Summary
Fallout 4had a variety of companions who could be chosen to travel alongside the sole survivor of Vault 101, each with their own perks and personalities. While he can’tbe romanced like other companions, Dogmeat is the most unique and adorable character available to accompany the player through the dangers of post-apocalyptic Boston.
Dogmeat can be equipped with a range of cosmetics, including three varieties of dog armor. He also has his own unique perk that can be unlocked when leveling up, rather than through relationship boosts with him. Traveling with Dogmeat is a great way to explore the Commonwealth, but there are some things that players should know about their canine companion.
Updated on June 05, 2025, by Matthew Weideman:With the Fallout show on Amazon Prime generating a huge renewed interest in the Fallout series, many players are returning to their favorite games in the franchise, especially since the series also featured a rather loyal animal companion. Dogmeat from Fallout 4 is a bit different from the human or humanoid companions players can meet in the game, and there are a few additional things that have been put in to complete this collection of handy facts about the “goodest boy” in the Commonwealth.
15Overview Of Dog Armor
Aesthetic Choice For Dogmeat
All varieties of dog armor are dropped randomly from attack dogs which are commonly found in raider camps. Despite being differentiated as light, regular, and heavy dog armor, none of these items actually provide any defensive benefits; the only difference between them is purely aesthetic.
Should the player wish to find Dogmeat’s armor more expediently, there are two locations where it can be reliably found depending on the player’s level. By visiting both these locations, the player is likely to acquire all three variants of dog armor. It bears repeating that neither light, medium, or heavy dog armor offers any defensive bonus, but they are all great finds for players wishing to customize their canine companion.
14The Overpass Near Jamaica Plain Has Armor
Kate, Kyle, & Alissa Will Attack The Sole Survivor
East of Jamaica Plain, the sole survivor can find a crumbling overpass with a raider camp on top. Ascending this overpass, the player will be greeted by three named attack dogs called Kate, Kyle, and Alissa. Each of these dogs has a chance to drop dog armor as well as various bandanas that can also be worn by Dogmeat.
Even with the random drops, the player is likely to leave this encounter with two types of dog armor. Like all raider camps, the enemies here will eventually respawn allowing the player to farm this area for armor, bandanas, and welding goggles should they need to.
13Dark Hollow Pond and Med Tek Also Have It
A Respawning Raider And His Dog Are Found Here
Another reliable place to find raiders with armored attack dogs is near Dark Hollow pond. In this area, there is a raider with a dog standing on the jetty in the middle of the pond and another camp of raiders close to a large silver standing tube.
There is also a third location next to a ruined bus to the east of Med Tek that can occasionally yield heavy dog armor depending on the player’s level. Visiting either one of these locations is a great way for players to collect all three variants of dog armor.
12Dogmeat Has Collection Of Bandannas
These Can Be Obtained Around The Commonwealth
As far as Dogmeat’s cosmetic options go, the bandanas are by far the most stylish, especially when combined with the welding goggles. There are nine different bandanas for the player to collect inFallout 4, each of which can be worn by the sole survivor or their faithful German shepherd.
These headscarves can be found throughout the commonwealth and some are much harder to find than others. The leopard print bandanna isone of the rarest items inFallout 4, and the Jangles bandanna is hidden under a gorilla chair in theNuka World DLC, making it easy to miss.
11There Are A Couple Other Pieces Of Dog Armor
Let Him Wear A Helmet and Chain Collar
Should the player wish to fully armor Dogmeat, there is also a dog helmet and various collars to be found in the hidden corners of the Commonwealth.
In between Walden Pond and Rock Narrows National Park, there is a small overhang with a pack of wild dogs underneath it. Killing the dogs and investigating their den will reveal three plastic dog bowls and a skeletal corpse, most likely the dog’s previous owner. Here the player can find a chain collar and a dog helmet. A reinforced dog collar can be found in theNuka World DLCto complete the dog’s armor set.
10Dogmeat Is The Only Truly Neutral Companion
Nothing That The Sole Survivor Does Will Make Dogmeat Dislike Them
Fallout 4is a game full of possibilities and it’s likely many players still haven’tfound all the game’s hidden features. Many of the characters who can travel with the sole survivor have their own moral alignments and preferences. To complete their storylines, the player will have to avoid certain actions and roleplay appropriately.
Like most real dogs, Dogmeat will never judge the player or react negatively to criminal activity. His unconditional loyalty makes him a great companion for players who dabble in illegal activities. No matter what the sole survivor does, Dogmeat will follow them and ask for nothing in return, except the odd stimpak.
9Dogmeat Is One-Of-A-Kind
There Are Many Dogs In The Game, But None Like Him
Fallout 4is full of dogs, most of whom are enemy types. Super Mutants tend to travel with Mutant Hounds — grotesque, green dogs that charge at the player — while raiders sometimes have mongrels at their side. Mongrel dogs can also be found throughout the Commonwealth as randomly spawned encounters.
Despite the many different dogs in the game, Dogmeat is the only German Shepherd around. Unlike the common enemy hounds, he still has a beautiful coat of fur and behaves like man’s best friend as well.
8Dogmeat Can Fetch And Track On Command
He Is Good At Detecting Enemies And Finding Salvage
Depending on the player’s approach to combat, Dogmeat is likely not as good to have at their side during combat as many of the other companions in the game. One way that the German Shepherd makes up for this is his versatility beyond fighting enemies.
Talking to him and choosing the “Command” option allows the player to order Dogmeat to search the area for nearby enemies or items. This can be useful for sniffing out enemies that are hard to find, or for finding the right items needed forcrafting at settlements.
7Dogmeat Likes To Lay In Doghouses
Placing One In A Settlement Makes Him Easy To Find
When dismissed, most companions are not difficult to find. After all, the player can choose which settlement the companion will travel to wait for them again. The player can even allow them to go to their starting location, such as Hancock traveling back to Goodneighbor or Nick staying in his agency in Diamond City.
However, Dogmeat can be a little bit tricky to find once players return to the settlement that they dismissed the dog to. This is because he prefers to lie down and relax inside a doghouse. Sanctuary happens to have several spread out across the settlement, which means that players might have to run around a little before they figure out which one Dogmeat is in. By building a doghouse in a spot that’s easy to find (and by destroying the extra ones in Sanctuary), players will neverworry about where their favorite furry companion is.
6Dogmeat Has A Secret Teddy Bear
His Idle Animation Is Adorable
Fallout 4is full of small details, unique items, and evenreferences to classic literature, all of which are easy to miss if the player doesn’t know where to look. Idle animations are great for adding flavor to characters and making them feel more alive. However, they are difficult to witness as they require the player to stay still long enough for them to activate.
If Dogmeat is left to his own devices long enough, he will occasionally pull out a teddy bear to play with, ragging the soft toy and throwing it into the air to catch. Dogmeat will also perform part of this animation if the player hands him a teddy bear, however, he can perform the idle animation without having a teddy in his inventory.
