Some of the things Dog is known for are his quirky personality, strange noises, and odd decision making. Something that's more than welcome since Gordon Freeman never utters a single word. In a game full of action and adventure, Dog provides some comic relief to the whole experience. He's friendly, loyal, intelligent, and super excitable. Yes, he's a robot, and he definitely knows how to fight, but he's a dog, hence his name. Plus, there's the fact that Dog is particularly likable. Without them, Gordon Freeman would have an even more difficult time fighting off the Combine, and the series wouldn't be nearly as iconic as it is today. They're seen not only in Half-Life 2, but Half-Life 2: Episode One and Episode Two. She's, of course, the game's deuteragonist, or secondary main character, making her the most important person in the game other than the playable character Gordon Freeman.Īnd they're important, Alyx and Dog.

So to understand Dog, you need a brief summary of Alyx, his best friend and life's purpose: she is a member of the Resistance, fighting against Combine rulership.

By the time Half-Life 2 takes place, Dog is 8.2 feet tall. He meant for Dog to be more than her doggy companion and friend though, he meant for Dog to essentially be her Goliath bodyguard. And he started off small, much like Alyx herself, but as she grew up, Eli made modifications and made Dog bigger, so they'd grow up together. Yes, this robotic dog may not actually resemble the charismatic animal we know and love, but he will forever go down in history as one of the most memorable and helpful pets in gaming. So, who exactly is Dog?īorn on Earth, he was created during Alyx Vance's childhood by her father, Eli. Dog seems like the worst name for a dog, something you'd use as a last resort, but Half-Life 2's Dog proved otherwise.

Half life 2 dog