Dogs in Fallout: New Vegas appear in many different forms, serving as guard dogs for the Fiends and the New California Republic, as well as pets of wastelanders such as Old Lady Gibson and Sunny Smiles. Non-aggressive dogs may also be found throughout the wasteland, including one simply referred to as "dog," which may be found wandering outside of the NCR Correctional Facility. Vicious dogs can often be found in packs, in several areas of the Mojave.
Characteristics
NCR guard dogs will attack player characters that have low reputation with their associated faction. Fiend guard dogs and vicious dogs will attack on sight, regardless of reputation, while wild dogs and coyotes will only attack if the player character is close enough to make them feel threatened. With the Animal Friend perk, dogs will not attack unless provoked.
Variants
Dog
Regular dogs with standard statistics and characteristics. Large dogs do not differ significantly, aside from being stronger than the basic variety. Regular dogs roam Zion Canyon. The prospector's dog is a very rare variant that is found in only three places: Smith Mesa Prospector Camp, Ivanpah Dry Lake and El Dorado Dry Lake.
The breed commonly used as guard dogs looks similar to the vicious dogs that roam the Mojave Wasteland. As is with the vicious dog, the NCR guard dogs are not as resilient as the Legion mongrels. This is probably due to their lack of selective breeding and training.
NCR guard dogs can be seen patrolling Camp Forlorn Hope and HELIOS One (including the shack containing terminal B) with NCR soldiers. In the quest You'll Know It When It Happens, if the Courier has the Animal Friend perk, Ranger Stevens will agree to lend his dog to them, allowing him to discover the undercover member of Caesar's Legion with the detonator for the bomb placed aboard Bear Force One.
Vicious dogs are a nearly hairless species of wasteland canine. Ruthless survivors of the wastes, these starving, irradiated mutts will attack anything that moves, including the player character, unless they have acquired the Animal Friend perk. Vicious dogs are also known to hunt in packs.
The vicious dogs in Fallout: New Vegas resemble the ones featured in Fallout 3, as well as the guard dogs used by the NCR, and Fiend guard dogs used by Violet.
Wild dogs and large wild dogs can be found near the NCR Correctional Facility. They are rarely hostile and will only attack the player character if they get too close, or if first provoked by attacking them or one of their pack.
