I talked to the Elder in the meeting room and he said I will get 3 Paladins to infiltrate and attack the mutant HQ up NW of the BoS HQ. I thought I would meet them outside but never ran into them. What am I supposed to do:
1) attack on my own?? (I did get the Power Armor for doing Talus' mission),
2) wait until they show up (very unlikely, usually triggers set things in motion ... but there's no motion!), or
3) search all over the base for the 3 Paladins.

The Paladins will meet you at the base.

Yes, they did! Thanks!

But . . .

1) they don't come inside with me , and

2) both Dogmeat and Ian get wiped out after the first attack. I can keep Ian safe by telling him he can leave when we are outside and he will wait outside. But what about Dogmeat? How can I keep him safe? He's been such a good fighter that I hate to leave my favorite pet. Besides I like having him around and I know he (or is it a different dog?) is featured prominently in Fallout 3.

Dogmeat is supposed to die. The official canon says that he ran into a force field in the military base and got fried.

1: Yeah. That happens to everyone. Those BOS Knights a Chicken-Poop.

2:The most popular stategy there is to kinda lock him up between yellow forcefields

Not if I can help it. I'll try agent_c's suggestion. I noticed he can be trapped behind a door in the BoS... so this should work if the stupid dog doesn't run into it trying to keep up with me... stupid dog. I guess this is a game within a game - keep Dogmeat alive to the end!

Thanks guys!

Just realised this is irrelevant.
Those Force field tricks for Dogmeat were for an earlier Fallout.

Oh ... I'm sorry to hear that ... no Dogmeat ... what's the point of the game after 1? I got to play a little of F2 and the dog there was "cowardly"... maybe I'll just play the Mutant HQ over and over again. why would they let Dogmeat die? ... I have seen the screenshots of F3 - must be another dog ... do they name him 'Dogmeat' after the first one? why would they ...

I just remembered an episode from "All Creatures Great and Small" on TV. In that one an old guy's dog dies after so many years of serving him faithfully. The old guy is totally bumbed out about it. Throughout the show the two veterinary doctors don't know how to help him. Until the end - the older doctor buys him a new puppy... and the guy learns to move on. I guess I have to do the same thing.

HA! Dogmeat is alive and well and more experienced to help the player: http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Dogmeat

So all that really happens is that he gets lost, dogs do that ya' know, and then refound in 3. 8]