[Rweeb]

I think that the dog is a good idea because of the way it works as a scout for you... This makes it realistic as you don't have a little mini map in the corner of your vision in real life (at least I don't) I think that the fact that it is a dog could bring some disrepute as we have seen, I think that it works as if you had a companion who could sense enemies without endangering its life- the most logical form that companion would be a dog. I think that the alternative would be a person... but that would be extremely annoying just imagine it:

"There are five hobs ahead hero!"

mmmmmmmmmm ok

"Watch out hero theres a Rock golem ahead!"

this persons annoying!

"Oh its your rival from back in the day -"

Ok thats the last straw! Time to kill this complete @#$%^*

"You know the one who used to - AAAAAAAARGH GOD WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT"

*evil laugh*

anyways, I see their train of thought, A common guide would be a person or an animal, a person would talk too much or even if that person was a mute they would be a nusience - should be an animal then whats the best kind of animal guide - oh its a dog! A dog might be the worst kind of animal but it works in the context the best as a guide.