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