Beardogs or whistling dogs are domesticated animals derived from terrifyingly large borophagine dogs that once roamed the lands around Khazun-Aali. They are good at crunching bones, being horrifying, and not backing away from pissed-off tusked ponies and muskoxen. However, by the time the species was domesticated,it was on the brink of extinction because heavy overspecialized hypercarnivores really cannot compete with more adaptable animals, such as wolves and tigers.

Regardless, they make for excellent livestock guardian animals with a knack for cooperative tasks and a strong herding instinct. Whistling dogs tend to be aloof towards strangers and incredibly protective of their owners. It is notable, however, that whistling dogs rarely form particularly strong bonds with a single person, and instead tend to become attached to two or three people.

The most notable differences between wolf-derived dogs and whistling dogs is the latter’s blue-black tongue and gums, a much heavier build, size, vocal range. and behavior. Beardogs vocalize more than their canine counterparts, however, comparatively, they are much quieter - they do not bark or howl, and communicate mostly in soft whistling tones. This is kind of ridiculous considering that the animal making tiny adoring whistles while gently headbutting you comes in at slightly over 200lbs.

Dogs are really important in highlander culture, and each clan keeps track of the dog bloodlines almost as meticulously as it does of its own lineage. There is a lot of pride associated with the breed, and a certain kind of dismissal of dogs bred from canines: though they grudgingly accept greyhounds and other cursorial breeds, wolf-derived dogs are thought of as inferior, unstable, unreliable, and not ‘real dogs’ by any stretch of imagination. Taming wolves is crazy stuff for crazy people, and is second only to making friends with tigers, sassing your (or someone else’s) ancestors, trying to simply climb Khazun-Aali, or screaming a god’s name on the highlander scale of Horrible Endeavours That End Badly.Admittedly, this kind of thought becomes less prevalent with the advent of trade, but even then, there are hillbillies and Old People grumping about youngsters and their crazy wolfdoge.

While they are treated with a certain reverence, beardogs never become companion animals within that particular culture, however, they do become a status symbol during the Second Kingdom*: most people can’t afford to purchase or maintain them, and those who do are either hillbillies or of noble kin. Sometimes both. Household pets are not something the highlanders tolerate very well, either: domestic animals that don’t fulfill a specific purpose other than sit around and look cute are considered to be a waste of space and keeping animals indoors is a minor taboo to begin with. Because are you going to desecrate the home and insult your ancestors by bringing in something that’s considered unclean? Are you willing to risk some awful kurkar bearing down on you and whispering sweet nothings as it shreds you into tiny tiny pieces?

Are you, punk?