Dog Training (sage study)
Skill at dog training covers the use of dogs as hunters, herders and trackers, as well as combatants in war, with additional skills in managing packs of dogs (especially as dog sled teams), administering to their health, breeding and recognition of breeding and a knowledge of special training techniques, enabling the learning of skills and tricks.
Like horses, dogs are classified according to their primary form or function, based on size, physical ability and training. Their predatory nature makes them well suited for combat, hunting and herding, with the largest breeds most often chosen for these purposes. Some hunting and all racing dogs are bred for their leanness and speed. Bird and rodent dogs are bred for scenting capability and size (smaller, so they can fit into tight spaces in search of their quarry). Among the nobility and upper classes, certain breeds are favored for purely aesthetic characteristics.
In most cases, a dog can be described by its primary function
- companion dogs (low energy): bred by the societal elite; kept for their aesthetic appeal and social status
- herd dogs (high energy): bred to control large herds of domestic animals; kept for their energy and pack mentality
- hound dogs (medium energy): bred to track and hunt large game; kept for their ability to sight or scent prey and run it to ground
- sporting dogs (medium energy): bred to chase, catch and retrieve small game; kept for their ability to execute complex tasks
- terrier dogs (high energy): bred to chase and kill rodents or pests; kept for their ability to outsmart and outrun the smallest prey
- working dogs (medium energy): bred to guard people, pull carts or sleds, or fight in battle; kept for their extreme loyalty and willingness to follow commands
A dog’s total movement is typically 6 AP. It should be noted that some dogs will be slightly faster or somewhat slower, with bonus AP potentially measured in fractions of 1/2, 1/3 or 1/6. This offers some question as to a dog’s potential to win or fail to win races, when trained.
For game purposes and random rolls, a dog’s Intelligence is judged to be 3-4; their Strength, 2d4 +4; their Dexterity, 2d6 +6. A dog’s size will greatly impact its Strength and Dexterity; 30lbs and smaller receive -3 Strength and +2 Dexterity; 31 to 60lbs, -1 Strength and +1 Dexterity; 61 to 90lbs, +1 Strength; 91 to 120lbs, +2 Strength and -1 Dexterity; 121 to 150lbs, +3 Strength and -2 Dexterity; and 151lbs and larger receive +4 Strength and -3 Dexterity.
Amateur Skills
Domesticate I: Subduing and training young animals upon reaching maturity, or mastering wild animals that are naturally able to be domesticated, making them serviceable as working animals. Inherent is the teaching of various behaviors that will make the animal manageable by experienced characters for everyday use, specifically as herding or hunting animals. This includes situations where the animal is to be harnessed to a vehicle and driven.
Domestication does not include training the animal to be a war animal, to perform difficult jobs (such as the complex task of retrieval) or to race in competitions. These are more complex tasks that require additional skill to manage.
When a dog is domesticated and not trained for war, it may be considered a herd, hound or sporting dog depending on its breed.
To rear a young pup, a handler must spend at least four hours out of every day with the dog. This time may be divided between playing, feeding, petting, following or just casual interaction, such as while performing some other task. During this time, the animal may be taught simple tricks (see below), including its name. The full span of time necessary to rear a pup is based on the dog's size (smaller breeds tend to reach full maturity faster) and goes between 8 and 16 months.
If a handler acquires a full-grown dog and wants to establish dominance (necessary for training purposes), he must spend a similar span of time: at least four hours a day for a minimum of 4 months. The handler can teach the animal tricks and tasks (as below) during this time.
Domestication of a wild animal follows the same requirements ~ four hours a day spent interacting with the dog ~ but it's a minimum of 12 months before the dog is considered tame. (This tameness applies only to the handler and his immediate companions; the dog is still very much wild with regard to other persons and animals.)
Feeding & Diet: Given that in most cases, an animal cannot be easily weighed in a fantasy setting, we must assume that characters cannot simply “know” the weight of an animal and thus automatically ascribe a diet based on this. Therefore, it requires an experienced character who has studied animals to have a reasonable understanding of what sustenance they require.
Each breed tends to favor an energy output. Companion dogs are low-energy, having no other function than satisfying the emotional needs of their owners. Hound, sporting and working dogs require more energy but mostly in short bursts or with greater periods of rest in between. Herd and terrier dogs require high-levels of energy to perform their primary function.
Dogs are typically given scraps and spare animal parts at every meal.
Being omnivorous, dogs can subsist on a variety of foods. Larger dogs typically require more meat to maintain their health and overall mass. The amount a dog will eat depends on its size and its energy output, with a minimum protein requirement (given as a percentage of overall body weight):
| low energy | medium energy | high energy | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35lbs and below | 1% forage, 1% protein | 1-1/2% forage, 1-1/2% protein | 2% forage, 2% protein |
| 36 to 70lbs | 2% forage, 1% protein | 3% forage, 1-1/2% protein | 4% forage, 2% protein |
| 71lbs and above | 2% forage, 2% protein | 3% forage, 3% protein | 4% forage, 4% protein |
See Also,
Assassin's Sage Abilities
Fighter Sage Abilities
Paladin Sage Abilities
Ranger Sage Abilities
