Who Inspired Dogmeat?

Dogmeat, the canine companion in the Fallout 4 game, was inspired by a German Shepherd named River, who belonged to two developers, and his character is also influenced by the unnamed dog of Max Rockatansky from the 1981 post-apocalyptic film Mad Max 2. The name “Dogmeat” is a reference to a common slang term for food or an inferior or disposable item, reflecting the dog’s role as a loyal and disposable asset to the player.

Frequently Asked Questions about Dogmeat

General Information

1. What is Dogmeat based on?: In Fallout 4, Dogmeat’s model was based on River, a German Shepherd that belonged to two devs, with Dogmeat’s brown eyes being replications of River’s own eyes.
2. Where did Dogmeat originate?: Dogmeat was inspired by the unnamed dog of Max Rockatansky from the 1981 post-apocalyptic film Mad Max 2.
3. What is Dogmeat a reference to?: The name “Dogmeat” is a reference to a common slang term for food or an inferior or disposable item, reflecting the dog’s role as a loyal and disposable asset to the player.

Dogmeat’s Characteristics

4. Why is Dogmeat called Dogmeat?: The name “Dogmeat” originated from Scott Bennie, who came up with the name for a different dog, and was later used for the recruitable companion dog in Junktown.
5. Can Dogmeat heal himself?: To heal Dogmeat, you must use a stimpak manually, unlike human companions who can heal themselves if they have a stimpak in their inventory.
6. Is Dogmeat gone if he dies?: If Dogmeat was not recruited as a companion or was accidentally killed before befriending him, he will regenerate where he died, and the option to befriend him as the original Dogmeat will be available.

Interactions and Perks

7. Does Dogmeat affect Lone Wanderer?: The ‘Lone Wanderer’ perk is not affected by keeping Dogmeat as your companion, allowing you to rack up the benefits without getting lonely.
8. Can you have a human companion and Dogmeat?: Dogmeat is considered a companion, but you can’t bring another companion with him at the same time, although the Lone Wanderer perk still works with him around.
9. Can you have Fawkes and Dogmeat?: You can have Dogmeat in combination with any other follower, such as Fawkes.

Dogmeat’s Nature and Abilities

10. Is Dogmeat a mutant?: Dogs are one of the few animals that were not mutated with the FEV, and Dogmeat is no exception.
11. Is Dogmeat a synth in Fallout?: There is no evidence to suggest that Dogmeat is a synth, and his behavior and abilities are consistent with those of a regular dog.
12. Does Dogmeat count as a person?: Dogmeat counts as a companion, but not as a person, and his interactions and abilities reflect this.

Game Mechanics

13. How do you call Dogmeat back?: You can use the console to summon Dogmeat by typing specific commands, such as ‘prid 0001d162’ and ‘moveto player’.
14. Can you complete Fallout 4 without Dogmeat?: Yes, it is possible to complete Fallout 4 without Dogmeat, although he may be summoned at certain points in the main questline.
15. Is Dogmeat affected by Live and Love?: Dogmeat is not affected by the Live & Love magazine perks, although there are mods available that can patch this bug and make him affected by these perks.