So, I've done everything right up to my kid asking about the dog. I obviously replied "Yes, when I don't need him"

But, what now? If I tell the dog to "Go home" he heads back to the fort and "Wait" still leaves him as a follower.

On pc or console? If on pc then if you get Amazing Follower Tweek's you can "dismiss, but hang out here", which leave the follower in your service, but at the place you left them, sand-boxing around. It's a 50/50 shot if the kid decides to adopt the dog while it's their... I had three adopted kinds ( mod), 5 puppies and one "Momma" dog.. and two of the kids choose outside pet's, the last a puppy. So I had 6 dogs, 1 skeever, 1 mudcrab, 3 kids, 4 followers and one steward running around the house.

On console I don't know that their is anything you can do, revert to a previous save maybe.

I'm on PC, I don't really want to have to use mods, to sort this, especially as I know the dog won't follow my kid around as it should.

I've tried several times but I always get the same options. It's odd because my kid is asking to keep the dog.

Isn't there a console command to set as pet? I'm an Xbox player, but seems like there's a console command for just about everything.

You're probably right! I'll have a look.

You should get the dialogue from your kid

"A doggy, papa I didn't know you had a doggy! Can I keep him? Please?"

etc and if you say "yes" you should get a

"Wow, thanks papa"

and then it'll be added as a Family Pet. Whenever you dismiss him as a follower he should return home to the family home.

If thats not happening theres something wrong somewhere. There is a way to force him into the Family Pet reference with a console command or two if all else fails but it shouldn't be necessary.

So... This thread has been a waste of everyone's time!

I read somewhere that a pet follows a child around, seems this dog doesn't and he was just wandering off, not heading back to the fort but exploring around my house!