Repeat after us, “Dogs are friends, not food!” Most of the time you’re looking for a certain type of animal in Red Dead Redemption 2, it’s for a hunting task or something as equally immoral to imagine targeting “Man’s Best Friend” for. However, RDR2’s canines are a little more well-trained than your barnyard goat or cow.
Dogs may crop up as Daily Challenges in Red Dead Online from time to time, but still not for hunting. In fact, it’s considered animal cruelty to slay a dog regardless of whether they are hostile towards you, and your honor will almost always suffer. What’s more, dogs are one of the only animals you can have other interactions with such as giving ‘em a pat on the head. So for a refreshing break from our usual hunting guides, here are the different canine breeds you’ll meet across the American West and where to find these good ol’ boys and girls.
Common Dog Locations
You’ll have a good chance of finding any of the dog breeds within the major cities throughout Red Dead’s American West. Here is a list of the cities you’ll want to poke around in, by state.
New Austin
- Armadillo
- Tumbleweed
West Elizabeth
- Blackwater
- Strawberry
New Hanover
- Annesburg
- Valentine
- Van Horn
Lemoyne
- Rhodes
- Saint Denis
Narrowing your search down to the major cities can help cut down the random factor. However, each breed may serve a slightly different purpose to its owner, which can affect their commonality in different regions.
American Foxhound
The American Foxhound is a favored pet and hunting companion throughout all of the states. You can find them within most major towns and cities along with some of the more minor ranches.
Australian Shepards
As the name suggests, Australian Shepards are natural sheepherders. But contrary to the first part of their sunny outback namesake, they are adaptable and in fact highly efficient at executing their ranch duties in the mountainous regions if need be.
Bloodhound
If you’ve had a Bounty Hunter on your tail, you may be familiar with the Bloodhounds they sometimes deploy to track you down. Aside from their service to the law, Bloodhounds were bred for boar and deer hunting so you may find them residing on properties closer to those hunting grounds.
Bluetick Coonhound
Bluetick Coonhounds are a favorite hunting companion among ranch owners in Lemoyne and New Hanover. Their particular hunting abilities make them especially adept at raccoon hunting, so keep an eye out for them on ranches and in towns where those pesky bandits are known to plunder.
Border Collie
Border Collies are also a pet of choice across Lemoyne and New Hanover. They are often employed by ranchers to help herd their livestock, so many times you will find them working cattle ranches in these states.
Catahoula Cur
Catahoula Curs can be found all across the states, though they are staunchly bred for boar hunting, so wherever the wild swine roam, you’re like to find Curs dwelling in the nearby towns.
Chesapeake Bay Retriever
Chesapeakes are kept by owners primarily in New Hanover, but they are popular across a wide array of properties from ranches, homesteads, town living, and even around train stations. There has been a Chesapeake confirmed to hang around Flatneck Station. As part of the retriever family, Chesapeake Bays are natural water dogs and are utilized by hunters for catching waterfowl.
Labrador Retriever
Labs are found primarily on ranches and farms throughout New Hanover and New Austin. They are a favored hunting dog in general. Rufus is a notable yellow lab, belonging to the Marston family and fills the role of Jack Marston’s best friend.
Mutt
Mutts are common in the towns of Armadillo and Saint Denis. They are popular household pets but aren’t usually trained for utility purposes.
Poodle
Poodles live in the lap of luxury, residing in the well-to-do neighborhoods within Rhodes and Saint Denis. These designer dogs aren’t all show, though. They’re also known to be rather talented bird dogs and sometimes serve as hunting companions in the higher society.
Siberian Husky
Huskies are most popular in towns and working ranches across West Elizabeth and New Hanover. They were bred to assist in hunting and gathering efforts, making them a great choice of companion. There is a gray husky that is known to hang around Manzanita Outpost, in the southern Tall Trees region of West Elizabeth.
Where To Buy Dogs
Dogs aren’t only an NPCs best friend. Players can select between several breeds to purchase in Red Dead Online. Namely, you’ll have your pick between an American Foxhound, Australian Shepard, Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Labrador Retriever, or a Siberian Husky. These pups will be available in the Wilderness Shop under the "Dog" tab, naturally. After selecting a breed you are able to select your preferred color variation as well. Do note, however, that each breed is valued differently, so if cost is a deciding factor for you, have a browse through each breed before making your choice.