Dog (wild) - Revision history

Tao alexis at 00:29, 15 February 2025

2025-02-15T00:29:56Z

Tao alexis: /* Wild African Dog */

2025-02-14T23:58:10Z

Wild African Dog

Tao alexis at 23:53, 14 February 2025

2025-02-14T23:53:55Z

Tao alexis at 23:48, 14 February 2025

2025-02-14T23:48:52Z

Tao alexis at 16:54, 17 June 2022

2022-06-17T16:54:15Z

Tao alexis at 16:54, 17 June 2022

2022-06-17T16:54:00Z

Tao alexis: /* Wild African Dog */

2021-09-27T01:18:42Z

Wild African Dog

Tao alexis at 01:12, 27 September 2021

2021-09-27T01:12:03Z

Tao alexis: /* Wild African Dog */

2021-04-10T20:42:04Z

Wild African Dog

Tao alexis: /* Wild African Dog */

2021-04-10T20:38:02Z

Wild African Dog

@@ Line 35: / Line 35: @@
 | '''Special Attack''' || colspan="2"|[[Throat Attack|throat attack]]
 |}
-'''Wild Dog''' is a term broadly applied to canines that have never been domesticated, existing as distinct species adapted to untamed environments. These animals exhibit highly social behaviours, forming structured packs that rely on coordinated hunting tactics and complex communication. Unlike feral dogs, which descend from domesticated ancestors, true wild dogs have evolved independently, developing specialized traits suited to their native habitats. They are known for their endurance, sharp instincts, and adaptability, thriving in regions where cooperation and resilience dictate survival.
+'''Wild Dog''' is a term broadly applied to canines that have never been domesticated, existing as distinct species adapted to untamed environments. These animals exhibit highly social behaviours, forming structured packs that rely on coordinated hunting tactics and complex communication. Unlike feral dogs, which descend from domesticated ancestors, true wild dogs have evolved independently, developing specialised traits suited to their native habitats. They are known for their endurance, sharp instincts and adaptability, thriving in regions where cooperation and resilience dictate survival.
 [[File:Dhole.jpg|left|350px|thumb|'''Dhole''']]
 __TOC__
-Wild dogs maintain a relentless pace when pursuing prey, often relying on endurance rather than brute force to wear down their quarry. Their communication is highly developed, utilising a complex range of vocalisations, posture, and scent to coordinate movements and reinforce pack cohesion. Unlike many other predators, they rarely engage in dominance struggles within the pack, instead displaying strong social bonds where food is shared freely, and weaker members are supported rather than cast out. They are cautious but not timid, assessing threats carefully and responding with either swift evasion or decisive aggression as a unit.
+Wild dogs maintain a relentless pace when pursuing prey, often relying on endurance rather than brute force to wear down their quarry. Their communication is highly developed, utilising a complex range of vocalisations, posture and scent to coordinate movements and reinforce pack cohesion. Unlike many other predators, they rarely engage in dominance struggles within the pack, instead displaying strong social bonds where food is shared freely and weaker members are supported rather than cast out. They are cautious but not timid, assessing threats carefully and responding with either swift evasion or decisive aggression as a unit.
 Opportunistic and highly adaptable, wild dogs will shift their hunting patterns and territory as needed, demonstrating an acute awareness of their environment. Even in the face of scarcity, their cooperative nature allows them to endure, making them one of the most resilient predators in the wild.
@@ Line 57: / Line 57: @@
 == Wild African Dog ==
-'''Wild African dogs''' are powerfully built and lean, with long legs and large, rounded ears that contribute to their acute sense of hearing. They lack dewclaws, and their skulls are broad and short, built for strength rather than sheer bite force. Their fur consists of coarse bristle-hairs without an undercoat, giving them a patchy, ragged appearance. As they age, they gradually lose their fur, making experienced individuals appear increasingly bare-skinned over time.
+'''Wild African dogs''' are powerfully built and lean, with long legs and large, rounded ears that contribute to their acute sense of hearing. They lack dewclaws and their skulls are broad and short, built for strength rather than sheer bite force. Their fur consists of coarse bristle-hairs without an undercoat, giving them a patchy, ragged appearance. As they age, they gradually lose their fur, making experienced individuals appear increasingly bare-skinned over time.
 [[File:Wild African Dog.jpg|left|350px|thumb]]
-Their coat patterns are highly variable, but regional trends exist. In the north, black fur with small yellow and white patches is common, while in the south, individuals display a mix of brown, black, and white in irregular blotches. These colourations help distinguish packs by region. Wild dogs are distributed across much of eastern and southern Africa, thriving in open savannas, woodland edges, and semi-arid scrublands. They are also found in the Sahel and have been introduced in limited numbers to the southwestern Arabian Peninsula.
+Their coat patterns are highly variable, but regional trends exist. In the north, black fur with small yellow and white patches is common, while in the south, individuals display a mix of brown, black and white in irregular blotches. These colourations help distinguish packs by region. Wild dogs are distributed across much of eastern and southern Africa, thriving in open savannas, woodland edges and semi-arid scrublands. They are also found in the Sahel and have been introduced in limited numbers to the southwestern Arabian Peninsula.
-They have an exceptionally tight-knit social structure, with an unusually high ratio of males to females. Pack cohesion is critical for survival, as they rely on cooperation for hunting, rearing pups, and defending territory. Unlike many canines, wild dogs lack a strict dominance hierarchy, and conflict within the pack is minimal. Breeding is not tied to a single season, and only the dominant female typically produces a litter, while the rest of the pack assists in raising the young.
+They have an exceptionally tight-knit social structure, with an unusually high ratio of males to females. Pack cohesion is critical for survival, as they rely on cooperation for hunting, rearing pups and defending territory. Unlike many canines, wild dogs lack a strict dominance hierarchy and conflict within the pack is minimal. Breeding is not tied to a single season, and only the dominant female typically produces a litter, while the rest of the pack assists in raising the young.
-Wild African dogs are endurance predators, specialising in the relentless pursuit of medium-sized hoofed animals. They hunt with extraordinary coordination, using silent approach tactics before launching into an all-out chase. Unlike many predators that rely on ambush or brute force, wild dogs wear down their prey over long distances, running it to exhaustion before delivering the final attack. Packs will often divide into separate hunting parties, flanking prey from multiple directions to cut off escape routes. Wildebeest, wild boars, and zebra foals are taken on occasion, but gazelles and antelopes remain their preferred prey.
+Wild African dogs are endurance predators, specialising in the relentless pursuit of medium-sized hoofed animals. They hunt with extraordinary coordination, using silent approach tactics before launching into an all-out chase. Unlike many predators that rely on ambush or brute force, wild dogs wear down their prey over long distances, running it to exhaustion before delivering the final attack. Packs will often divide into separate hunting parties, flanking prey from multiple directions to cut off escape routes. Wildebeest, wild boars and zebra foals are taken on occasion, but gazelles and antelopes remain their preferred prey.
-Though they are among Africa’s top predators, they face stiff competition. [[Lion|Lions]] actively target wild dogs, often killing them on sight without consuming them. [[Hyena|Spotted hyenas]] regularly trail wild dog packs, waiting for the opportunity to steal their kills, though they rarely confront them directly unless numbers are in their favour. Against other social carnivores, African wild dogs rarely lose a fight—when forced into a corner, their pack discipline and coordination make them formidable.
+Though they are among Africa's top predators, they face stiff competition. [[Lion|Lions]] actively target wild dogs, often killing them on sight without consuming them. [[Hyena|Spotted hyenas]] regularly trail wild dog packs, waiting for the opportunity to steal their kills, though they rarely confront them directly unless numbers are in their favour. Against other social carnivores, African wild dogs rarely lose a fight — when forced into a corner, their pack discipline and coordination make them formidable.
 Like the [[Dhole|dhole]], wild African dogs are capable of [[Dog (wild)#Throat Attack|throat attacks]] that enable them to dispatch prey with ruthless efficiency.

@@ Line 57: / Line 57: @@
 == Wild African Dog ==
 '''Wild African dogs''' are powerfully built and lean, with long legs and large, rounded ears that contribute to their acute sense of hearing. They lack dewclaws, and their skulls are broad and short, built for strength rather than sheer bite force. Their fur consists of coarse bristle-hairs without an undercoat, giving them a patchy, ragged appearance. As they age, they gradually lose their fur, making experienced individuals appear increasingly bare-skinned over time.
 Their coat patterns are highly variable, but regional trends exist. In the north, black fur with small yellow and white patches is common, while in the south, individuals display a mix of brown, black, and white in irregular blotches. These colourations help distinguish packs by region. Wild dogs are distributed across much of eastern and southern Africa, thriving in open savannas, woodland edges, and semi-arid scrublands. They are also found in the Sahel and have been introduced in limited numbers to the southwestern Arabian Peninsula.

@@ Line 36: / Line 36: @@
 |}
 '''Wild Dog''' is a term broadly applied to canines that have never been domesticated, existing as distinct species adapted to untamed environments. These animals exhibit highly social behaviours, forming structured packs that rely on coordinated hunting tactics and complex communication. Unlike feral dogs, which descend from domesticated ancestors, true wild dogs have evolved independently, developing specialized traits suited to their native habitats. They are known for their endurance, sharp instincts, and adaptability, thriving in regions where cooperation and resilience dictate survival.
 __TOC__
 Wild dogs maintain a relentless pace when pursuing prey, often relying on endurance rather than brute force to wear down their quarry. Their communication is highly developed, utilising a complex range of vocalisations, posture, and scent to coordinate movements and reinforce pack cohesion. Unlike many other predators, they rarely engage in dominance struggles within the pack, instead displaying strong social bonds where food is shared freely, and weaker members are supported rather than cast out. They are cautious but not timid, assessing threats carefully and responding with either swift evasion or decisive aggression as a unit.
@@ Line 42: / Line 43: @@
 == Dhole ==
 '''Dhole''' are a smaller species of wild dog, often described as "cat-like" due to their long, flexible backbone and slender limbs. Their broad skull gives them a distinct appearance, and they are considered the more intelligent of the wild dog species. Their fur is typically reddish but dulls during winter or rainy months. Dhole are widespread across the lowlands and highlands of Central Asia, Tibet, Mongolia and India, extending as far east as Korea.  Unlike domesticated canines, dhole cannot be tamed.
@@ Line 58: / Line 58: @@
 == Wild African Dog ==
 [[File:Wild Dog.jpg|left|315px|thumb|'''Alison Theus''' (artist); a wild African dog]]
-The African dog is solidly built, comparatively lean, tall dog with outsized ears and lacking dewclaws.  The skull is short and broad, while the body is covered by stiff bristle-hairs; there's no underfur.  The animal loses its fur as it ages, so the cleverness of a given dog can be recognized by those with experience.
+'''Wild African dogs''' are powerfully built and lean, with long legs and large, rounded ears that contribute to their acute sense of hearing. They lack dewclaws, and their skulls are broad and short, built for strength rather than sheer bite force. Their fur consists of coarse bristle-hairs without an undercoat, giving them a patchy, ragged appearance. As they age, they gradually lose their fur, making experienced individuals appear increasingly bare-skinned over time.
-Colour variation is extreme.  Black with small white and yellow patches is common in the north, while southern African wild dogs are a mix of brown, black and white.  The wild dog is found throughout south and east Africa, as well as the [[Sahel (savanna)|Sahel]]; a small number have been released in the southwestern corner of the [[Arabia|Arabian Peninsula]].
+Their coat patterns are highly variable, but regional trends exist. In the north, black fur with small yellow and white patches is common, while in the south, individuals display a mix of brown, black, and white in irregular blotches. These colourations help distinguish packs by region. Wild dogs are distributed across much of eastern and southern Africa, thriving in open savannas, woodland edges, and semi-arid scrublands. They are also found in the Sahel and have been introduced in limited numbers to the southwestern Arabian Peninsula.
-African dogs have strong social ties, with a high ratio of males to females.  There isn't a fixed breeding season.  The wild dog is a specialised pack hunter of medium-sized hoofed animals, hunting by approaching prey silently and then chasing it with phenomenal speed.  In hunting, packs are organized so that different groups can strike the prey by surprise, from different flanks.  Beasts as large as wildebeest and wild boars are hunted ... but gazelles and antelopes are preferred.  Wild dogs will chase prey, wearing it down for hours if need be, until it's tired enough to give in without a fight.
+They have an exceptionally tight-knit social structure, with an unusually high ratio of males to females. Pack cohesion is critical for survival, as they rely on cooperation for hunting, rearing pups, and defending territory. Unlike many canines, wild dogs lack a strict dominance hierarchy, and conflict within the pack is minimal. Breeding is not tied to a single season, and only the dominant female typically produces a litter, while the rest of the pack assists in raising the young.
-[[Lion|Lions]] are the chief competitor of these African dogs.  Wild dogs killed by lions are left uneaten.  [[Hyena|Spotted hyenas]] are known to follow packs of wild dogs to appropriate their kills.  Apart from lions, African dogs are apex predators, rarely losing fights to larger social carnivores.
+Wild African dogs are endurance predators, specialising in the relentless pursuit of medium-sized hoofed animals. They hunt with extraordinary coordination, using silent approach tactics before launching into an all-out chase. Unlike many predators that rely on ambush or brute force, wild dogs wear down their prey over long distances, running it to exhaustion before delivering the final attack. Packs will often divide into separate hunting parties, flanking prey from multiple directions to cut off escape routes. Wildebeest, wild boars, and zebra foals are taken on occasion, but gazelles and antelopes remain their preferred prey.
-Wild African dogs are also able to employ the dhole's [[Dog (wild)#Throat Attack|throat attack]].
+Though they are among Africa’s top predators, they face stiff competition. [[Lion|Lions]] actively target wild dogs, often killing them on sight without consuming them. [[Hyena|Spotted hyenas]] regularly trail wild dog packs, waiting for the opportunity to steal their kills, though they rarely confront them directly unless numbers are in their favour. Against other social carnivores, African wild dogs rarely lose a fight—when forced into a corner, their pack discipline and coordination make them formidable.
 See [[Bestiary]]
-[[Category: Don't Review until 2022]]
+[[Category: Reviewed]]

@@ Line 35: / Line 35: @@
 | '''Special Attack''' || colspan="2"|[[Throat Attack|throat attack]]
 |}
-'''Wild Dog''' is a term broadly applied to canines that are either African in origin ("wild African dog") or Asiatic ("dhole").  Dogs that are [[Feral|feral]], meaning formerly domesticated who have reverted to the wild, should be treated as [[Dog (domestic)|domestic dogs]].
+Opportunistic and highly adaptable, wild dogs will shift their hunting patterns and territory as needed, demonstrating an acute awareness of their environment. Even in the face of scarcity, their cooperative nature allows them to endure, making them one of the most resilient predators in the wild.
 == Dhole ==
 [[File:Dhole.jpg|left|280px|thumb|'''Dhole''']]
-The '''dhole''' are the smaller of the two, being "cat-like" on account of its long backbone and slender limbs.  It has a wide skull and is the more intelligent species.  The general tone of fur is reddish, which grows dull in winter or rainy months.  The dhole are common in both the lowlands and highlands of Central Asia, Tibet, Mongolia and India, reaching as far east as Korea.  Dhole cannot be tamed.
+'''Dhole''' are a smaller species of wild dog, often described as "cat-like" due to their long, flexible backbone and slender limbs. Their broad skull gives them a distinct appearance, and they are considered the more intelligent of the wild dog species. Their fur is typically reddish but dulls during winter or rainy months. Dhole are widespread across the lowlands and highlands of Central Asia, Tibet, Mongolia and India, extending as far east as Korea.  Unlike domesticated canines, dhole cannot be tamed.
-They are highly social.  They live in a simple earth den, which they steal from other creatures or re-use from earlier migrations.  As a pack, they have no dominance rituals.  The dhole hunt in groups of 3-5 animals, joining together during reproduction or during migrations.
+Highly social creatures, dhole live in simple earth dens, often repurposing burrows from other animals rather than digging their own. They do not engage in dominance struggles within their packs, forming cohesive groups based on cooperation rather than hierarchy. They typically hunt in small packs of three to five animals but will gather in larger numbers during migration or breeding seasons.
-The dhole aren't territorial; instead, they migrate hundreds of miles in search of new habitats.  During migration they'll lose several pounds from starvation, causing them to engage and hunt aggressively on resettling, chasing their prey for a dozen hours when hungry.  A famous legend tells of numbers of dhole treeing tigers and keeping them there until the tiger tires and falls prey.
+Dhole are not territorial and instead roam across vast distances, sometimes migrating hundreds of miles in search of new habitats. These migrations are gruelling, causing the animals to lose considerable weight due to food scarcity. Once they resettle, they become relentless hunters, pursuing prey for hours on end to replenish their strength. Their endurance and cooperative tactics make them formidable predators, with legends even describing them as capable of treeing tigers, forcing the great cats to remain aloft until exhaustion overcomes them.
-Sometimes, the dhole will "overhunt," during resettlement, killing more than they eat.  Some villagers welcome the return of the dhole because this gives an opportunity for easy meat.
+During resettlement, dhole sometimes engage in "overhunting," killing more prey than they can consume. While this behaviour may appear wasteful, it provides scavengers with an abundance of food. In some regions, villagers welcome the arrival of dhole, knowing that excess kills will offer a temporary source of easy meat.
-==== Throat Attack ====
+=== Advantages ===
-When a dhole rolls a [[Critical Hits & Fumbles|natural d20]], it's understood that the dhole has [[Attacking in Combat|attacked]] the target's throat.  Therefore, critical hits made by the dhole cause '''triple''' [[Damage (hit points)|damage]], not double.  As with any natural 20, the dice are rolled again, with progressive 20s increasing the damage to quadruple, quintuple, sextuple and so on.  Natural 19s do not increase damage with dhole attacks.
+Dhole are highly efficient killers, with a natural instinct to target the most vulnerable areas of their prey. When a dhole rolls a [[Critical Hits & Fumbles|natural d20]] during an [[Attacking in Combat|attack]], it is assumed to have struck the target's throat. Due to this precision and the dhole's powerful bite, critical hits inflicted by a dhole result in '''triple''' [[Damage (hit points)|damage]] rather than the standard double.
-<br>
 == Wild African Dog ==

@@ Line 29: / Line 29: @@
 | '''[[Hit Points per Die|Hp/Die]]''' || d3 (d4) || d4 (d6)
 |-
-| '''Attack Form''' || colspan="2"|'''1''': [[Fangs (attack)|fangs]]
+| '''Attacks''' || colspan="2"|'''1''': [[Fangs (attack)|fangs]]
 |-
 | '''[[Damage (hit points)|Damage]]''' || 1-4 || 1-6

@@ Line 52: / Line 52: @@
 == Wild African Dog ==
 [[File:Wild Dog.jpg|left|315px|thumb|'''Alison Theus''' (artist); a wild African dog]]
-A solidly built, comparatively lean, tall dog with outsized ears and lacking dewclaws.  The skull is short and broad and the body is covered by stiff bristle-hairs with no underfur.  The animal loses its fur as it ages, so that the experience of a given dog can be determined by experienced persons.  Colour variation is extreme, though black with small white and yellow patches is common in the north, while southern African wild dogs are a mix of brown, black and white.  The wild dog is found throughout south and east Africa, as well as the Sahel; a small number have been released in the southwestern corner of the Arabian Peninsula.
+A solidly built, comparatively lean, tall dog with outsized ears and lacking dewclaws.  The skull is short and broad and the body is covered by stiff bristle-hairs with no underfur.  The animal loses its fur as it ages, so that the experience of a given dog can be determined by experienced persons.
 These animals have strong social ties, with a high ratio of males to females.  There is no fixed breeding season.  The African wild dog is a specialised pack hunter of medium-sized hoofed animals, hunting by approaching prey silently and then chasing it with phenomenal speed, with numbers of the pack arranged so that different groups can strike at the prey at different angles.  Beasts as large as wildebeest and wild boars are hunted, but gazelles and antelopes are preferred.  Wild dogs will chase prey, wearing it down for hours if need be, to make it tired enough that it can be killed without threat to the hunters.
 Wild African dogs are also able to employ a [[Dog (wild)#Throat Attack|throat attack]].

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:38, 10 April 2021
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	Wild African dogs are also able to employ a [[Dog (wild)#Throat Attack\|throat attack]].		Wild African dogs are also able to employ a [[Dog (wild)#Throat Attack\|throat attack]].
		+

	See [[Bestiary]]		See [[Bestiary]]