Attack Dogs - A dog combat overhaul

⭐ ⭐⭐ (1,154 endorsements) 📥 1.0M downloads 📌 v1.1.5k 📅 12/5/2018
⚪ Last updated 2022

By PaleNoises · Overhauls

⬇ Download Mod Source: Nexus Mods ↗ 📅 Updated: 12/17/2022 📅 Created: 12/5/2018
⚠️ Install Order · 5 steps
1🛠️ SKSE64 — Skyrim Script Extender 64 Download ↗
2🔧 USSEP — Unofficial Skyrim Special Edition Patch Download ↗
3🖥️ SkyUI — SkyUI (MCM framework) Download ↗
4🧩 Address Library — Address Library for SKSE Plugins Download ↗
5🔧 SSE Engine Fixes — SSE Engine Fixes Download ↗

Install in this order, then this mod last — most mods fail to load without their framework and dependencies in place.

🔍 Analysis

  • 👍 0.1% endorsement rate
  • 🏆 #45 of 46 Overhauls mods in this game by downloads

📋 About This Mod

Click here for Xbox version of the mod

Upcoming Changes For This Mod

General Mod Features

  • []All canines have been split into several roles and damage types depending on their breed. They get scaling armor and damage every 10 levels starting from 10 up to 80. Companions also gain Perks and special abilities when you reach certain levels.

  • []Canines have been given various weaknesses and resistances similar to "Know Your Enemy".

  • []Canine followers now have increased functionality and can be commanded to do things like you would a normal follower: stay, attack, trade, etc.

  • []If your pet dies, whatever it was holding will be transferred to your inventory space.

  • []Each pet has their own summoning spell. You can learn the spells from books found inside of their inventories. Stray dogs do not currently have this feature.

  • []Animals affected by this mod slowly regenerate health.

  • []Certain animals have been given new models and/or textures so you don't have to stare at the same thing all day.

  • []The "Conjure Familiar" spell has been renamed to "Conjure Unstable Familiar - Canid". Now your familiar will grow and change forms as your conjuration skill raises every 25 skill levels starting at 0. Learning certain spells can also cause a change.

  • []Attacks have been changed so that you have a better shot at dodging them, ala Mortal Enemies.

  • []The volume of death hounds, foxes, and wolves has been lowered.

  • []Cloak, armor, invisibility, and ward spells will be cast on your pet when you cast them on yourself.

  • []Pressure plate traps can't be triggered by companions or summons from this mod.

  • []You only have to buy Vigilance one time from Banning. After purchasing Vigilance, even if Banning dies, you can still recruit Vigilance by talking to him.

    []There are multiple custom pets added in this mod. A few are hanging out near cities, but most of them are hidden in various hard to reach places such as caves.[/f

🤖 AI-enhanced — based on mod data

Attack Dogs overhauls dog combat in Skyrim, making them viable by adding scaling armor, damage, perks, and follower commands. With 1,154 endorsements and 1.0M downloads, it's a popular fix for vanilla dogs' poor scaling. Last updated in December 2022.

✨ Key Features

Adds scaling armor to dogs
Adds scaling damage to dogs
Adds perks for dogs
Adds follower commands for dogs

📊 Pros & Cons

✅ Pros

  • Huge community trust: 1.0M downloads and 1,154 endorsements show it's a go-to fix
  • Directly addresses a common complaint: vanilla dogs are useless in combat
  • Adds meaningful depth with perks and commands, not just stat tweaks

⚠️ Cons

  • Last updated in 2022 — may not be compatible with the latest Skyrim patches
  • Description is cut off, so you don't get the full feature list upfront
🎯 Is This For You?
For Skyrim players who want their canine companions to actually contribute in fights without being overpowered. Perfect for ranger or hunter builds that rely on animal allies. Skip if you're fine with dogs being cosmetic or if you prefer a complete overhaul that touches all followers.
📦 Install:Easy· Under 1 minute

💡 Beginner Tips

  • If you're using a mod manager like Vortex or MO2, you can install this directly and it'll handle load order automatically.
  • Make sure to check if your other mods alter dog stats or AI — load order can affect how they stack.
  • Test the follower commands on a random dog encounter to see how they work before relying on them in tough fights.

📊 Mod Details

Game
Skyrim Mods
Author
PaleNoises
Version
1.1.5k
Downloads
1,022,208
Endorsements
1,154
Category
Overhauls
Created
12/5/2018
Updated
12/17/2022

🔧 How to Install Skyrim Mods

Download from Nexus.

📖 Full step-by-step install guide for Skyrim →

Visit the official mod page for specific installation instructions for this mod.

🎮 Need cheat codes or console commands? Check ur gaming wiki for Skyrim commands, item IDs, and more.

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