Way of the Hunter 2 Dog Guide: Breed, Commands & Training
The dog was the first feature Nine Rocks revealed for the sequel, back in January 2026, and it got its own dev diary.
What breed is the dog?
A Foxhound, a scent-driven breed known for following trails over long distances. “Way of the Hunter 2 dog breeds” is a common search, but at 1.0 there is only one. The FAQ says more breeds are possible over time but are “currently not a priority”.
What the dog does
From the dev diary and FAQ:
- Searches the area for animal signs.
- Helps identify active life zones (need zones in use).
- Tracks wounded animals by following blood trails.
- Finds dead animals: since Update 0.5.0, dead animals are in the dog’s search priorities. Since 0.1.0 it stops barking once you are within 10 m of the find.
You can name your dog, and since 1.0 you can pet it.
Commands
Open the radial menu and go to dog commands. The tutorial, as recorded in a launch-week video, offers: Come, Heel, Go home, Release (let it roam), Sit and stay, and Search (“Track the nearest animal signs”). After you shoot, Search sends it to the blood first; the patch notes also name a Track blood command.
The dog has a focus gauge. The tutorial explains it shows “how long your dog can concentrate and learn”; when it runs out, the dog “might stop listening to you and will need some rest”.
Bond and training
The dog starts with a basic set of abilities. Skills improve through use and bonding, and as the bond grows the dog becomes more obedient and reliable. The store page sums it up: “With regular exercise and training, it grows more skilled over time.”
Is the dog required?
No. The dev diary says hunting stays fully functional without it. One campsite mission, Hunting Solo, even asks you to take 5 mallards without the dog.
Dog missions
Juniper, the dog trainer at Slalakum Shore, gives the dog chain in New Laurentia:
| Mission | Objective |
|---|---|
| Heterochromia Iridum | Harvest a male whitetail with the dog active, then have it follow a whitetail blood trail |
| Who let the bloodhounds out? | Harvest an elk between 00:00 and 05:00 with the dog active |
| Friendly competition | Harvest 3 wolverines |
| Parasomnias | Find and harvest the lone Dall sheep |
Photo mode and the dog
Update 1 added dog poses and a dog visibility toggle to photo mode; an official screenshot shows a “Scratching ear” pose. The Season Pass includes a dog statue for the Headquarters lodge.
What is coming
- Advanced dog training in a post-launch free update.
- A dog-focused DLC later in the Season One plans.
- Players keep asking for the dog to ride in the truck; it is not in 1.0.
Sources: Nine Rocks dev diary “A True Hunting Companion” (Feb 4, 2026), 1.0 FAQ, The Road Ahead, patch notes 0.1.0, 0.5.0 and 1.0, Steam store, checked October 4, 2026.
Noted. That helps decide which page gets updated first.