for my homebrew campaign i wanted to make a dog race to fit one of my gods and could only find info for lots of sexy anthro werewolf-esque races. so i’m starting with a few sketches for something that was more my pace!

True Canis: They can trace their roots back to witches’ familiars, though the original process is buried in myth and legend. Because of these roots they are extremely loyal by nature, particularly to anyone who saves them and to their own kind, and have been known to go to the grave happily for others who’ve shown them kindness. They are just as varied in color, fur, and features as the average dog, but stand on two legs and their front dew claws have been replaced by thumbs capable of effectively grasping and holding. They are not nearly as diverse in height and size as dogs.

Loving and accepting to their very cores, they eagerly welcome new people and experiences, and are seldom afraid of whatever they come across. Beyond this, they place extreme emphasis on their god of Loyalty, which they call “Bau”. Keen on celebration and fun for fun’s sake, they are also known for their devotion to entertainment and their love to brighten other’s days.

Because of their roots, every Canis has latent magical abilities that some choose to hone by dedicating their lives to training under Bau and to then protect their packs. This is considered extremely noble, but aside from that there are very few professions that Canis discourage. With relatively short lives (longer than the average dog, about 30-40 years), most Canis seek to fulfill themselves as much as possible and see enjoyment and expressed love and loyalty almost as a currency.

Typically born in litters of 4-8, they are raised by the entire pack and exposed to every walk of life within said pack so they have opportunity to learn and choose their own path and all establish the same basic necessary skills. They are usually named around three months old, when their personalities have begun to set in.

While typically speaking Common, it depends on the region. They have no language of their own, and adapt to those around them. They do communicate in specific ways with certain noises, such as howls, barks, and growls, but these are not a separate language. Many alliances have been recorded throughout the history of Canis and several other races, as few find them disagreeable and difficult to communicate with.

Still a huge WIP while I figure out racial traits, etc!