Throughout
the ages, Dogs have been a part of life in many parts of
Caelereth. They have been put to various
jobs such as guarding, watching, herding, hunting, and even in some cases
comforting. For the most part, these animals are selected because they in some
way provide a service to their owner. Those that have money have been known to
buy Dogs as companions for themselves or their children, while those that don't
sometimes attempt to find mutts and train them to guard their dwelling, though
the upside would be a companion for an expensive price.
Dogs have become a part of the lives of almost everyone even if they don't own
one. There are enough strays running the streets of cities and towns for
everyone to be affected, even if that is by way of a stolen pastry or
unsuspected playfulness from the local hound. In smaller villages, there have
been known to be 'village dogs' that wander through and stick around because of
the scraps they can gain from the villagers or just an animal owned by one
family that has pretty much been 'adopted' by the village.
Whether some like it or not, Dogs are apart of the world as much as the
humans, elves,
dwarves, orcs,
hobbits,
Brownies, and other races that lived upon it. While there are many good
things that these animals do for us, there are also issues with them form time
to time. Those mistreated and neglected beasts that live on the streets or live
with people that don't treat them right have been known to give these animals a
bad name and mark them as dangerous, though they are no more dangerous than
people who live under the same conditions. On the upside, rarely do these
animals just decide to be 'evil'.
Types/Breeds.
There are a few different types of dogs, classified by the purpose of each breed
within the sections. This section outlines the different types and breeds of
dogs:
I.
THE
WORKING
DOGS
This term refers to the
various breeds of dog that are breed for specific purposes such as protection,
transportation, farm work, search and rescue, or something else. While the
mentioned types of work are most helpful to people, there are other things these
animals can be trained to do that classifies them under this category. Those
that perform tasks to regularly assist their owner fall under this category.
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CATTREL, THE
The Cattrel was bred to be a herding dog, and this breed has become a
favourite with sheep and cow farmers throughout Mid-Southern
Sarvonia. Other dogs can be trained to
do this task, but the Cattrel is the best choice. They have a natural knack
for this type of work and it fits their energetic personality. Even though
the Cattrel would make a fine house pet, they tend to be better at herding
than other breeds and generally enjoy the open fields.
There are a few different types of Cattrel, allowing people to select one to
their liking. These are the Chrondran Cattrel, the Long-haired Cattrel,
Silky Cattrel, and the Short-haired Cattrel. Pure breeds of this group of
dog are hard to find and highly prized by wealthy landowners. Aside from
working these animals are sometimes bred as pets and 'show dogs'. Some
choose some of the more showy forms of this dog to increase their popularity
by attempting to have the 'most perfect hound'.
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KODAEL,
THE ("CAEL
HOUND")
The Kodael
is one of the most popular hounds of Caelereth.
They are bred and can be bought almost anywhere; because of this they are
sometimes called the "Cael Hound". It isn't their beauty or rarity that makes
this breed of dog prized, but rather their usefulness. This common dog can do
many things and they are wanted in high quantity among the city guards of some
Santharian cities. For the most part they
are best used as guard dogs, but they can be trained to do an array of little
tasks with time, training and patience. If raised right these dogs are a common
choice for a family pet in most places. As pups these animals need a lot of
attention and contact with people. This breed loves being around people and
other animals and needs that contact as a pup to prevent loneliness that will
lead to rebellion and end with aggressive behavior. If treated right and if
properly handled as a pup, the Kodael is one of the most loyal hounds to be
found.
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ICELAND
ICEMUT,
THE ("MUNMUT",
"ANKMUT")
The Icemuts
are large, strong canines of Northern
Sarvonia, used by most of the Ice
Tribes people for transportation and as scout or rescue dogs. They are known
variously among different tribes as the "Munmut", the "Ankmut", the "Ankmar" and
other similar names[1]. The northern Kuglimz
people call them the "Mari'fal" (the "People's Wolf"). However, the most
familiar name to southerners is the "Icemut " so we have chosen to use this
designation.
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VOLDON,
THE
This
working breed of canine originated in the
Santharian town of Voldar as a popular
watchdog. The Voldon came about after years of intentional breeding of large
dogs. The first group was trained as watchdogs to protect the castle. While
having these dogs around the castle, breeders and nobles alike learned what
great animals these were. Despite their size and intimidating looks they are
actually gentle giants and fiercely loyal to their owners. After a decade the
breeder at the castle allowed pedigree Voldon pups to be sold to the wealthy
nobles and merchants of the city. From there the dogs spread quickly and they
became a very popular watchdog and family pet in the
Vardýnn province. These animals are very
loyal and kind to their family, even more so than some lap dogs, and would do
anything to protect them.
Voldons are one of the tallest dogs, with long legs and a slim build. While the
population of these dogs has risen, this is only within one province. Males of
this breed can be bought at a high price. Females, however, are not sold,
because the breeders of Vardýnn province
wish to keep the number of full-blooded Voldons within one area. They also do
this so the breeders of Vardýnn can keep
purebred males of this hound rare and charge a high price for them. The Voldon
is claimed to be the best watchdog ever bred, and anyone that owns one of these
magnificent animals agrees. Due to the size, diet, attention, and price required
to own one of their animals, they are mostly owned by the wealthy and nobility.
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II.
THE
HUNTING
DOGS
These types of Dogs are
favourites of nobility and hunters as they name states. They are trained from
pups to hunt and bred over time with the various attributes needed to
successfully track their prey. Hunting, fishing, and/or retrieving are the three
tasks these hounds are usually trained and bred for. Flushing game out of bushes
or brush into the air where a skilled hunter
might get them with their bow or into traps in the case of prey of the
non-flying type is another skill some hunting hounds are taught. Most of the
hounds trained for hunting truly enjoy the rush of the hunt and find immense joy
in praise from their master for a good job.
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EOPHYRHIM
HUNTING HOUND,
THE
The Eophyrhim Hunting Hound is the domesticated wolf-assistant
to the dark elves of the Paelelon.
High-strung and yet very trainable, these dogs are sought out by nobles all
over Santharia. These animals are like
the people that breed them, a bony, slender form with thin, strong muscles.
The breeding and selling of these animals is a large part of
Eophyrhim society due to the
fact that nobles will pay a hefty sum for them. The
Eophyrhim drow try to separate
the pups and mother at latest a year and the drow look down upon inbreeding.
They keep extensive tables of which dog was mated to whom and monitored at
all times.
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JHOMCHOLAN
DIVER,
THE ("CHOLIAN
WATERDOG")
The
Jhomcholan Diver, nicknamed the "Cholian Waterdog" by outsiders, is a highly
social, water loving canine known for both
its diving and hunting skills. It is most commonly found in Aeruillin, though it
has spread to southern Sarvonia as well. The
dog’s high intelligence and fun-loving demeanor make it optimal as a house pet
for any society even if it is far from its beloved oceans.
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KAAL
BLOODHOUND,
THE
The
Murmillion people have hunted the
wargs since they defined their territory. While their
time-perfected skill and fine-crafted bladeaxes
kill swiftly, the beastly
wargs challenged everything they had, and so this breed
of bloodhound was bred to be used in combination with their spears and arrows.
Kaal Bloodhounds are well suited to a cold alpine climate, with their large
build and thick coat, and have acute senses of sight, smell, and hearing. They
are tenacious and vicious creatures, whose loyalty is hard to gain, and
unpredictable once gained. These hounds have also been used in warfare by the
Murmillions.
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KARDIÓN
HOUND,
THE
The Kardión Hound is one of the canine animals of Caelereth. They are mainly
found in the Lands of the Kanapa in Northern Sarvonia. They are domesticated
and are kept usually by humans. The word Kardión (Kardión) is the Styrásh
word for "arrow", which is also a very fitting description of the Kardión
Hound because they are incredibly fast, speedy like arrows. Kardións are
very active dogs and enjoy many activities, often running around in open
fields as well as swimming.
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RUSTHOUND,
THE
Named for its rust coloured
coat, the Rusthound, found predominantly in the Xaramon province of
Santharia, is said to be half
warg as it emerged while the red wargs,
that roamed the Kruswik, and surrounding area, were still widely used as
hunting/scouting animals. They are popular hunting hounds that are known for
their sense of smell and treeing abilities. Other hounds have been found to have
trouble when a climbing animal takes to the trees since they are mostly trained
to chase down animals on the run or corner and dig out those that go into their
homes. These hounds seem to have a knack for keeping the animals scent while
others would circle the tree in confusion.
They were first used to hunt various animals, but one animal and show of skill
caught the hunter’s eyes. Once these hounds catch the
mimsy’s scent they take off in pursuit, letting out a unique baying meaning
they are on the trail. They chase the creature until they can overtake it, with
their ground gobbling sprint, or tree the animal. Once the animal is up in a
tree they will change the tone of their bark, making it a shorter, but deeper
baying that means that the animal has been treed. At this point it is up to the
hunter to spot the creature and shoot it with a bow
or cut down the tree. Sometimes both hunter and hound are fooled though, as the
hunted creature has been known to find away into another tree and away from the
danger before the hunters can catch up with the hounds.
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THRISYRÓR, THE ("AUTURIAN
HOUND")
The
Auturian Hound is a small dog which can be found in the
Auturian Woods, as its name implies.
They live in packs of ten to twenty and make up for their diminutive size with
numbers and stealth. The Tethinrhim
elves have become great friends of theirs and they are also commonly used by
low class hunters. The Styrásh
name "Thrisyrór" (translated short for "friend-beast") also relfects this close
relation between elf and hound. The
Tethinrhim use them as pets as well
as hunting hounds and tracking dogs. Humans
have bad relationships with them, especially when they live next to the forest
and the sound of growling and biting is common in their
taenish coops.
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ZEIPHYRIAN
HUNTING HOUND,
THE
Quaelhoirhim elves are one of the
few wood elven tribes to keep "domestic" dogs, although they tend to roam around
in packs much of the time, so perhaps may only be counted as semi-domesticated.
The hounds seem to have their origins in the alliance with the dark elves in the
First Sarvonian War (see the Eophyrhim
elves). It is believed that the
Quaelhoirhim elves manage to aquire several of these sought after animals.
The Zeiphyrian animal is a
slightly glossy, slightly shorter and stockier version of the original and is
often used as an all purpose working, hunting
or guarding dog by many many tribes, as the
Quaelhoirhim love
to trade, and these dogs have found usages in many different communities.
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III.
THE
TERRIERS
These Dogs are bred for
hunting and killing vermin within households, businesses, and nobles' keeps as
well as other places within cities, towns, and villages. They are generally
smaller than most hunting and working dogs, though their smaller size is useful
when trying to get into small areas where rats,
mice, and the occasional mimsy,
fox, ferret, or weasel
will crawl. These little animals tend to be lively and energetic with a quite
loveable personality according to many. Their size also makes them good
companion animals as well.
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HOB-HOUND,
THE ("KODA")
Hob-Hounds,
also known as the Little Koda or Koda (so named after the Kodael), arose out
of the hobbits' desire to have a dog as
useful as any human Cael Hound, but on their scale. As such they greatly
resemble miniature versions of the common dogs of
Santharia and
Caelereth. Used as working dogs as
well as pets in their native shires, they have acted as sheepdogs, guard
dogs, hunting dogs and more for centuries. There has recently been a great
deal of human interest in these friendly, obedient animals, who have taken
to keeping them as lap-dogs.
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KOYOT
CANINE
("JACKAL",
"BOAR-FACED
COYOTE"),
THE
The Koyot,
also known as a "Jackal" or "Boar-Faced Coyote", is a sooty-coloured canine
native to the mountains and deserts around the Norong’sorno volcano in the
Truban province of
Santharia. They are scavenging hunters in
the wild, but known more commonly as a domestic dog in the household of
Stratanians.
Koyots are occasionally known as "Pig-Dogs" or "Pidogs", a derogatory term for
their pig-like appearance and behaviour, and one that is commonly applied to
their owners or anyone who has a mutty, dirty appearance or attitude. Despite
the allusion to filth, one that might be accurate for the wild Koyots,
domesticated ones tend to be exceedingly clean, with little of the mannerisms
that plague their wild brethren.
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RIMRUNNER,
THE ("RIMMER",
"RUTTER")
A small canine very popular in the southern areas of Santharia, the
Rimrunner (short "Rimmer", also "Ratter") is an attractive, playful animal.
It is primarily used as either a household pet or vermin-killer. As the name
suggests, this dog originates from the Rimmerins Ring area in northern
Manthria, though it has become more widely known in recent times.
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IV.
THE
COMPANION
DOGS
This group of Dogs is used
to provide companionship as pets instead of working animals. Almost any Dog can
be a companion, and many working type Dogs are enjoyed for their friendly
nature, though some are better suited than others for various territories. For
the most part size and shape usually doesn't matter and they are used as indoor
and family Dogs. They are used mostly for the pleasure of their companionship
rather than workers, those some do both.

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V.
THE
MUTTS
This classifies a whole
group of Hounds. Unlike most of the other groups there is no specific breed to
these animals, but they are the pups of interbreeding throughout the purebred
Dogs. No land is complete without a handful of mutts here and there. Many common
people often purchase mutts instead of purebred Hounds due to the fact that they
are cheaper to acquire. Every city has its share of mutts running around and
often there are wolf half-breeds running around as well. The roots of some of
these mixed breed Hounds are meshed with many different breeds that it’s hard to
put a name to it other than mutt.

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VI.
THE
HALF-WOLVES
These animals are fickle at
best, but they are still somewhat popular. They are the offspring of
domesticated and partially wild wolves and Dogs. The
upbringing and training of these animals is very important to make them good
working or Hunting Dogs, though more often than not they make up a good
population of the strays. It is important for an owner to check into the
trainer's background, if they can, when purchasing a part-wolf
animal to make sure that they are not placing themselves in danger of being
attacked due to the trainer's abusive or neglectful nature. An attention
deprived or abused half-wolf can swiftly become
dangerous, but if they are raised with love and care and given the proper
training then they can be good pets. Those that are raised and kept by one owner
are very loyal companions and could even be trusted to share a bed like a lapdog
might.

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Diet.
The main source of food for all canines is meat. Dogs that live with people
depend on their masters to feed them, while Street Dogs have to develop some
survival instincts and either steal or beg for food. Some of the more wild or
mistreated Dogs will kill for food is they are starving, though this is somewhat
rare. Dogs will also eat vegetables and grains and food from their masters, but
some of these foods can be harmful to the animals. Various vegetables, fruits,
and animals with small bones could easily kill a Dog, though most vegetables and
fruits are safe. Raw bones are fine for all Dogs, though cooked bones should be
watched as they can splinter and kill a dog.
The amount of food one of these animals will consume depends on their size. Dogs
that use little energy should eat less than a Dog that lives outdoors and runs
around all day. Diets and amount of food is based on the individual Dog and the
life it leads, though also depends on the owner's ability to supply them with
food.

Mating.
Maturity for most Dogs is reached at about two years of age for both males and
females, though it sometimes differs depending on the breeds. For the most part,
mating seasons, mating rituals, and number of pups is different for different
breeds. Signs of the approach of the birth of puppies is generally the same in
most and include a reluctance to be around anyone (and any animal as well) and
sudden loss of appetite. After the puppies are born the mother tends to them and
for the first hour or so will fuss over the pups before allowing others near
them.
For the first two weeks the puppies' eyes and ears are closed but their sense of
touch is very keen. By the third week pups are beginning to walk almost
steadily, respond to sounds, and will tussle with their littermates. At two
weeks old the pups' teeth will start coming in and at three weeks they should be
lapping from a bowl. By one month the puppies should be eating well, and are
ready to leave their mother and are fit to be sold around eight weeks.
Most male dogs don't have the parental instincts and sense of familial
obligation like wolves. They have grown accustomed to
counting on the assistance of humans to help
raise the pups and little by little it has lost the pack instinct. They do
respect the pups and will most likely not attack them, and there is a
possibility that the father will protect them from external attacks. Females on
the other hand are full of tenderness and for the entire time that she has the
puppies, she will defend them, clean them, nurse them, and educate them until
they are able to live on their own. However once her pups have grown she becomes
rather uncaring. Special breeds may have different behavioural patters or
courtship methods.
