Ethan Crossfield 
Old School RuneScape has finally added dogs as domestic pets, closing one of the game’s longest-running gaps. The new members-only quest, A Ruff Situation, lets players establish a shelter, adopt puppies, and eventually use grown dogs to assist with Treasure Trail digging.
What happened in A Ruff Situation
The quest sends players to a new dog shelter near Ice Mountain, north of Falador, where they can speak with Talia and Chase to begin. Completing A Ruff Situation unlocks access to puppies that grow as they are fed. Players who prefer the smaller puppy appearance can simply stop feeding their companion; unlike cats, these dogs will not leave when they are hungry.
Once a dog reaches adulthood, it gains a practical use beyond following its owner. Fully grown dogs can help with digging during Treasure Trail steps. The update also offers 12 breeds: Bernese, Chihuahua, Collie, Corgi, Greyhound, Husky, Labrador, Pug, Samoyed, Spaniel, Shiba, and Yorkie. A Player-Owned House Menagerie can hold up to 12 dogs, allowing players to collect one of every breed.
Why the update matters
Old School RuneScape launched in 2013 as a version based on a 2007 RuneScape build and has since become more popular than RS3. Despite its large selection of skilling and bossing pets, the game’s conventional domestic-pet choice had effectively been limited to cats. A pet rock did not fill that role, leaving dog enthusiasts waiting while stray dogs and Hellhounds already existed elsewhere in the game world.
The community’s response makes the demand clear. In August 2026, players approved A Ruff Situation with 89.5% of the vote, while the follow-up proposal to add dogs as pets received 88.4%. Both results comfortably exceeded the 70% threshold required for a poll to pass. The same polling process has also stopped other proposals, including a Bronzeman game mode, showing that player approval continues to shape the MMO’s direction.
What to watch next
For players, the immediate priorities are meeting the quest’s 15 Crafting requirement, completing the shelter storyline, and deciding whether to raise one preferred breed or build a full collection. The 12-slot Menagerie capacity gives collectors a clear long-term target without requiring multiple houses or separate storage systems.
For the wider Old School RuneScape scene, the update is another example of a long-requested feature reaching the game through polling rather than being imposed outright. That process can slow development or remove ambitious ideas, but it also gives successful updates a strong mandate from the community. With dogs now joining cats as domestic companions, one of the most visible omissions in the game’s legacy has finally been addressed.
Key takeaways for players
- A Ruff Situation is a members-only quest with a 15 Crafting requirement.
- Start the quest by speaking with Talia and Chase at the shelter north of Falador, near Ice Mountain.
- Dogs grow when fed, but they remain puppies if players stop feeding them.
- Adult dogs can assist with digging for Treasure Trail steps.
- Players can house up to 12 dogs and choose from 12 breeds.
Expert View
This is more than a cute collection feature. Dogs have been a conspicuous omission since Old School RuneScape’s 2013 release, and the unusually high poll results show how strongly the community valued finally correcting it. Jagex also benefits: a modest, clearly scoped update delivers emotional impact while reinforcing the polling system that has become central to the game’s identity.
