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11 Overview
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33 The dog companion is a functional pet in Outbound that actively assists the player during exploration. Rather than a purely cosmetic addition, the dog fetches resources, carries supplies in its own inventory pouch, and delivers items back to the camper van on command. Square Glade Games originally had no plans for an animal companion, but overwhelming community enthusiasm during the Kickstarter campaign convinced the studio to add one. The dog was unlocked as the seventh stretch goal (labeled the "Community Stretch Goal") and quickly became the most popular addition to the campaign.
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55 Players adopt their dog at the Paws & Whiskers Lodge and can choose from five appearance options. The companion is entirely optional; players who prefer to travel solo can skip adoption altogether.
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77 Adopting a Dog
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99 Dogs are adopted at the Paws & Whiskers Lodgea landmark located in the game world. When the player visits the lodge for the first time, they can choose to adopt a dog and give it a name. The Kickstarter reward tier "Treats for Lucky" included special companion items, suggesting Lucky as a possible default name. Once adopted, the dog travels with the player and rides along in the camper van.
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1212 Adoption is entirely optional. A developer from Square Glade Games confirmed on the Steam community forums: "Yes, you can skip the companion if you don't want them." Players who choose not to adopt a dog can still complete every activity in the game without penalty.
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1414 Dog Skins
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1616 The dog companion has five appearance options. Three standard skins are available to all players, while two Kickstarter-exclusive skins were offered as add-on purchases during the campaign.
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1818 SkinColorsAvailabilityBlackBlack furStandardBrownBrown furStandardGrayGray furStandardCotton CandyPink fur with rainbow tailKickstarter exclusiveMarshmallowBlue fur with rainbow tailKickstarter exclusive
1919 The Cotton Candy and Marshmallow skins were part of the "Cotton Candy & Marshmallow" Kickstarter add-on tier. Both feature brightly colored fur and a rainbow tail, giving the dog a playful, stylized look that contrasts with the three naturalistic options.
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2121 Abilities
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2323 The dog responds to player commands and provides practical help during gameplay. Players can direct the dog to pick up specific items, move to a designated position, or return to the van with collected materials.
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2525 AbilityDescriptionFetch ItemsCommand the dog to retrieve nearby resources and bring them to the playerCarry SuppliesThe dog holds items in its own inventory pouch, expanding the player's effective carrying capacityReturn to VehicleSend the dog back to the van with collected items, saving trips on footFollow CommandsDirect the dog to a position or issue basic behavior commands
2626 The that the dog "will help you if you train them, feed them and give them well-earned scritches," indicating that the dog's effectiveness improves through regular interaction and care.
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2828 Care and Bonding
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3030 The dog requires regular attention to maintain its bond with the player. Care activities include feeding, petting, and giving treats. Training the dog through consistent interaction makes it more responsive to commands and more helpful during resource gathering runs.
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3232 A visual feedback system was added in beta v0.7.8: when the player pets the dog, small heart emotes float above its head. These hearts provide an at-a-glance indicator of the companion's mood and the strength of the player-pet bond.
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3434 As Mobile Storage
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3636 Beyond its role as a companion, the dog functions as a mobile extension of the player's storage and inventory system. The dog carries its own pouch that holds collected items separately from the player's backpack. This effectively increases the amount of materials a player can gather before needing to return to the van.
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3838 By commanding the dog to deliver items back to the vehicle, players can continue foraging without interruption. This "dog express" approach is especially valuable during long resource runs in remote biomes where the van may be parked far from the gathering area.
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4040 Customization
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4242 In addition to the five skin options, the dog's appearance and gear can be customized. The Steam store page lists customizable companion gear as a feature. Further customization options may become available at the game's full launch on April 23, 2026.
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4444 Multiplayer
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4646 In multiplayer and co-op sessions with up to four players, each player can have their own dog companion. Multiple dogs working together can shuttle resources back to the van while the group continues exploring, making resource collection significantly more efficient for teams. Each player's dog operates independently and responds only to its owner's commands.
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4848 Relationship to Wildlife
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50-The dog companion is separate from the wild animals and wildlife found throughout the game world. While wild animals can be observed, fed, and petted, only the dog (adopted from the Paws & Whiskers Lodge) serves as a permanent functional companion. The dog does not chase or harm wild animals.
50+The dog companion is separate from the wild animals and wildlife found throughout the game world. While wild animals can be observed, fed, and petted, only the dog (adopted from the Paws & Whiskers Lodge) is a permanent functional companion. The dog does not chase or harm wild animals.
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5252 Development History
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5454 The dog companion was not part of the original game design. After the Kickstarter campaign surpassed its initial goal of €30,000, the community pushed for an animal companion. Square Glade Games added it as the seventh stretch goal, and the campaign ultimately raised €265,679 (885% of the original target). The companion went through several refinements during the beta period.
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5656 VersionDateChangeKickstarterSeptember 2024Unlocked as the seventh stretch goal (Community Stretch Goal)Beta v0.7.6October 15, 2025Dog companion officially introduced with fetch and carry abilitiesBeta v0.7.7October 17, 2025Fixed dog navigation on stone stairsBeta v0.7.8October 20, 2025Added heart emotes when petting and spinning wheel animation
5757 You Can Pet the Dog
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5959 announcing Outbound's PS5 release, the developers addressed the question directly: "For the dog fans out there, you do have one with you on your Outbound journey, and, yes, you can pet the dog." Petting the dog triggers the heart emote animation added in beta v0.7.8.