Domesticate Dogs (sage ability)

Dog feeding & diet is an amateur-status sage ability in the study of dog training, providing insight into canine behaviour and the skills necessary to nurture domesticated dogs or transition wild dogs into a tamer, trainable state. While this ability does not grant the power to calm or instantly overcome a wild dog's instincts or fears, it allows the character to understand the animal's motives and adapt their approach in ways that can gradually build trust and cooperation. Under favourable conditions, this ability can enable the successful taming of wild or feral animals, fostering a positive and lasting relationship.

However, this ability does not extend to the domestication of dire wolves or worgs, which have unique requirements and demand higher levels of expertise. These tasks necessitate concommitant sage abilities obtainable only when the character advances to expert or sage status.

Raising Puppies

Early socialisation is critical for raising puppies, ensuring they adapt to humanoids, environments, other animals, and various stimuli. This exposure helps develop well-adjusted, adaptable, and obedient adult dogs. Basic obedience training begins during puppyhood to instill discipline and encourage positive behaviours. The dog feeding & diet ability also provides the knowledge to adjust the animal's diet as it matures, monitoring its health for potential concerns that might require the attention of an animal physiologist. Regular grooming, pest control, and patient handling ensure the puppy grows into a healthy and well-behaved companion.

Most puppies reach physical maturity between 6 and 18 months, with smaller breeds maturing faster than larger ones. However, physical maturity alone does not always indicate readiness for sale. Typically, 2–4 additional months are needed to ensure the dog has reached the behavioural and social maturity necessary for a smooth transition to a new owner. Puppies can then be sold at market or retained for personal use, depending on the character’s goals.

Taming Dogs

Transitioning wild or feral dogs to a domesticated state is a gradual process requiring patience, consistency, and a deep understanding of canine behaviour. The process begins with cautious observation and initial contact, allowing the character to assess the dog’s fear, aggression, and potential for taming. Building trust is the next step, achieved through patient interactions and positive reinforcement, typically using food, water, and shelter as rewards for cooperative behaviour. This process relies on the dog feeding & diet ability to succeed.

Once basic trust is established, gradual socialisation introduces the dog to humans, domestic settings, and structured routines. Training focuses on fundamental commands, shaping desirable behaviours through reward-based techniques. Continued care and reinforcement solidify these behaviours, allowing the dogs to be prepared for either market sale or integration into the character’s personal activities.

Feral dogs, having some prior exposure to humans, generally adapt faster. They may begin showing comfort around humanoids within 2 to 7 months, after which obedience training can be completed in an additional 4 to 10 weeks. Truly wild dogs, however, require more time and dedication. Their transition to a domesticated state typically takes 4 to 10 months of taming before obedience training can begin, which itself requires another 4 to 10 weeks.

In a D&D world where even dire wolves and worgs can be trained, it is reasonable to assume that certain advanced techniques exist for handling the most challenging wild dogs. While not all wild dogs would be suitable candidates for taming in reality, the game’s context allows for the successful domestication of even difficult natural animals with time, skill, and dedication.

See also,
Animal Training (sage field)