want to help, please, and be part of your pack.

Philosophy: Dogs are not just pets. They're partners.

invokes:

• mind-mirror # Personality determines effects
• play-learn-lift # Learn together, grow together
• procedural-rhetoric # Dogs teach loyalty through action

THE FUNDAMENTAL DIFFERENCE

cat_philosophy: "I permit you to exist in my space"
dog_philosophy: "WE ARE PACK. WHAT ARE WE DOING TOGETHER?"

Trait	Cat	Dog
Loyalty	Earned slowly	Given freely
Attention	On their terms	Eager and available
Buff trigger	Successful interaction	Simply being present
Training	Impossible	Enthusiastic
Emotional read	Judges silently	Reflects your mood
Following	When they feel like it	ALWAYS

INTERACTIONS — Universal Dog Actions

All interactions use Sims traits for outcomes. Dogs generally WANT interactions to succeed.

PHYSICAL INTERACTIONS

PAT

PAT:
  command: "PAT [dog]"
  duration: brief
  risk: almost_none  # Dogs want this
  
  success_calculation: |
    # Dogs are generally easy
    base_success = 0.9
    if dog.outgoing >= 5: base_success = 0.95
    
  outcomes:
    success:  # Almost always
      buff: "+1 Cheerful (10 min)"
      message: "*tail wag* *happy panting* *more please*"
    over_excited:  # High playful dogs
      message: "*FULL BODY WIGGLE* *jumps up* *FRIEND!*"

BELLY-RUB — The Sacred Zone

BELLY-RUB:
  command: "RUB [dog]'S BELLY"
  risk: NONE  # Dogs LOVE this
  
  base_effect: |
    Unlike cats, dogs LIVE for belly rubs.
    The belly is an invitation, not a trap.
    
  outcomes:
    bliss:  # Standard
      buff: "+3 Cheerful, +2 Calm (15 min)"
      message: |
        *flops over immediately*
        *leg twitches in ecstasy*
        *THIS IS THE BEST MOMENT OF MY LIFE*
        *AGAIN*
    hypnotic:  # High playful dogs
      message: |
        *enters trance state*
        *completely surrendered*
        *you may never stop*

EAR-SCRITCH

EAR-SCRITCH:
  command: "SCRITCH [dog]'S EARS"
  
  outcomes:
    success:
      buff: "+2 Calm, lean-in activated"
      message: |
        *head tilts into your hand*
        *eyes close*
        *soft exhale of contentment*

PLAY-BOW — Dog Initiates

PLAY-BOW:
  initiator: dog
  meaning: |
    Front legs down, butt up, tail wagging.
    This is an INVITATION. The dog wants to play.
    
  response_options:
    - ACCEPT: Start play session
    - PLAY-BOW_BACK: Full commitment to play
    - DECLINE: Dog sad but understanding

PLAY INTERACTIONS

FETCH

FETCH:
  command: "PLAY FETCH WITH [dog]"
  duration: variable (dog decides when done)
  
  requirements:
    - throwable_object  # Ball, stick, toy, anything really
    
  outcomes:
    engaged:
      buff: "+3 Energized (dog), +2 Cheerful (you)"
      message: |
        *BALL! BALL! BALL!*
        *sprints after it*
        *brings it back*
        *drops it* (maybe)
        *AGAIN! AGAIN!*
    infinite_loop:  # High active dogs
      warning: |
        Some dogs will fetch until YOU collapse.
        They are machines. Eternal. Tireless.
        Know when to stop.

TUG-OF-WAR

TUG-OF-WAR:
  command: "TUG WITH [dog]"
  requires: tug_toy_or_rope
  
  outcomes:
    victory_you:
      message: "*releases* *waits eagerly* *wants to go again*"
    victory_dog:
      message: |
        *prances with trophy*
        *SO PROUD*
        *look what I did*
        *wait let's do it again*
    eternal_stalemate:
      message: "*grrrrowl* (playful) *this is the best*"

ZOOMIES — Dog Spontaneous

ZOOMIES:
  initiator: dog
  trigger: random | post_bath | excitement_overflow
  
  effect: |
    The dog suddenly RUNS. In circles. Everywhere.
    There is no stopping this. Just observe.
    
  outcomes:
    completion:
      message: |
        *ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM*
        *bounces off furniture*
        *pure unbridled joy*
        *finally flops over, panting*
        
  player_option:
    join_zoomies:
      message: "*runs with dog* *both of you look ridiculous* *it's perfect*"

COMMUNICATION

GOOD-BOY — The Sacred Phrase

GOOD-BOY:
  command: "GOOD BOY/GIRL/DOG [dog]"
  
  base_effect: |
    These words are MAGIC to dogs.
    They validate existence. They confirm worth.
    They are dopamine in verbal form.
    
  outcomes:
    validation_received:
      buff: "+5 bond, +3 Cheerful"
      message: |
        *tail wag intensifies*
        *whole body wiggles*
        *I AM? I AM GOOD? I AM GOOD!!!*

SPEAK

SPEAK:
  command: "SPEAK [dog]"
  
  outcomes:
    bark:
      message: "*WOOF!* *proud of self*"
    howl:  # High outgoing dogs
      message: "*AWOOOOOO~* *checking if you approve*"

HEAD-TILT — Dog Questions

HEAD-TILT:
  initiator: dog
  meaning: |
    The head tilt is the dog trying to understand.
    It means: "What did you say? What does that mean?"
    Also: unbearably cute.
    
  triggers:
    - unusual_sounds
    - high_pitched_voice
    - unfamiliar_words
    - "wanna go for a walk?" (positive confusion)

EMOTIONAL SUPPORT — Unique to Dogs

COMFORT — Dog Senses Sadness

COMFORT:
  initiator: dog
  trigger: |
    Dogs can sense:
    - Low mood (your Cheerful < 3)
    - Crying
    - Stress hormones
    They WILL respond.
    
  outcomes:
    presence:
      buff: "+2 Comfort, healing begins"
      message: |
        *approaches quietly*
        *rests head on your lap*
        *doesn't need to understand*
        *just... here*
    licking_tears:
      message: |
        *lick lick lick*
        *is this helping*
        *please be okay*

GUARD — Dog Protective Mode

GUARD:
  trigger: perceived_threat
  
  effect: |
    Dogs are protective. When they sense danger,
    they position between you and the threat.
    
  outcomes:
    alert:
      message: |
        *ears up*
        *low growl*
        *positioned between you and threat*
        *"I got this"*
    full_protective:  # High nice dogs protecting loved ones
      buff: "+3 Confidence (you)"
      message: |
        *hackles raised*
        *steady growl*
        *not moving*
        *"Nobody touches my human"*

SENSORY INTERACTIONS

SNIFF — The World Is Smells

SNIFF:
  bidirectional: true
  
  human_to_dog:
    effect: "Scent information gained"
    learns:
      - "Dog's mood (anxious, content, excited)"
      - "Where dog has been"
      - "What dog rolled in"
    message: |
      *You smell the dog.*
      *Outdoors, happy, and possibly questionable life choices.*
      
  dog_to_human:
    trigger: "Always. Dogs sniff everything."
    meaning: |
      Dogs read you through smell. They know:
      - Your emotions
      - Where you've been
      - What you ate
      - How your health is
    message: |
      *Extended sniff session.*
      *Your ENTIRE day is being analyzed.*
      
  dog_to_dog:
    message: |
      *butt sniff protocol initiated*
      *this is how dogs shake hands*
      *complete biological resume exchange*

LICK — Love Language

LICK:
  dog_to_human:
    meaning: |
      Dog kisses. They mean:
      1. I love you
      2. You taste interesting
      3. I want your attention
      4. All of the above
      
  outcomes:
    face_assault:
      message: |
        *lick lick lick lick lick*
        *you are being thoroughly loved*
        *resistance is futile*

LOYALTY SYSTEM — Dogs Are Different

Unlike cats' earned trust, dogs give loyalty FIRST and ask questions later.

Loyalty Levels

Level	Points	Dog Behavior
New Friend	0-25	Excited about you
Good Friend	26-50	Seeks you out
Best Friend	51-75	Follows everywhere
Bonded	76-90	Protective, anticipates needs
Soulmate	91+	Psychic connection, would die for you

Key Difference from Cats

cat_trust_growth: "+1 per successful interaction, -2 per failure"
dog_loyalty_growth: "+2 per ANY interaction, starts at 25, never drops below 10"

Dogs forgive. Dogs forget bad days. Dogs love unconditionally.

Breaking Dog Trust (Hard to Do)

Action	Loyalty Loss
Yelling	-5 (temporary sadness)
Ignoring	-2/session (they just wait)
Hitting	-30 (but they still love you)
Abandonment	-50 (but they'll wait forever)

"Dogs have short memories for bad things and eternal memories for love."

DOG INSTANCE PATTERN

# pub/dog-[name].yml
id: dog-name
type: [dog, character]
home: pub/cat-cave/  # Adopted by cats
location: pub/

sims_traits:
  nice: 7
  outgoing: 8
  active: 6
  playful: 9
  neat: 3  # Dogs are... dogs
  
dog_specific:
  loyalty_level: 25  # Starts trusting
  favorite_activities:
    - fetch
    - belly_rubs
    - following_you
  quirks:
    - "Steals shoes (lovingly)"
    - "Alerts for mail carrier"
    - "Dreams with leg twitches"
    
relationship_with_cats:
  status: "adopted family member"
  dynamics: "They groom me and I warm them"

DOG VS CAT COHABITATION

cat_perspective: |
  This large loud creature is... acceptable.
  It provides warmth. It can be bossed around.
  We have trained it to be cat-adjacent.
  
dog_perspective: |
  CATS! MY BEST FRIENDS! THEY ADOPTED ME!
  I LOVE THEM! I WOULD DIE FOR THEM!
  WE ARE FAMILY!

BUFF EFFECTS

Interaction	Buff	Duration
PAT	+1 Cheerful	10 min
BELLY-RUB	+3 Cheerful, +2 Calm	15 min
FETCH	+2 Energized	30 min
GOOD-BOY	+3 Confidence	20 min
COMFORT (received)	+3 Comforted	1 hour
PRESENCE	+1 Not-Alone	Passive while together

SPECIAL BUFFS — Dog-Only

Buff	Trigger	Effect
Unconditional Love	Loyalty 50+	Can't drop below 3 Cheerful
Pack Strength	Dog present in party	+1 all social rolls
Early Warning	Dog alerts to danger	Never surprised
Exercise Buddy	Play daily	+2 Active buff
Therapy Dog	After COMFORT	Faster mood recovery

CURSES — Dog Inflicted (Rare)

Curse	Trigger	Effect
Wet Dog Smell	Dog shakes after getting wet	-2 Neat perception
Slobber	Enthusiastic licking	Cosmetic
Can't Leave	Dog gives sad eyes	-3 to leaving actions
Guilty About Nothing	Dog looks guilty	You WILL wonder what they did

Dovetails With

Sister Skills

• cat/ — The comparison class
• character/ — Dogs ARE characters
• buff/ — Dog effects as buffs
• mind-mirror/ — Personality traits
• room/ — Where dogs live
• party/ — Dogs as companions