The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim has been out for over a decade, but players can still find joy in the dozens of dog companions located throughout the game. Dogs are necessary for any fantasy adventure game, giving an otherwise unattached protagonist a reason to return to their pixelated home. Dogs can serve multiple purposes in Skyrim and become pets, companions, or start quests that take players across the country. While some players may choose dogs that match their needs and let them go later, others may genuinely enjoy having a pup along for the ride. Each dog in Skyrim provides an opportunity for Dragonborn to expand their story and enhance their experience in the country, and while all are good dogs, some are more pleasant to interact with than others.
In Skyrim, players control the Dragonborn and save the Nord homeland from destruction at the hands (or talons) of Alduin, the Worldeater. Of course, it's possible to accomplish these goals independently, but many players prefer to collect companions with whom to share their adventures. Dogs can be an entertaining (and adorable) addition to any party, and many are cheaper options than purchasing the services of one mercenary or another. While Skyrim's dogs may not be the most powerful companions on quests, each has a remarkable backstory and personality or serves to enhance the world around them.
Numerous Skyrim dog mods exist throughout various modding websites like NexusMods, but The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim's base game and DLCs provide nearly a dozen named dogs to recruit or interact with throughout the war-torn country. Not every dog can be recruited by the Dragonborn, as some serve other families or have other roles to play in the world. Additionally, Skyrim's Stray Dogs won't appear on this list, as their spawns are random and circumstances for the Dragonborn to meet them can change. Dragonborn seeking a four-legged companion can interact with most of the following dogs, depending on allegiances and criminal activity at or against various Holds and characters.
11. Skyrim's Vigilance Doesn't Offer Emotional Attachments
In Skyrim's most interesting city (Markarth), players can be misled by the urban center's grand designs and hefty population. However, players that leave their horse at the stables can encounter Vigilance. Like most of Skyrim's dogs, Vigilance is modeled after an Irish Wolfhound and has no unique dialogue or actions. Players can purchase Vigilance's services for 500 gold, similar to that of a mercenary. While Vigilance can level up more than other dogs in Skyrim, the hefty price to regain his services each time he's dismissed can become irritating. With the Hearthfire DLC, players can make Vigilance a dog and bypass this, but the transactional nature of this pooch makes his loyalty and emotional connection seem lesser than many other dogs in Skyrim.
10/9. Gamr And CuSith Are Only Loyal To Skyrim's Vampires
In Skyrim's Dawnguard DLC, players can become a vampire or join the Dawnguard to battle the undead threat. Players that choose to become Vampire Lords and join Clan Volkihar and Lord Harkon can obtain Gamr and CuSith by interacting with the death hounds in their kennel. However, their loyalty is conditional, similar to Vigilance. If a player's vampirism is cured and they speak with Gamr and CuSith, the creatures will not obey their commands and can turn hostile. Additionally, Gamr and CuSith can send hired thugs after the Dragonborn if they steal from Castle Volkihar, furthering their lack of emotional attachment and loyalty to the player. However, Gamr and CuSith are some of the most uniquely designed dogs in Skyrim, meaning some players may overlook the moral implications of siding with the vampires.
8/7. Tiber And Ysgramor Are Hostile Guard Dogs In Skyrim
Windhelm isn't the greatest Skyrim city, known for its frigid temperatures and prejudice against non-human species like Elves and Argonians. As a result, it homes some of the most vicious dogs players can find in Skyrim. Located at Hollyfrost Farm, Tiber and Ysgramor serve as guard dogs and attack the Dragonborn if they linger in the farmhouse. Thieves Guild members may be particularly startled, as the pair bark and alert their owners.
While Tiber and Ysgramor are excellent dogs for protecting their territory and masters, they're some of the worst creatures for players to interact with throughout the open world. Additionally, these dogs cannot become companions and serve as living, breathing alarm systems, making an already unfriendly territory particularly annoying.
6. Stump Is Skyrim's Loyal Companion In Riverwood
After the Dragonborn escapes Helgen in Skyrim, the first location they encounter with their guide (Ralof or Hadvar) is Riverwood. While the town itself is quaint compared to other towns and Holds throughout the country, it's filled with unique inhabitants with individual stories and dreams. It's also home to Stump, Frodnar's loyal dog companion and protector. Stump is likely the first dog the Dragonborn meets, making it slightly more memorable than other dogs with similar appearances. However, Stump's loyalty truly shows itself if Frodnar's parents are killed, as the hound accompanies the child to Honorhall Orphanage in Riften.
5. Torom's Loyalty Shines In Skyrim's Markarth
Like Riverwood's Stump, Torom also accompanies a child located in a Hold. Erith is a young girl that lives outside Skyrim's Forsworn-riddled Markarth, in the Reach territories. This area is hazardous, leaving Erith more vulnerable than most children in Skyrim. Torom, Erith's dog, is likely one of the few protectors the girl has ever known. Erith regularly sings his praises, emphasizing how Torom is the "greatest dog in the Reach" and can be seen playing with him. Any dog that brings joy to a girl living in dangerous conditions becomes one of the most admirable dogs in Skyrim. Like Stump, Torom accompanies Erith to Honorhall Orphanage and can join the Dragonborn if players adopt her.
4/3. Bran & Sceolang Are Fearsome Warriors
Bran and Sceolang are the Dawnguard counterparts of Gamr and CuSith, accompanying the vampire hunters on their dangerous hunts. Like Gamr and CuSith, these dogs have unique designs that resemble the real world's husky breed. Joining the Dawnguard in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim comes with many perks, including the overpowered crossbow and impressive armories. However, Bran and Sceolang are Dawnguard's greatest bonuses. With matching red armor and loyalty to a Dawnguard Dragonborn (no matter their species), Bran and Sceolang are hostile to Dragonborn that join the vampires, but considering Lord Harkon's goal to destroy the sun, their fury is a reasonable reaction.
2. Meeko Requires A Loving Home
Unlike many dogs in Skyrim, Meeko comes with a tragic backstory that only the most cold-hearted Dragonborn could walk away from. Players can encounter Meeko a short distance from a cabin called Meeko's Cabin, where a Nord man can be found dead. Judging from his diary, the man fell ill and perished without the means to obtain medicine for himself. Meeko, ever the loyal dog, continues returning to his home and seeks a cure for his owner's ailment, not understanding the situation. Thankfully, the Dragonborn can adopt Meeko with Skyrim's Hearthfire DLC and give him a new, loving home. As Meeko levels up alongside the Dragonborn, he becomes stronger and cements himself as a loyal companion in the world's history pages. Meeko's story and emotional weight make him the second-greatest dog in all of Skyrim.
1. Barbas Is Skyrim's Greatest Talking Dog
Barbas introduces one of the best quests in Skyrim, with the talking dog becoming one of the most entertaining (and bizarre) additions to the game. Players can find Barbas outside Falkreath, where he informs the Dragonborn that he and their master experienced an argument that resulted in him being cast out. Upon following Barbas, the Dragonborn meets Clavicus Vile, a Daedric Prince, and can mend their relationship. Players that don't kill Barbas can witness the dog's joyful return to his master's side, and repair the Clavicus Vile statue hidden within Skyrim's mountains. Despite being a temporary companion, Barbas' cheeky dialogue, Daedric power, and accompanying quest make him the greatest dog in Skyrim.
There are many companions available in Skyrim, but while some are experts in magic and combat, dogs can provide the Dragonborn with meaningful connections. Wandering through the wilderness with a faithful hound at one's side is a genuinely enjoyable experience and makes the Dragonborn seem more personable. Most NPCs - even the mercenaries - frequently remark on the Dragonborn's legendary status, but few appreciate the simpler aspects of the character. Thankfully, Skyrim's many dogs add a bit of light to the terrifying world.