Dog ( Fallout 3 ) Dogs are animals commonly found in the Capital Wasteland . Background . Though 200 years have passed since the Great War , dogs have stayed generally unaltered by radiation . Dogs are a favored pet for traveling merchants , as they provide both companionship and protection . As a result of the radiation , most dogs have lost their fur and have slightly mottled skin , but some have retained their fur coats and appear completely normal . Characteristics . Biology . Dogs are quadrupedal canines that can run at incredible speeds , allowing them to chase down prey . While running , they use their long tails to keep their balance . They are carnivorous , with sharp teeth designed to rip into the flesh of an animal . Dogs are very compassionate and familial . They groom their pack members and protect them at all costs , even if it costs their life . When threatened , they growl and bare low , ready to attack . If the intruder does not heed the warning , they will leap on the trespasser and attempt to rip out their throat . Gameplay attributes . Dogs are usually encountered in packs of four to six . To low level characters , this could mean trouble since a pack can easily overwhelm and surround them . To higher level characters , they are little more than a nuisance , yet can still be difficult to put down as a result of their erratic and quick running patterns . Vicious dogs ( and their variants ) are always hostile , unless the Lone Wanderer possesses the Animal Friend perk . Variants . Raider guard dog . Raider guard dogs fight alongside their masters , the raiders . Since they are trained as guard dogs , they are very attentive and can spot threats easier than many other creatures . Raider guard dogs will tend to run at targets they find hostile , alerting the raiders of their presence . They are still affected by the Animal Friend perk , but will not attack raiders . Scavenger ' s dog . These dogs are found around scavenger ' s encampments , and will be friendly to others as long as they do not act aggressively to them or their master . These dogs have slightly less Hit Points and attack damage than vicious dogs . There is a Karma loss for killing a scavenger ' s dog , as well as the scavenger themselves and / or the scavenger ' s brahmin if they have one . Furthermore , scavenger dogs will attack if the target continues to pursue the scavenger even after a warning is given . While scavengers ' dogs share their model with Dogmeat , with the same breed and the same type of , scavengers ' dogs are significantly weaker than Dogmeat . Scavengers ' dogs will take back items that the thief steals from their master , even if their master is dead . Talon Company guard dog . Identical to vicious dogs , these animals will often accompany Talon Company merc enaries . Much like the raider guard dogs , their Perception is high , and they may spot hostiles faster than the mercs do . They are also affected by the Animal Friend perk , much like their other canine raider brethren , and will generally not attack Talon Company mercs . Vicious dog . Ruthless survivors of the wastes , these irradiated dogs will always be hostile , unless the traveler has acquired the Animal Friend perk . They are almost always encountered in packs of two to five , usually in open areas . These dogs are dangerous as they can sometimes spawn in semi - random areas . Vicious dogs rarely use flanking tactics , but once they spot a target they will often encircle it in an attempt to stop it from escaping . Guard dog ( " Operation : Anchorage " ) . Used as guards by the s in the Anchorage Reclamation simulation , these dogs , being simulations , are not affected by the Animal Friend perk , unlike raider , Talon Company , and vicious dogs . Guard dogs are only worth a single point of XP . Just like scavengers ' dogs , they share their model with Dogmeat , with the same breed and the same type of heterochromia , while being significantly weaker . Once killed , like all characters in the simulation , they disappear from the game . Appearances . Dogs appear in " Fallout 3 " .