Riding Companion Dog
Imagine galloping across the rolling hills of Chestnut Ridge with your trusty horse, only to glance back and see your faithful canine bounding along beside you. That dream is now a reality with the Riding Companion Dog add-on for The Sims 4. This clever mod bridges the gap between two of your favorite furry friends, creating a seamless trail-riding experience that deepens the bond between your Sim, their horse, and their dog.
Gone are the days of leaving your pup behind at the ranch. With this mod installed, your dog can join you on every equestrian adventure, from relaxed countryside strolls to intense gallops. It is a must-have for players who love immersive pet gameplay and want to bring the whole family along for the ride.
How the Riding Companion Dog Mod Works
The mechanics are beautifully simple. Once you mount your horse, a new interaction appears on the horse itself: "Choose a Riding Companion Dog". Clicking this opens a SimPicker menu where you can select which dog from your household should join you. After a brief moment for the routing formation to establish, your dog will happily trot alongside your horse as you move.
To dismiss your canine companion, you have two options. The first is "Release Riding Companion Dog", which simply stops the dog from following while leaving them where they are. The second, "Release Riding Companion Dog & Send Home", is perfect for when you are done riding and want your pup to head straight back to the house. The dog will also automatically stop following if your Sim dismounts, gets bucked off, or rides home.
Benefits and Buffs for Your Companions
This isn't just a cosmetic feature. While your dog follows the horse, both animals receive a hidden Happy Buff. More impressively, the mod actively manages their needs. The following motives will fill up while the decay of all other motives is lowered to just 25%:
- Horse: Fun, Social, Bladder
- Dog: Affection, Play, Bladder, Bowel
Additionally, your horse and dog will gain friendship progress every few minutes, as does the relationship between your Sim and the dog. This makes the Riding Companion Dog mod an excellent tool for building strong, lasting bonds between all members of your furry family.
Compatibility and Game Versions
Before you download Riding Companion Dog, you need to be aware of one crucial requirement: this mod REQUIRES THE XML INJECTOR MOD to function. Ensure you have that installed first, or the interactions will not appear in your game. The mod is designed for the latest game patches and works seamlessly with the Horse Ranch expansion pack content.
The creator has also ensured excellent compatibility with other popular mods. It works hand-in-hand with the "Go For Walk Fills Needs" mod, meaning any locked stat addons from that mod will apply to your dog here. It is also fully compatible with the "Horse Riding Together" mod, allowing you to combine both for even more complex multi-pet routing formations. For players using the foxygame.net launcher, the Riding Companion Dog add-on is available in the launcher's dedicated add-on catalog, allowing for a one-click install that automatically handles version compatibility checks against your current The Sims 4 build.
Installation Guide: How to Install
Wondering how to install this mod? The process is straightforward. First, ensure you have the XML Injector mod downloaded and placed in your Mods folder. Next, download the Riding Companion Dog mod files and extract them. Place the extracted .package and .ts4script files into your Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 4 > Mods folder. Finally, launch the game and ensure that "Script Mods" are enabled in your Game Options. If you are using the foxygame.net launcher, you can skip the manual file management entirely—the launcher's auto-update feature will keep your Riding Companion Dog add-on fresh with the latest fixes, ensuring it never breaks after a game patch.
Known Issues and Troubleshooting
As with any mod that manipulates routing formations, there are a few quirks to be aware of. Technically, the dog and horse enter a routing formation together. Since your Sim is also in a formation with the horse, the horse ends up in two formations at once, which can occasionally cause glitches. The creator recommends saving your game before selecting a dog to follow, just in case you need to reload.
It can take a moment for the formation to establish, especially if the dog was mid-interaction when you selected them. If the next command seems delayed, pausing the game for a second can help speed things up. Known issues include a rare glitch where the Sim loses their sitting posture without dismounting, and the "Intense Ride" option occasionally cancelling itself. These are often base game routing issues rather than mod-specific bugs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you have more than one dog follow? Currently, no. The creator has plans to potentially allow multiple dogs in the future, but there is no guarantee it will work with the current routing system. The mod is available in English, German, Russian, Danish, and French, making it accessible to a wide audience of players.
For the best experience, always keep your mods updated and check the creator's Discord for the latest support and community feedback. Whether you are a casual rider or a dedicated equestrian enthusiast, the Riding Companion Dog for The Sims 4 is a delightful addition that brings your whole pet family together on every adventure. It transforms simple trail rides into memorable group outings, filled with happy buffs and growing friendships.
So saddle up, call your dog, and explore everything the equestrian life has to offer with your loyal companion by your side.