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Overview
The Paws & Whiskers Lodge is a landmark location in Outbound where players can adopt a dog companion. The Steam store page describes the Lodge directly: "Adopt a new friend at the Paws & Whiskers Lodge who you can feed, pet, and train to help you." Visiting the Lodge is entirely optional, and players who prefer traveling without a companion can skip the adoption process altogether.
The dog companion feature was not originally planned for Outbound. It was introduced as the seventh Kickstarter stretch goal after the campaign raised 265,679 EUR from 5,197 backers. According to the developers at Square Glade Games, they "weren't originally planning on the animal companion feature in the game, but they were so touched by the incredible support and feedback of players that they eventually just had to" add it. The companion was first made playable in beta v0.7.6 (October 15, 2025).
Dog Adoption
When visiting the Paws & Whiskers Lodge, players can adopt a dog that becomes their permanent traveling companion. Once adopted, the dog follows the player and rides along in the camper van as they explore The Outdoors, The Coast, and the rest of the game world. Adoption is a one-time event; the dog stays with the player for the remainder of the playthrough.
A developer on Steam confirmed that companion adoption is completely optional. Players who do not wish to have a dog can simply choose not to visit the Lodge or can skip the adoption when prompted. This keeps the experience flexible for players who want a solo, companion-free journey.
Appearance Options
At the Lodge, players choose from five different dog skin options before finalizing their adoption. Three standard coats are available to all players, while two additional skins were created as exclusive rewards for Kickstarter backers.
Skin | Availability |
|---|---|
Black fur | All players |
Brown fur | All players |
Gray fur | All players |
Cotton candy pink | Kickstarter exclusive |
Marshmallow blue with rainbow tail | Kickstarter exclusive |
The two exclusive skins were available through the "Cotton Candy & Marshmallow" add-on tier during the Kickstarter campaign. The Kickstarter reward tier "Treats for Lucky" also included special companion items, suggesting Lucky as a possible default name for the dog.
What the Dog Does
The companion adopted from the Lodge is not purely cosmetic. Once trained, the dog provides practical help during gameplay.
Fetch items: Command the dog to pick up nearby resources and bring them to you.
Carry supplies: The dog has its own inventory pouch, expanding your effective carrying capacity.
Return to van: Send the dog back to the camper van with collected materials, saving trips on foot. Players have called this the "dog express" for shuttling items while foraging.
Follow commands: Direct the dog to move to specific positions or stay in place.
The dog's helpfulness improves through regular care. Feeding, petting, and giving treats strengthens the bond between player and companion, making the dog more responsive to commands over time. For full details on companion abilities and care, see the Dog Companion article.
Multiplayer
In multiplayer sessions with up to four players, each player can adopt their own dog at the Lodge. Multiple dogs working together can shuttle resources back to the van while the group continues exploring, making resource collection significantly more efficient for teams.
Tips
Visiting the Lodge early in a playthrough gives the dog more time to assist with resource gathering throughout the game.
The dog companion is entirely optional. If you change your mind later, you can always return to the Lodge to adopt one.
In co-op, coordinate dog commands so each companion covers a different gathering area for maximum efficiency.