History Main / CanineCompanion

''VideoGame/CrusaderOfCenty'' has Mac, the player's pet dog. Found since the beginning of the game next to the player's house, it appears that he will remain there for the rest of the game. But once the player gains the ability to talk to animals and plants via the fortune teller, but loses the ability to understand humans, upon talking to Mac, he finds that the player is able to understand his request for grub, and offers to aid the player in finding the fortune teller, thus becoming the first animal to join the player.

->''"To his dog, every man is UsefulNotes/{{Napoleon}}; hence the constant popularity of dogs."''

->''"To his dog, every man is UsefulNotes/Napoleon; hence the constant popularity of dogs."''

* ''Anime/PokemonTheSeriesSunAndMoon'': Five (Six considering that Rockruff lived with Professor Kukui before Ash caught it) major characters own canine-like Pokemon; Ash and his Dusk Lycanroc (originally obtained as a Rockruff), Lillie and her Alolan Vulpix (nicknamed Snowy), Gladion and his Midnight Lycanroc, and Olivia and her Midday Lycanroc. The fifth is James, who had a Growlithe as a boy before running away from home. When the cast visits the mansion where James grew up, it's revealed that Growlithe is still there, waiting for him to return.

* Music//{{V|Singer}}'s Pomeranian dog Yeontan appears with him in the loosely connected AnachronicOrder series of ''Layover'' videos (albeit played by a different dog) and on the album cover. "Blue" ends someone sending him the dog to help him get over an apparent breakup. The dog quickly becomes his best friend, appearing in all but one of the remaining videos ("Love Me Again"), and is the only character besides V in the "Rainy Days" video.

* ''WesternAnimation/BluesClues'' follows Blue, a CGI, blue-spotted dog, as she leaves a trail of (also blue) paw prints all over the house. Her caretaker, a live-action young man, hence asks the audience (preschooler kids) for help in finding where is Blue and what is she up to this time. Most of the episodes ended with the host and Blue happily reuniting.

* ''WesternAnimation/COPSAnimatedSeries'' has Officer Bowser and his RobotDog Blitz (who's actually a {{cyborg}}, having the brain of Bowser's previous dog who [[TakingTheBullet took a bullet]] for his master).

* ''VideoGame/TheDevilInMe'': Connie, a dog the crew encounters and can befriend ([[ShootTheDog or kill]]) during their ordeal on the island. A secret ending is unlocked if the player manages to kill everyone ''but'' the dog.

* Oatchi and Moss from ''VideoGame/Pikmin4'' both aid the protagonists in their mission to gather as much as they can from PNF-404 and escape in one piece. They also act as captains, letting the player do more across greater stretches of the map without worrying about losing Pikmin.

* ''VideoGame/NosferatuTheWrathOfMalachi'': Aunt Sophie's dog Buster will follow you around and fight off monsters once you free him.

* Quite a few Franchise/{{Pokemon}} are based on dogs; examples include the Growlithe, Eevee, Snubbull, Houndour, Poochyena, Zigzagoon, Riolu, Lillipup, Rockruff, and Yamper families, along with Furfrou. If you include foxes, then the Vulpix, Zorua, Fennekin, and Nickit families also count.

* Toby in ''Literature/RiversOfLondon'', a moderately intelligent terrier who Peter often takes with him on investigations, as he's sensitive enough to magic that Peter actually measures ''vestigia'' in "yaps". When not on a case, he hangs around the Folly trying to convince people to give him sausages.
* Gaspode the Wonder Dog in ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' sometimes finds himself in this role; most notably to Victor in ''Literature/MovingPictures'' and to Carrot in ''Literature/TheFifthElephant''. As with all canine stereotypes, he hates it but feels compelled to go along with it anyway.
* In the ''Literature/FrannyKStein'' books, Franny has a pet dog named Igor. [[TheIgor True to his name]], he assists Franny with her experiments and is completely loyal to her.
* In ''Literature/TheGreatBalloonRace'', the Professor and Charles are accompanied on the race by the Professor's dog Plato, [[RunningGag whom Charles has to keep taking out to find a tree]].
* ''Literature/ANightInTheLonesomeOctober'' revolves around Jack and his canine companion Snuff.
* The titular character of the ''Mulle Meck'' books (better known internationally as ''VideoGame/GaryGadget'') is never seen away from his companion dog Buffa, who gladly tags along with him as he builds himself and test drives his new vehicles - whether car, boat, or airplane.
* ''Literature/TheDarkestDark'': Kid Chris' pug, Albert, stays with him through the bulk of the story.
* In the ‘’44 Scotland Street’’ series by Alexander [=McCall=] Smith, the dog Cyril is an associate member of the Scottish Arts Club so he can accompany Angus. He also goes to pubs with Angus and drinks beer, to the consternation of some
* The children's book ''The First Dog'' by Creator/JanBrett is similar to the story in ''Film/Alpha2018'', telling the story of how Kip the Cave Boy tames a friendly wolf.
* Lucía Maraz from ''Literature/InTheMidstOfWinter'' has Marcelo, a Chihuahua. Richard, her landlord, allows him to stay even though the lease does not allow for pets. When they end up embarking on a RoadTripPlot, she insists on bringing him because Marcelo suffers from separation anxiety.
* In ''Literature/ChroniclesOfAncientDarkness'', Torak's constant companion and "pack-brother" since the first book is [[ADogNamedDog Wolf]], a wolf cub he saved from starvation after its family died in a flood. He can communicate with Wolf since he was temporarily RaisedByWolves when he was a baby.
* ''Literature/JourneyToTheWest'' features Erlang Shen, the warrior god who defeats Sun Wukong. He has a faithful dog called Xiaotianquan/Shoutenken ("Howling Celestial Dog"). In Erlang's fight with Wukong, Xiaotianquan bites Wukong's leg at a critical moment. When they fight a giant multi-headed insect demon, Xiaotianquan bites off its head.
* ''Literature/NettleAndBone'': Bonedog is a friendly, upbeat, and loyal companion to Marra throughout the book, only slightly complicated by the fact that he's a [[NonHumanUndead skeletal construct]] and can't actually lick her. She eventually buys him a canine {{Glamour}} so she can travel with him around other people without causing a panic.

* ''Literature/TheHoundOfTheBaskervilles'' has the eponymous Hound owned by Jack Stapleton, who is [[spoiler:one of the nastiest and the most reviled villains]] in the ''Literature/SherlockHolmes'' stories.
* ''Literature/LandOfOz'': Toto accompanies Dorothy on her adventures to and around Oz.
* ''Literature/MayasNotebook'': Fákin, a friendly stray dog with a lame leg, becomes this to Maya [[spoiler:and even barks to warn her when the BigBad comes for her.]]
* The chaps of ''Literature/ThreeMenInABoat'' have the canine delinquent Montmorency.
* ''Literature/IAmLegend'': The Dog in the original short story is a subversion. The survivor tries to tame a feral dog into his companion. He appears to succeed in getting the dog to take food from him, and then you find out the dog died two weeks later due to illnesses.

* ''Literature/OldKingdom'': Lirael has the Disreputable Dog. [[GodWasMyCopilot Kinda.]]
* Haplo, AntiHero of ''Literature/TheDeathGateCycle'', has a dog that goes ''everywhere'' with him, even when this defies all logic or common sense. [[spoiler: It turns out that the dog, unknown to everyone, is actually a magical manifestation of Haplo's soul.]]

* Oleg Divov's ''The Dog Master'' features an entire paramilitary organization where specially-equipped soldiers hunt zombie-like creatures with their dogs. They are led by the titular Dog Master. [[spoiler:Neither the dogs nor their masters survive the final battle with the zombies]].
* In Creator/JohnCWright's ''[[Literature/TheGoldenOecumene The Golden Transcendence]]'', Phaethon populates the bridge with mannequins of famous explorers. Including the dog of one such explorer, because it was just not right to have that man without his dog.
* The titular ''Literature/CastawaysOfTheFlyingDutchman'' are a boy and a black lab, [[FlyingDutchman cursed to wander the earth without aging,]] but at least they have each other.
* In the Daniel P. Mannix's novel ''Literature/TheFoxAndTheHound'', Copper, an aging bloodhound mix, serves as the hunter's loyal dog companion and acts as his RightHandAttackDog.
* ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'' has the Stark kids and their [[NobleWolf direwolves]]

* In Dana Stabenow's mystery series about Alaskan investigator Literature/KateShugak, Shugak is usually accompanied, and at times rescued, by her faithful husky/wolf cross Mutt.
* PlayedWith in ''Literature/BeetleInTheAnthill'': Lev Abalkin explored the dying planet of Hope with his longtime partner Schyokn-Itrch, a golovan--that is, member of a sentient species evolved from dogs native to another planet recovering from a nuclear war. The golovans are extremely intelligent, fearless, and possess superhuman senses, so in many ways, Abalkin is Schyokn's ''humanoid'' companion rather than vice versa.
* In ''Literature/TheOdyssey'', the only one to recognize Odysseus when he returns home in disguise is his aged, faithful dog Argos -- who had never abandoned hope, and who died happy after seeing his master one last time.
* In ''Literature/{{Angelmaker}}'', [[NeverMessWithGranny Edie's]] is a small, old pug with pale pink glass eyeballs.
* Gry trains a guide dog named Coaly for Orrec in ''[[Literature/AnnalsOfTheWesternShore Gifts]]'' when he gets blindfolded due to [[PowerIncontinence being unable to control]] his DeadlyGaze. [[spoiler:He keeps her even after he takes the blindfold off.]]
* Creator/RosemarySutcliff gave many of her protagonists a canine partner – notably Cub the tame wolf in ''Literature/TheEagleOfTheNinth'', Myth/KingArthur's Cabal in ''Literature/SwordAtSunset'', Whitethroat in ''Literature/WarriorScarlet'', ADogNamedDog in ''Dawn Wind'', Hugin in ''Sword Song'', and Argos in ''Brother Dusty-Feet''. ''[[Literature/TheDolphinRing The Silver Branch]]'', bizarrely, features Cullen the Hound, a human sidekick who ''thinks'' he's a dog.
* Jen from ''Literature/SeaOfThePatchworkCats'' has the brain and spliced DNA of a dog. [[MySensorsIndicateYouWantToTapThat She still looks human enough. Wink Wink.]]
* Chap from the ''Literature/TheSagaOfTheNobleDead'' series is a loyal companion to Leesil and Magiere, even after the immortal guide stops pretending to just be a normal dog.
* ''Literature/JourneyToChaos'': Kae Ninea the mercenary never goes anywhere without her black lap partner, Jet.
* Ijori's dog, Oochoo, from ''Literature/{{Fairest}}'' is this. One is never without the other for long.
* Chiara's sheep dog, Scintillio, in ''The Ghost in Gold''. As a puppy, he is one of the last gifts from her father before he passes away, and a more prominent comfort during her [[CinderellaPlot situation]] than the family of mice typical to [[Literature/{{Cinderella}} the source material]]. When Chiara becomes a maid at the palace, Prince Lorenzo invents a job for Scintillio in the stables so the girl and dog won't be separated.

* Creator/TakashiYanase's ''Literature/{{Anpanman}}'' picture books and numerous animated adaptations would frequently feature the titular character getting help from Cheese the Dog.

* ''ComicStrip/ThePhantom'' has Devil, a wolf he brings with him on his many adventures. One of the strip's longer running gags is when traveling in his civilian identity, people will protest that he cannot bring his dog in with him. The Phantom will reply, "Oh that's okay, Devil's not a dog..."

* ''VideoGame/{{Fallout}}'': Dogmeat, a series of identically-named dogs, appears as a consistent companion for the various Wasteland-wandering characters.

* ''Fanfic/TheBoltChronicles'': Ordinarily played straight with Bolt regarding Penny, most notably in "The Marching Song," "The Walk," and "The Car." The dog is clearly very devoted to his master. Inverted in "The Murder Mystery" when the dog tries to vaporize Penny with his laser eye beams (turns out it's AllJustADream).

* ''Fanfic/TheBoltChronicles'': Ordinarily played straight with Bolt regarding Penny, most notably in “The Marching Song,” “The Walk,” and “The Car.” The dog is clearly very devoted to his master. Inverted in “The Murder Mystery” when the dog tries to vaporize Penny with his laser eye beams (turns out it's AllJustADream).