Crimson Desert Pets Guide — How to Get & Use Pets

Pets in Crimson Desert are more than cosmetic companions — dogs in particular serve as automatic loot collectors, running across the battlefield to pick up every item dropped by defeated enemies. Getting a pet requires building trust over several in-game days, but the quality-of-life improvement is worth the effort.

How the Pet System Works

Crimson Desert uses a trust mechanic for adopting pets. Every stray animal you encounter has a trust meter that starts at 0 and must reach 100 before you can adopt it. You can own up to 30 pets, but only one can be actively summoned at a time.

Where to Find Stray Animals

Stray dogs and cats can be found in various locations across Pywel, with the highest concentrations around major towns in the Hernand region. Look for them wandering near shops, markets, and residential areas. They are friendly and will not run away when you approach.

How to Build Trust

Petting (+5 Trust per interaction)

Simply approach a stray animal and hold the interaction button to pet it. You can pet the same animal 5 times per in-game day, earning up to +25 trust daily. After the daily cap, petting still works but grants no additional trust until the next day.

Feeding (+35 Trust per serving)

Feeding is significantly faster than petting:

1. Open your inventory
2. Select a food item
3. Discard it on the ground near the animal
4. The animal will eat it and gain trust

Dogs are not picky eaters — any meat will do. Fine Meat grants the maximum +35 trust per feeding. You can feed an animal up to 3 times per in-game day.

Speeding Up the Process

Both petting and feeding have daily caps. To bypass the time gate:

• Rest at campfires to advance the day-night cycle
• Sleep in a bed to skip forward
• Return to the same animal after the day resets and repeat

With optimal feeding (3x Fine Meat per day at +35 each), you can reach 100 trust in approximately two in-game days.

Adopting a Pet

Once an animal's trust reaches 100, interact with it and select "Take in" to officially adopt it. The pet then appears under the Pets tab in your inventory menu.

How Dogs Collect Loot

Once you summon a dog, it follows you and automatically runs to collect items from defeated enemies. There is no command needed — the dog does it on its own.

Important Details

• Dogs collect all items, including low-value junk — there is no loot filter
• Dogs do not fight — they have no combat role whatsoever
• Dogs can also pick up ore and items from open shelving in the environment
• Your summoned pet disappears when you mount your horse
• After Chapter 3, unsummoned pets live at your Greymane camp

Cats vs Dogs

Both cats and dogs are adoptable through the same trust system, but they serve different purposes:

• Dogs — Auto-loot items from the battlefield. The primary functional pet.
• Cats — Cosmetic companions with no confirmed gameplay function beyond the satisfaction of having a cat at your camp.

If you are adopting for utility, always prioritize a dog first.

Pet Management

Feature	Detail
Max pets owned	30
Active at once	1
Dog loot filter	None (collects everything)
Pet disappears	When mounting a horse
Pet home	Greymane camp (after Chapter 3)

Related Guides

• Inventory Management Guide
• Camp Upgrade Guide
• 15 Essential Beginner Tips