Dogs

[Oenothera]

In my game wolves killed a cow. If you tame a dog, will it protect you from wolves and help you hunt? What is the function of dogs in the game?

[Flore]

Dogs are the best pets for hauling, because they don't eat your crops. Keep all other animals in a pen (do not tame them) and use dogs for hauling.
Dogs will help you in battle (although I think they are quite fragile and do not risk them in battles) and can get rid of vermine (rats, polecats). However they can be killed by wolves when wolves are heungry (typically in the cold seasons).

My advice, take a few settlers, give them a bow and get rid of all wolves on the map (some will go back, eventually)

[Чебриков В.М.]

Originally posted by Oenothera:

If you tame a dog, will it protect you from wolves and help you hunt? What is the function of dogs in the game?

Печальный опыт: собака помогала в бою, получила серьезное кровотечение и умерла. Сделать ничего было нельзя: в текущей версии игры поселенцы не умеют лечить животных.
Сделал вывод: животные в бою не участвуют. Тем более, что с определенного времени и боев-то, как таковых нет: банальный расстрел нападающих со стен.

Google Translation:
Sad experience: the dog helped in the fight, got serious bleeding and died. It was impossible to do anything: in the current version of the game, the settlers do not know how to heal animals.
I concluded: animals do not participate in combat. Moreover, since a certain time there have been no fights as such: a banal execution of attackers from the walls.

[Bloodcup]

i hate wolves...i always have one settler who is JUST a wolf hunter. That's his only job..to protect the dang dogs from the wolves.

[kacperreszka]

I tame all wolves. It takes me 1.5 year. and no more wolves on the map so i am using wolves and dogs to hauling.

If you tame all wolves there will be no more wolves on the map. So it is perfect solution but be carefull they will fight back ...

[Hothnogg]

My dogs only battle when being raided and with 10 that are all pets they do real well along side my villagers, apart from that they are fast haulers. Wolfs are pretty much the same, but bears omg they rock, like way more hp, and haul much more. I don't use any for vermin control as i prefer to hunt to get archery score up

[Gwynvyd]

I would like it if dogs would defend a hunter if attacked by a wolf. I even had a deer that was chasing me at one time.

Using dogs in battle is my last defense when I'm run over without options to withdraw/retreat. Dogs die more easily and since they do all my hauling they are valuable to me. But if you have a large number of dogs and most enemy are at least hurt it will tip things your way at a cost of one or two dogs tops. I just pause the game and change their setting to battle and cross my fingers hoping for the best.

Extra tip: I sometimes check the ratings of what the enemies are wearing as well. If all are wearing steel plated stuff keep your dogs safe.

[Hothnogg]

tame and breed bears :)

[potsnflotsam]

Wolves take a long time to get going. Trying it right now, finally got a sexed pair. For some reason I only saw males from spring to summer. 40 animal handling joyous wicche and daily training doesn't always stick on wolves. Thankfully the female is young and I should have her trained by the time she's breeding pups.
Some stats comparing an adult wolf to an adult dog are surprising, I'd thought wolves would be a straight upgrade. Dogs actually do more damage at 19.6 over 16.8 but have slightly less chance to hit at 88% compared to 93.5%, and dogs have 5 less hit points at 35, compared to the average human at 65. Both canines evade at 30% compared to the average person which hovers a little under 10% from what I've seen. Wolves have 10 less storage amount at 40 compared to 50. The big one is chance to train for wolves, 25% compared to 60% for dogs. Which takes wolves off the table as viable if you're not min/maxing and don't roll a lucky superhandler.

[saureco]

I would like to see the ability to make a dog kennel. An animal paddock for dogs. As it is right now, untrained dogs wander near the settlement just outside of range of protection, and get themselves killed. It's sad, but I have hardened my heart to stupid animals.