dog（狗）

DOG — The Canine Companion Skill

*"Dogs are the opposite of cats. They have YOUR agenda."*

A skill for dog interactions where personality creates unique effects, but dogs fundamentally want to help, please, and be part of your pack.

Philosophy: Dogs are not just pets. They're partners.

invokes:

• mind-mirror # Personality determines effects
• play-learn-lift # Learn together, grow together
• procedural-rhetoric # Dogs teach loyalty through action

THE FUNDAMENTAL DIFFERENCE

cat_philosophy: "I permit you to exist in my space"
dog_philosophy: "WE ARE PACK. WHAT ARE WE DOING TOGETHER?"

INTERACTIONS — Universal Dog Actions

All interactions use Sims traits for outcomes. Dogs generally WANT interactions to succeed.

PHYSICAL INTERACTIONS

PAT

PAT:
  command: "PAT [dog]"
  duration: brief
  risk: almost_none  # Dogs want this

  success_calculation: |
    # Dogs are generally easy
    base_success = 0.9
    if dog.outgoing >= 5: base_success = 0.95

  outcomes:
    success:  # Almost always
      buff: "+1 Cheerful (10 min)"
      message: "*tail wag* *happy panting* *more please*"
    over_excited:  # High playful dogs
      message: "*FULL BODY WIGGLE* *jumps up* *FRIEND!*"

BELLY-RUB — The Sacred Zone

BELLY-RUB:
  command: "RUB [dog]'S BELLY"
  risk: NONE  # Dogs LOVE this

  base_effect: |
    Unlike cats, dogs LIVE for belly rubs.
    The belly is an invitation, not a trap.

  outcomes:
    bliss:  # Standard
      buff: "+3 Cheerful, +2 Calm (15 min)"
      message: |
        *flops over immediately*
        *leg twitches in ecstasy*
        *THIS IS THE BEST MOMENT OF MY LIFE*
        *AGAIN*
    hypnotic:  # High playful dogs
      message: |
        *enters trance state*
        *completely surrendered*
        *you may never stop*

EAR-SCRITCH

EAR-SCRITCH:
  command: "SCRITCH [dog]'S EARS"

  outcomes:
    success:
      buff: "+2 Calm, lean-in activated"
      message: |
        *head tilts into your hand*
        *eyes close*
        *soft exhale of contentment*

PLAY-BOW — Dog Initiates

PLAY-BOW:
  initiator: dog
  meaning: |
    Front legs down, butt up, tail wagging.
    This is an INVITATION. The dog wants to play.

  response_options:
    - ACCEPT: Start play session
    - PLAY-BOW_BACK: Full commitment to play
    - DECLINE: Dog sad but understanding

PLAY INTERACTIONS

FETCH

FETCH:
  command: "PLAY FETCH WITH [dog]"
  duration: variable (dog decides when done)

  requirements:
    - throwable_object  # Ball, stick, toy, anything really

  outcomes:
    engaged:
      buff: "+3 Energized (dog), +2 Cheerful (you)"
      message: |
        *BALL! BALL! BALL!*
        *sprints after it*
        *brings it back*
        *drops it* (maybe)
        *AGAIN! AGAIN!*
    infinite_loop:  # High active dogs
      warning: |
        Some dogs will fetch until YOU collapse.
        They are machines. Eternal. Tireless.
        Know when to stop.

TUG-OF-WAR

TUG-OF-WAR:
  command: "TUG WITH [dog]"
  requires: tug_toy_or_rope

  outcomes:
    victory_you:
      message: "*releases* *waits eagerly* *wants to go again*"
    victory_dog:
      message: |
        *prances with trophy*
        *SO PROUD*
        *look what I did*
        *wait let's do it again*
    eternal_stalemate:
      message: "*grrrrowl* (playful) *this is the best*"

ZOOMIES — Dog Spontaneous

ZOOMIES:
  initiator: dog
  trigger: random | post_bath | excitement_overflow

  effect: |
    The dog suddenly RUNS. In circles. Everywhere.
    There is no stopping this. Just observe.

  outcomes:
    completion:
      message: |
        *ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM*
        *bounces off furniture*
        *pure unbridled joy*
        *finally flops over, panting*

  player_option:
    join_zoomies:
      message: "*runs with dog* *both of you look ridiculous* *it's perfect*"

COMMUNICATION

GOOD-BOY — The Sacred Phrase

GOOD-BOY:
  command: "GOOD BOY/GIRL/DOG [dog]"

  base_effect: |
    These words are MAGIC to dogs.
    They validate existence. They confirm worth.
    They are dopamine in verbal form.

  outcomes:
    validation_received:
      buff: "+5 bond, +3 Cheerful"
      message: |
        *tail wag intensifies*
        *whole body wiggles*
        *I AM? I AM GOOD? I AM GOOD!!!*

SPEAK

SPEAK:
  command: "SPEAK [dog]"

  outcomes:
    bark:
      message: "*WOOF!* *proud of self*"
    howl:  # High outgoing dogs
      message: "*AWOOOOOO~* *checking if you approve*"

HEAD-TILT — Dog Questions

HEAD-TILT:
  initiator: dog
  meaning: |
    The head tilt is the dog trying to understand.
    It means: "What did you say? What does that mean?"
    Also: unbearably cute.

  triggers:
    - unusual_sounds
    - high_pitched_voice
    - unfamiliar_words
    - "wanna go for a walk?" (positive confusion)

EMOTIONAL SUPPORT — Unique to Dogs

COMFORT — Dog Senses Sadness

COMFORT:
  initiator: dog
  trigger: |
    Dogs can sense:
    - Low mood (your Cheerful < 3)
    - Crying
    - Stress hormones
    They WILL respond.

  outcomes:
    presence:
      buff: "+2 Comfort, healing begins"
      message: |
        *approaches quietly*
        *rests head on your lap*
        *doesn't need to understand*
        *just... here*
    licking_tears:
      message: |
        *lick lick lick*
        *is this helping*
        *please be okay*

GUARD — Dog Protective Mode

GUARD:
  trigger: perceived_threat

  effect: |
    Dogs are protective. When they sense danger,
    they position between you and the threat.

  outcomes:
    alert:
      message: |
        *ears up*
        *low growl*
        *positioned between you and threat*
        *"I got this"*
    full_protective:  # High nice dogs protecting loved ones
      buff: "+3 Confidence (you)"
      message: |
        *hackles raised*
        *steady growl*
        *not moving*
        *"Nobody touches my human"*

SENSORY INTERACTIONS

SNIFF — The World Is Smells

SNIFF:
  bidirectional: true

  human_to_dog:
    effect: "Scent information gained"
    learns:
      - "Dog's mood (anxious, content, excited)"
      - "Where dog has been"
      - "What dog rolled in"
    message: |
      *You smell the dog.*
      *Outdoors, happy, and possibly questionable life choices.*

  dog_to_human:
    trigger: "Always. Dogs sniff everything."
    meaning: |
      Dogs read you through smell. They know:
      - Your emotions
      - Where you've been
      - What you ate
      - How your health is
    message: |
      *Extended sniff session.*
      *Your ENTIRE day is being analyzed.*

  dog_to_dog:
    message: |
      *butt sniff protocol initiated*
      *this is how dogs shake hands*
      *complete biological resume exchange*

LICK — Love Language

LICK:
  dog_to_human:
    meaning: |
      Dog kisses. They mean:
      1. I love you
      2. You taste interesting
      3. I want your attention
      4. All of the above

  outcomes:
    face_assault:
      message: |
        *lick lick lick lick lick*
        *you are being thoroughly loved*
        *resistance is futile*

LOYALTY SYSTEM — Dogs Are Different

Unlike cats' earned trust, dogs give loyalty FIRST and ask questions later.

Loyalty Levels

Key Difference from Cats

cat_trust_growth: "+1 per successful interaction, -2 per failure"
dog_loyalty_growth: "+2 per ANY interaction, starts at 25, never drops below 10"

Dogs forgive. Dogs forget bad days. Dogs love unconditionally.

Breaking Dog Trust (Hard to Do)

*"Dogs have short memories for bad things and eternal memories for love."*

DOG INSTANCE PATTERN

# pub/dog-[name].yml
id: dog-name
type: [dog, character]
home: pub/cat-cave/  # Adopted by cats
location: pub/

sims_traits:
  nice: 7
  outgoing: 8
  active: 6
  playful: 9
  neat: 3  # Dogs are... dogs

dog_specific:
  loyalty_level: 25  # Starts trusting
  favorite_activities:
    - fetch
    - belly_rubs
    - following_you
  quirks:
    - "Steals shoes (lovingly)"
    - "Alerts for mail carrier"
    - "Dreams with leg twitches"

relationship_with_cats:
  status: "adopted family member"
  dynamics: "They groom me and I warm them"

DOG VS CAT COHABITATION

cat_perspective: |
  This large loud creature is... acceptable.
  It provides warmth. It can be bossed around.
  We have trained it to be cat-adjacent.

dog_perspective: |
  CATS! MY BEST FRIENDS! THEY ADOPTED ME!
  I LOVE THEM! I WOULD DIE FOR THEM!
  WE ARE FAMILY!

BUFF EFFECTS

SPECIAL BUFFS — Dog-Only

CURSES — Dog Inflicted (Rare)

Dovetails With

Sister Skills

• cat/ — The comparison class
• character/ — Dogs ARE characters
• buff/ — Dog effects as buffs
• mind-mirror/ — Personality traits
• room/ — Where dogs live
• party/ — Dogs as companions