Blind dog

Several generations of the dog species have lived and died since the catastrophe. Each was more affected by the Zone than the previous one. Rapid mutation lead to a vast improvement in previously peripheral abilities, frequently at the expense of primary ones. The most notable biological change was the loss of sight, paired with an uncanny development of smell. As it turned out, blind cubs survived in the Zone as well as normal ones, if not better. As a result, the common dog quickly became extinct in the Zone, giving way to a new breed - that of blind dogs. The animals instinctively identify and avoid anomalies, radiation, and other invisible dangers that plague the Zone. Like their wild ancestors - the wolves - blind dogs hunt in packs. An encounter with a large group of these animals can be dangerous even to an experienced and well-armed stalker.

A pack of blind dogs.

General characteristics

As the name implies, these dogs have lost their eyesight, possibly due to some form of warped, mutation-induced evolution. Rather than rely on eyes, Blind dogs have extremely keen senses of hearing and smell and can hunt, fight and navigate through pockets of radiation and fields of anomalies without much problem.

Blind dogs move in packs and will usually attack prey (Stalkers or other small mutants) that are alone. Though widely regarded as one of the least dangerous mutants in the Zone, a pack of Blind dogs can be a threat to a lone Stalker. They use their sharp teeth to wound and incapacitate victims. Keeping on the move will usually hold them at bay, but if you do encounter a pack, kill or wound one or two, and the rest will sound off a scared bark and retreat. if you stay in the vicinity, they often return to torment you, so once they run, go away from the area.

Appearances

Shadow of Chernobyl

Blind dogs can be found in almost any area of the Zone but they tend to be most dominant in the Cordon, Garbage, Agroprom Research Institute, Dark Valley, Wild Territory, Army Warehouses, Pripyat and Chernobyl NPP. In Shadow of Chernobyl, a fairly large pack of dogs have made a nest just outside Rostok.

Clear Sky

Except in Monolith controlled territories which are Limansk and the Chernobyl NPP area, blind Dogs appear in all territories in the map.

Call of Pripyat

Blind Dogs have received a more detailed appearance that can differentiate some from others, and like most creatures in Call of Pripyat, the have also received an improved AI. Instead of running in a pack directly towards you, then scattering around you, they tend to split the pack up where some attempt to flank you. They make use of annoying hit and run tactics. They also have increased health; they are somehow able to survive direct hits from shotguns loaded with buckshot rounds. This makes the blind dog slightly more dangerous than its predessors. Blind dogs can be commonly found throughout Yanov, Jupiter, and Pripyat. These blind dogs hunt Fleshes and unsuspecting stalkers, and are sometimes hunted by Pseudodogs, and tend to be the most numerous monster within a Controller horde.

See also

• Pseudodog
• Psy dog