Dogs have been domesticated by humans for tens of thousands of years and, by far, are one of the most common types of animal ghouls. Easily trained, dogs are a favorite among many vampires because they don’t stand out among other members of the animal kingdom. They are also an attractive choice because it allows vampires to blend in with other mortals in heavily populated areas. After all, no one questions someone walking a dog in the dead of night, but might think twice about crossing paths with a loner wandering the streets.

A canine’s keen sense of smell and excellent hearing turns a dog into a perfect sentry, and its appetite is sufficient enough to help dispose of unwanted meat and bones over the course of a few days. While Gangrel tend to favor hardier breeds, the built in loyalty of a domesticated dog makes large dogs a great choice for animal ghouls. Vampires around the world tend to keep a dog ghoul around their haven as an insurance policy against daytime intrusions and some, like members of Clan Ventrue, prefer to maintain prize-winning breeds and purebreds as a sign of their social status or wealth.

Other vampires modify dog ghouls through the use of Disciplines like Vicissitude. The Bratovich family of revenants, for example, are well-known for painstakingly breeding dogs and transforming the adults into monstrous creatures called hellhounds. Though it is highly unusual for any master to own a Bratovich hellhound without high levels in Animalism as well as Vicissitude, hellhound ghouls are highly-prized guard animals for those who can acquire them. The Bratovich are loathe to part with these ghouls, however, so the price to obtain one will be extremely high.

Bratovich Hellhound

Attributes: Strength 4, Dexterity 3, Stamina 3, Perception 3, Intelligence 2, Wits 3

Abilities: Alertness 3, Athletics 3, Awareness 3, Brawl 3, Empathy 2, Intimidation 2, Stealth 2, Survival (Tracking) 4

Disciplines: Potence 1

Willpower: 3

Health Levels: OK, -1, -1, -2, -2, -5, Incapacitated

Armor rating: 0 (three soak dice, total)

Attack: Bite for five dice (lethal); claw for three dice (bashing)

Blood Pool: 3

The rules that follow reflect the stats for an average Bratovich hellhound. Some Bratovich hellhounds may have specific Vicissitude modifications that could alter their base stats. For example, bone armor may give the hellhound an Armor Rating of 2, while extra teeth and claws might give them more damage capabilities. In general, additional rule modifications should be left to the Storyteller’s discretion.