The Outbound Dog Companion
How to adopt the stray, feed and recall it, and what trust unlocks. This page covers the most-asked Reddit question about Outbound.
How to adopt the dog
- Reach the abandoned cabin in the Canyons biome (Chapter 2).
- Drop a cooked food item (Smoked Fish or Berry Pie work) in front of the stray.
- Sleep through three in-game days, repeating the feed each morning.
- On day 3, the dog follows you to the van and the companion panel unlocks.
Trust levels and what they unlock
| Trust | Unlock | How to raise |
|---|---|---|
| 0–20 | Follows at distance only | Feed daily |
| 20–40 | Stays in van overnight | Pet (interact) once per day |
| 40–70 | Recall command + resource scout | Bring on outings, give treats |
| 70–90 | Combat assist (scare fauna) | Heal it if downed |
| 90–100 | 'Companion' hidden ending eligible | Keep alive through Chapter 4 |
Recall — the teleport question
The most-asked Reddit feature is "please let me teleport the dog to the van". The game does support this — at trust 40+ — via the Recall button in the van companion panel. It costs 1 Treat (Workshop: 1 Cooked Meat + 1 Fiber). Below trust 40, you have to walk back to wherever you left it.
Keeping the dog alive for the hidden ending
The Companion ending in Chapter 4 requires trust > 90 at the moment you activate the Communicator at the Mountain Summit. Three things to plan for:
- Do not bring the dog into Mountains until you have the Insulated Cabin module — cold downs it in 18 s.
- Carry 3+ Bandages when crossing the high Mountain switchbacks (steep falls injure it).
- Pet it on every login — the daily +2 trust adds up across a 25-hour run.
Common questions
How do you get the dog companion in Outbound?
The stray spawns at the abandoned cabin in the Canyons biome (Chapter 2). Drop any cooked food in front of it and wait — after 3 in-game days of feeding it follows you to the van and becomes a permanent companion.
Can you teleport the dog back to the van?
Yes, after the dog's trust hits 40. Open the van's companion panel and use 'Recall' — it costs 1 Treat (Workshop recipe). Below trust 40, the dog has to physically pathfind back, which can take several in-game hours.
What does the dog do?
Three things: it scouts resources (highlights deposits in a 20m radius), it scares off small fauna (Wolves and Boars retreat), and it unlocks the hidden 'Companion' ending if trust stays above 90 through Chapter 4.
Can the dog die?
Yes — but rarely. Hostile fauna can down it; you have 60 s to revive with a Bandage. If you fail, the dog respawns at the van after 1 in-game day, with trust dropped by 20.