Little dog - Revision history

Umbire the Phantom: word choice + pasto

2026-05-23T01:47:00Z

word choice + pasto

Umbire the Phantom: pothole, rest of variant stuff that's present

2026-05-22T23:18:07Z

pothole, rest of variant stuff that's present

Umbire the Phantom: nh5 updates + partial variant stuff

2026-05-22T23:08:08Z

nh5 updates + partial variant stuff

Show changes

Umbire the Phantom: detailing

2025-12-30T20:02:24Z

detailing

Umbire the Phantom: /* Generation */ typo

2025-12-29T07:23:47Z

‎Generation: typo

Umbire the Phantom: touch-ups

2025-12-19T18:40:45Z

touch-ups

Umbire the Phantom: /* History */ word choice

2025-12-16T17:03:20Z

‎History: word choice

Umbire the Phantom: /* Strategy */ similar note to other articles

2025-12-16T16:59:23Z

‎Strategy: similar note to other articles

Umbire the Phantom: word choice

2025-12-16T16:44:15Z

word choice

Umbire the Phantom: detail

2025-12-16T16:39:30Z

detail

@@ Line 82: / Line 82: @@
 A pet dog performs many roles for humans, such as hunting, herding, pulling loads, protection, assisting police and the military, companionship, therapy, and aiding disabled people. Over the millennia, dogs became uniquely adapted to human behavior, and the human–canine bond has been a topic of frequent study: this influence on human society has given them the sobriquet of "man's best friend", and they are naturally iconic video game pets as well, with the ''[[Wikipedia:Nintendogs|Nintendogs]]'' games being a well-regarded example. The little dog from ''NetHack'' was ranked [http://web.archive.org/web/20120107055038/http://archive.gamespy.com/top10/january04/sidekicks/index5.shtml number 6] on Gamespy's top 10 list of video game sidekicks&mdash;another dog, Dogmeat from [[Wikipedia:Fallout (video game)|the first ''Fallout'' game]], occupies the number 2 spot.
-In the first edition of ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'', dogs appear in two forms: war dogs are simply loyal large dogs that are trained to fight by their masters and display ferocity in battle, and are typically protected by light studded leather armor and a spiked collar; wild dogs inhabit most regions, with their pack habitats sometimes overlapping with those of wolves, and well-fed wild dogs will simply avoid contact rather than attacking. A wild dog can only be tamed if separated from their pack. As in the real world, ''Dungeons & Dragons'' also incorporates various dog breeds, both mundane and fantastic, over its several editions.
+In the first edition of ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'', dogs appear in two forms: war dogs are simply loyal large dogs that are trained to fight by their masters and display ferocity in battle, and are typically protected by light studded leather armor and a spiked collar; wild dogs inhabit most regions, with their pack habitats sometimes overlapping with those of wolves, and well-fed wild dogs will simply avoid contact rather than attacking. A wild dog can only be tamed if separated from their pack. ''Dungeons & Dragons'' also incorporates various dog breeds, both mundane and fantastic, over its several editions.
 ==Messages==
@@ Line 105: / Line 105: @@
 In [[dNetHack]], [[notdNetHack]] and [[notnotdNetHack]], little dogs are lawful and can track targets via normal vision and [[Scent (vision)|scent]].
-Little dogs can be warded by a [[User:Chris/dNetHack/Toustefna|Toustefna]] [[stave]] that is carved into a [[wooden]] weapon and placed on the hero's square, and that weapon will also [[Warned of monster type|warn of foxes and other canines]] while wielded.
+Little dogs can be warded by a [[User:Chris/dNetHack/Toustefna|Toustefna]] [[stave]] that is carved into a [[wooden]] weapon and placed on the hero's square, and that weapon will also [[Warned of monster type|warn of little dogs and other canines]] while wielded.
 Little dogs can appear among the {{white|d}} that make up {{frac|10}} of monsters randomly generated in the [[Windowless Tower]] branch.

@@ Line 72: / Line 72: @@
 The little dog first appears in Hack for PDP-11, which is based on [[Jay Fenlason's Hack]]&mdash;pets are not present in Hack 1.21, suggesting that they were an early addition by [[Andries Brouwer]]. The little dog is part of the initial bestiary for [[Hack 1.0]].
-The little dog serves as the default pet from Hack for PDP-11 and Hack 1.0 to [[NetHack 2.3e]]. In [[NetHack 3.0.0]], the [[kitten]] is introduced and becomes an alternate starting pet option: the Caveman will always start with a little dog, the Wizard will always start with a kitten, and other roles will randomly receive one of either. [[NetHack 3.0.8]] allows an option of either pet to be set for characters in other roles; the Samurai's default little dog is introduced in [[NetHack 3.1.0]]; and finally, [[NetHack 3.3.0]] adds the default little dog for Rangers and establishes the saddled pony as the Knight's starting pet.
+The little dog serves as the default pet from Hack for PDP-11 and Hack 1.0 to [[NetHack 2.3e]]. In [[NetHack 3.0.0]], the kitten is introduced and becomes an alternate starting pet option: the Caveman will always start with a little dog, the Wizard will always start with a kitten, and other roles will randomly receive one of either. [[NetHack 3.0.8]] allows an option of either pet to be set for characters in other roles; the Samurai's default little dog is introduced in [[NetHack 3.1.0]]; and finally, [[NetHack 3.3.0]] adds the default little dog for Rangers and establishes the saddled pony as the Knight's starting pet.
 In [[NetHack 3.4.3]] and earlier versions, including some variants based on those versions, little dogs are capable of picking up some or all of an item stack, so long as that stack does not exceed their carrying capacity.
@@ Line 93: / Line 93: @@
 ==Variants==
 ===SLASH'EM===
-In [[SLASH'EM]], little dogs and their other growth stages have their frequency raised to 7. They also do not randomly generate in [[Gehennom (SLASH'EM)|Gehennom]]. [[Undead Slayer]]s have a {{frac|2}} chance of a little dog serving as their starting pet.
+In [[SLASH'EM]], little dogs and their other growth stages have their frequency raised to 7. They also do not randomly generate in [[Gehennom (SLASH'EM)|Gehennom]]. [[Undead Slayer]]s have a {{frac|2}} chance of a little dog serving as their starting pet.{{refsrc|role.c|464|version=SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2}}{{refsrc|dog.c|46|version=SLASH'EM 0.0.7E7F2}}
 A little dog is generated on the second map of the [[Mall]] during level creation.
-Little dogs appear among the random {{white|d}} that are part of the second quest monster class for [[Yeomen]] and make up {{frac|6|175}} of the monsters randomly generated on the [[Yeoman quest]].
+Little dogs can appear among the random {{white|d}} that are part of the second quest monster class for [[Yeomen]] and make up {{frac|6|175}} of the monsters randomly generated on the [[Yeoman quest]].
 ===UnNetHack===
@@ Line 103: / Line 103: @@
 ===dNetHack===
-In [[dNetHack]], [[notdNetHack]] and [[notnotdNetHack]], little dogs can be warded by a [[User:Chris/dNetHack/Toustefna|Toustefna]] [[stave]] that is carved into a [[wood]] weapon placed on the hero's square.
+In [[dNetHack]], [[notdNetHack]] and [[notnotdNetHack]], little dogs are lawful and can track targets via normal vision and [[Scent (vision)|scent]].
-Little dogs appear among the {{white|d}} that make up {{frac|10}} of monsters randomly generated in the [[Windowless Tower]] branch.
+Little dogs can be warded by a [[User:Chris/dNetHack/Toustefna|Toustefna]] [[stave]] that is carved into a [[wooden]] weapon and placed on the hero's square, and that weapon will also [[Warned of monster type|warn of foxes and other canines]] while wielded.
 ===TNNT (the game)===
@@ Line 113: / Line 115: @@
 ===EvilHack===
-In [[EvilHack]], little dogs appear among the random {{white|d}} that are part of the first quest monster class for [[Infidel]]s and make up {{frac|24|175}} of the monsters randomly generated on the [[Infidel quest]].
+In [[EvilHack]], little dogs can appear among the random {{white|d}} that are part of the first quest monster class for [[Infidel]]s and make up {{frac|24|175}} of the monsters randomly generated on the [[Infidel quest]].
 ===SlashTHEM===
-In [[SlashTHEM]], in addition to SLASH'EM details, little dogs appear among the random {{white|d}} that are part of the first quest monster class for [[Ninja (role)|Ninjas]] and make up {{frac|24|175}} of the monsters randomly generated on the [[Ninja quest]].
+In [[SlashTHEM]], in addition to SLASH'EM details, little dogs can appear among the random {{white|d}} that are part of the first quest monster class for [[Ninja (role)|Ninjas]] and make up {{frac|24|175}} of the monsters randomly generated on the [[Ninja quest]].
 SlashTHEM also includes the Town branch and the map containing the little dog.
 ===Hack'EM===
-In [[Hack'EM]], little dogs and their other growth stages that can generate randomly (i.e. excluding the [[guard dog]]) have their frequency raised to 3, rather than 7 as in SLASH'EM, and can randomly generate in [[Gehennom (Hack'EM)|Gehennom]].
+In [[Hack'EM]], little dogs and their other growth stages that can generate randomly (i.e. excluding the [[guard dog]]) have their frequency raised to 3, rather than 7 as in SLASH'EM, and can also randomly generate in [[Gehennom (Hack'EM)|Gehennom]].
-As in SLASH'EM, little dogs appear among the random {{white|d}} that are part of the second quest monster class for [[Yeomen/Hack'EM|Yeomen]] and make up {{frac|6|175}} of the monsters randomly generated on the Yeoman quest. Little dogs also appear among the random {{white|d}} that are part of the first quest monster class for Infidels and make up {{frac|24|175}} of the monsters randomly generated on the Infidel quest, as in EvilHack.
+As in SLASH'EM, little dogs can appear among the random {{white|d}} that are part of the second quest monster class for [[Yeomen/Hack'EM|Yeomen]] and make up {{frac|6|175}} of the monsters randomly generated on the Yeoman quest. Little dogs can also appear among the random {{white|d}} that are part of the first quest monster class for Infidels and make up {{frac|24|175}} of the monsters randomly generated on the Infidel quest, as in EvilHack.
 Hack'EM also includes the Town branch, which uses both the map that appears in SlashTHEM and UnNetHack and the Mall maps from SLASH'EM.

@@ Line 30: / Line 30: @@
 Randomly generated little dogs may generate as peaceful towards [[neutral]] heroes. A little dog can [[grow up]] into a [[dog]].
-The little dog is one of the most commonplace starting pets in ''NetHack'':{{refsrc|src/dog.c|63-L66|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} every role can start with a little dog by default, with the exception of both the [[Knight]] (who receives a [[saddled]] [[pony]]{{refsrc|src/role.c|211|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/dog.c|191|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}) and the [[Wizard]] (who always receives a [[kitten]]{{refsrc|src/role.c|558|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}).
+The little dog is one of the most commonplace starting pets in ''NetHack'':{{refsrc|src/dog.c|63-L66|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} every role can start with a little dog by default, with the exception of both the [[Knight]] (who always starts with a [[saddled]] [[pony]]{{refsrc|src/role.c|211|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/dog.c|191|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}) and the [[Wizard]] (who always starts with a [[kitten]]{{refsrc|src/role.c|558|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}).
-* A [[Barbarian]]'s starting little dog will be named Idefix if <tt>[[Options#dogname|dogname]]</tt> is not set.{{refsrc|src/role.c|86|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/dog.c|174|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
+The following roles that can start with little dogs (or always do in some cases) will give them default names if the <tt>[[dogname]]</tt> option is not set:
 * Cavepeople always start with a little dog named Slasher.{{refsrc|src/role.c|128|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/dog.c|176|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
 * [[Ranger]]s always start with a little dog named Sirius.{{refsrc|src/role.c|393|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/dog.c|178|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
@@ Line 86: / Line 88: @@
 {{message|<The little dog> whines.|Your tame little dog is hungry, caught in a [[trap]], [[confused]], [[scared]], or at low tameness.{{refsrc|src/sounds.c|643|nethack=3.6.7}} A leashed little dog that is near a square with a trap will also whine on its own.{{refsrc|src/sounds.c|437|nethack=3.6.7}}}}
 {{message|<The little dog> barks.|A tame little dog will become hungry in 1000 turns or less, or you chatted to a peaceful little dog.{{refsrc|src/sounds.c|646|nethack=3.6.7}}}}
-{{message|<The little dog> yips.|You chatted to a peaceful or tame little dog, and none of the above conditions apply.{{refsrc|src/sounds.c|644|nethack=3.6.7}}}}
+{{message|<The little dog> yips.|You chatted to a tame little dog, and none of the above conditions apply.{{refsrc|src/sounds.c|644|nethack=3.6.7}}}}
 {{message|<The little dog> growls.|You chatted to a hostile little dog.{{refsrc|src/sounds.c|651|nethack=3.6.7}}}}
 ==Variants==
 ===SLASH'EM===
-In [[SLASH'EM]], little dogs and their other growth stages have their frequency raised to 7. They also do not randomly generate in [[Gehennom (SLASH'EM)|Gehennom]].
+In [[SLASH'EM]], little dogs and their other growth stages have their frequency raised to 7. They also do not randomly generate in [[Gehennom (SLASH'EM)|Gehennom]]. [[Undead Slayer]]s have a {{frac|2}} chance of a little dog serving as their starting pet.
 A little dog is generated on the second map of the [[Mall]] at level creation.

@@ Line 37: / Line 37: @@
 * [[Samurai]] always start with a little dog named Hachi.{{refsrc|src/role.c|435|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/dog.c|180|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
-A little dog is one of the pet monsters that can be created via the [[spell of create familiar]], with a default {{frac|6}} chance if no preferred pet type is set.{{refsrc|src/dog.c|65|nethack=3.6.7|comment=<tt>pet_type()</tt>}}{{refsrc|src/dog.c|65|nethack=3.6.7|comment=<tt>make_familiar()</tt> has {{frac|3}} chance of calling <tt>pet_type</tt>}}
+A little dog is one of the pet monsters that can be created via the [[spell of create familiar]], with a default {{frac|6}} chance if no preferred pet type is set.{{refsrc|src/dog.c|65|nethack=3.6.7|comment=<tt>pet_type()</tt>}}{{refsrc|src/dog.c|95|nethack=3.6.7|comment=<tt>make_familiar()</tt> has {{frac|3}} chance of calling <tt>pet_type</tt>}}
 Little dogs appear among the random {{white|d}} that are part of the first [[quest]] monster class for Samurai and make up {{frac|24|175}} of the monsters randomly generated on the [[Samurai quest]].

@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
   |reference=[https://github.com/NetHack/NetHack/blob/NetHack-3.6.7_Released/src/monst.c#L222 NetHack 3.6.7 - src/monst.c, line 222]
 }}
-A '''little dog''', {{monsym|little dog}}, is a type of [[monster]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''. The little dog is a small and [[carnivorous]] [[canine]] [[animal]] that can be seen via [[infravision]]. Little dogs are [[domestic]], and the [[hero]] can [[tame]] them by [[throwing]] any type of meat or [[ration]]s at them that they can eat, and can [[pacify]] them by throwing veggy food at them. During a [[full moon]], little dogs have a {{frac|5|6}} chance of becoming peaceful instead of tame when throwing acceptable food to them, and throwing acceptable food at a peaceful little dog rolls this same chance of taming without making them hostile.{{refsrc|src/dog.c|878|nethack=3.6.7}}
+A '''little dog''', {{monsym|little dog}}, is a type of [[monster]] that appears in ''[[NetHack]]''. The little dog is a small and [[carnivorous]] [[canine]] [[animal]] that can be seen via [[infravision]]. Little dogs are [[domestic]], and the [[hero]] can [[tame]] them by [[throwing]] any type of meat or [[ration]]s at them that they can eat, and can [[pacify]] them by throwing veggy food at them. During a [[full moon]], little dogs have a {{frac|5|6}} chance of becoming peaceful instead of tame when throwing acceptable food to them, and this will never result in them becoming hostile.{{refsrc|src/dog.c|878|nethack=3.6.7}}
 A little dog has a single [[bite attack]].
@@ Line 30: / Line 30: @@
 Randomly generated little dogs may generate as peaceful towards [[neutral]] heroes. A little dog can [[grow up]] into a [[dog]].
-The little dog is one of the most commonplace starting pets in ''NetHack'':{{refsrc|src/dog.c|63-L66|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} every role can start with a little dog as their default pet, with the exception of both the [[Knight]] (who receives a [[saddled]] [[pony]]{{refsrc|src/role.c|211|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/dog.c|191|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}) and the [[Wizard]] (who always receives a [[kitten]]{{refsrc|src/role.c|558|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}).
+The little dog is one of the most commonplace starting pets in ''NetHack'':{{refsrc|src/dog.c|63-L66|version=NetHack 3.6.7}} every role can start with a little dog by default, with the exception of both the [[Knight]] (who receives a [[saddled]] [[pony]]{{refsrc|src/role.c|211|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/dog.c|191|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}) and the [[Wizard]] (who always receives a [[kitten]]{{refsrc|src/role.c|558|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}).
 * A [[Barbarian]]'s starting little dog will be named Idefix if <tt>[[Options#dogname|dogname]]</tt> is not set.{{refsrc|src/role.c|86|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/dog.c|174|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
 * Cavepeople always start with a little dog named Slasher.{{refsrc|src/role.c|128|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/dog.c|176|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
-* [[Ranger]]s start with a little dog named Sirius.{{refsrc|src/role.c|393|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/dog.c|178|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
+* [[Ranger]]s always start with a little dog named Sirius.{{refsrc|src/role.c|393|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/dog.c|178|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
-* [[Samurai]] start with a little dog named Hachi.{{refsrc|src/role.c|435|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/dog.c|180|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
+* [[Samurai]] always start with a little dog named Hachi.{{refsrc|src/role.c|435|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}{{refsrc|src/dog.c|180|version=NetHack 3.6.7}}
 A little dog is one of the pet monsters that can be created via the [[spell of create familiar]], with a default {{frac|6}} chance if no preferred pet type is set.{{refsrc|src/dog.c|65|nethack=3.6.7|comment=<tt>pet_type()</tt>}}{{refsrc|src/dog.c|65|nethack=3.6.7|comment=<tt>make_familiar()</tt> has {{frac|3}} chance of calling <tt>pet_type</tt>}}
@@ Line 78: / Line 78: @@
 The dog (''Canis familiaris'' or ''Canis lupus familiaris'') is a domesticated descendant of a now-extinct species of gray wolves, with the living gray wolves being their closest living relative. The dog was the first species to be domesticated by humans, with archeological evidence of pre-agricultural hunter-gatherers keeping dogs dated as far back as 15,000 years ago. Dogs have been selectively bred over millennia for various behaviors, sensory capabilities, and physical attributes, with breeds varying widely in shape, size, and color, and they thrive on a starch-rich diet that would be inadequate for other canids&mdash;they are omnivorous rather than solely carnivorous as in ''NetHack'', but can use nutrients from a variety of sources and survive on a properly balanced vegetarian diet.
-A pet dog performs many roles for humans, such as hunting, herding, pulling loads, protection, assisting police and the military, companionship, therapy, and aiding disabled people. Over the millennia, dogs became uniquely adapted to human behavior, and the human–canine bond has been a topic of frequent study: this influence on human society has given them the sobriquet of "man's best friend", and they are naturally iconic video game pets as well, with the ''[[Wikipedia:Nintendogs|Nintendogs]]'' games being a well-regarded example. The little dog from ''NetHack'' was ranked [http://web.archive.org/web/20120107055038/http://archive.gamespy.com/top10/january04/sidekicks/index5.shtml number 6] on Gamespy's top 10 list of video game sidekicks&mdash;another dog, Dogmeat from [[Wikipedia:Fallout (video_game)|the first ''Fallout'' game]], occupies the number 2 spot.
+A pet dog performs many roles for humans, such as hunting, herding, pulling loads, protection, assisting police and the military, companionship, therapy, and aiding disabled people. Over the millennia, dogs became uniquely adapted to human behavior, and the human–canine bond has been a topic of frequent study: this influence on human society has given them the sobriquet of "man's best friend", and they are naturally iconic video game pets as well, with the ''[[Wikipedia:Nintendogs|Nintendogs]]'' games being a well-regarded example. The little dog from ''NetHack'' was ranked [http://web.archive.org/web/20120107055038/http://archive.gamespy.com/top10/january04/sidekicks/index5.shtml number 6] on Gamespy's top 10 list of video game sidekicks&mdash;another dog, Dogmeat from [[Wikipedia:Fallout (video game)|the first ''Fallout'' game]], occupies the number 2 spot.
 In the first edition of ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'', dogs appear in two forms: war dogs are simply loyal large dogs that are trained to fight by their masters and display ferocity in battle, and are typically protected by light studded leather armor and a spiked collar; wild dogs inhabit most regions, with their pack habitats sometimes overlapping with those of wolves, and well-fed wild dogs will simply avoid contact rather than attacking. A wild dog can only be tamed if separated from their pack. As in the real world, ''Dungeons & Dragons'' also incorporates various dog breeds, both mundane and fantastic, over its several editions.
@@ Line 126: / Line 126: @@
 ==Encyclopedia entry==
-{{encyclopedia|<poem>
+{{encyclopedia|
 A domestic animal, the _tame dog_ (_Canis familiaris_), of
 which numerous breeds exist.  The male is called a dog,
@@ Line 133: / Line 133: @@
 world's most popular domestic animal.  It can easily be
 trained to perform various tasks.
-</poem>}}
+}}
 ==References==

@@ Line 68: / Line 68: @@
 ==History==
-The little dog first appears in Hack for PDP-11, which is based on [[Jay Fenlason's Hack]]&mdash;pets were not present in Hack 1.21, suggesting that they were an early addition by [[Andries Brouwer]]. The little dog is part of the initial bestiary for [[Hack 1.0]].
+The little dog first appears in Hack for PDP-11, which is based on [[Jay Fenlason's Hack]]&mdash;pets are not present in Hack 1.21, suggesting that they were an early addition by [[Andries Brouwer]]. The little dog is part of the initial bestiary for [[Hack 1.0]].
 The little dog serves as the default pet from Hack for PDP-11 and Hack 1.0 to [[NetHack 2.3e]]. In [[NetHack 3.0.0]], the [[kitten]] is introduced and becomes an alternate starting pet option: the Caveman will always start with a little dog, the Wizard will always start with a kitten, and other roles will randomly receive one of either. [[NetHack 3.0.8]] allows an option of either pet to be set for characters in other roles; the Samurai's default little dog is introduced in [[NetHack 3.1.0]]; and finally, [[NetHack 3.3.0]] adds the default little dog for Rangers and establishes the saddled pony as the Knight's starting pet.

@@ Line 42: / Line 42: @@
 ==Strategy==
-As hostile monsters, little dogs can be annoying or even threatening to early heroes that do not have a spare food item to throw in order to get the dog off their back&mdash;[[cream pie]]s, [[egg]]s, and [[melon]]s are not suitable choices, since they will splatter on the little dog's face. Veggy food such as [[lichen]] corpses will reliably pacify a hostile little dog without giving up a food source. Meaty food and rations can be repeatedly thrown to try and tame little dogs during a full moon without a risk of angering them. Running across a named little dog is one of many signs that you might be on a [[bones]] level.
+As hostile monsters, little dogs can be annoying or even threatening to early heroes that do not have a spare food item to throw in order to get the dog off their back&mdash;[[cream pie]]s, [[egg]]s, and [[melon]]s are not suitable choices, since they will splatter on the little dog's face. Veggy food such as [[lichen]] corpses will reliably pacify a hostile little dog without giving up a food source. Meaty food and rations can be repeatedly thrown to try and tame little dogs during a full moon without a risk of angering them. Running across a named little dog is one of many signs that you might be on a [[bones]] level&mdash;taming such pets can be helpful to sort through bones items and possibly even help against the [[ghost]] of their former owner and/or whatever monster killed them.
 Once a hero finds their footing and establishes a basic kit, they may want to keep a veggy food item such as an [[apple]] or [[pear]] around to pacify little dogs and other domestic carnivores that they do not want to fight or keep as pets. Similarly, those with an interest in exotic pets may want to tame and then [[polymorph]] any little dogs they encounter, e.g. by [[zapping]] a [[wand of polymorph]] or [[applying]] a [[magic whistle]] near a [[polymorph trap]].