Better Dogs Resource Pack — Guide
Dog Breeds
Upon taming a wild wolf, it will automatically transform into a random dog breed. If you wish to obtain a specific breed, you can use a Name Tag renamed in an Anvil with one of the supported names listed below.
| Breed | Supported Name Tag(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Afghan Hound | Afghan, Afghan Hound | Features long, silky fur. |
| Australian Shepherd | Ashepherd, Australian Shepherd | Often appears with heterochromia (different colored eyes). |
| Basset Hound | Basset, Basset Hound | Known for long ears and short legs. |
| Beagle | Beagle | Small hound with classic tri-color patterns. |
| Border Collie | Collie, BC, Border Collie | Highly detailed herding dog model. |
| Borzoi | Borzoi | Features a long, slender snout. |
| Bull Terrier | Bull Terrier, Walter | Includes the famous 'Walter' meme variation. |
| Bulldog | Bulldog | Stocky build with a wrinkled face. |
| Cavalier King Charles | King Charles, Cavalier | Small spaniel with floppy ears. |
| Chihuahua | Chihuahua | The smallest model in the pack. |
| Corgi | Corgi | Short-legged with large upright ears. |
| Dachshund | Teckel, Dackel, Dachshund | The 'wiener dog' model. |
| Dalmatian | Dalmatian | Features iconic black or liver spots. |
| Doberman | Doberman, Dobermann | Sleek, athletic build; multiple ear variations. |
| German Shepherd | Shepherd, GS, GSD, German Shepherd | Classic police dog appearance. |
| Golden Retriever | Golden, GR, Golden Retriever | Friendly appearance with multiple shades of gold. |
| Great Dane | GD, Great Dane | The largest dog model in the pack. |
| Husky | Husky | Features thick fur and bright blue eyes. |
| Labrador Retriever | Lab, Labrador | Available in Black, Yellow, and Chocolate. |
| Pomeranian | Pomeranian | Extremely fluffy, small model. |
| Pug | Pug | Features a flat face and curled tail. |
| Rottweiler | Rottweiler | Large, powerful build with black and tan markings. |
| Samoyed | Samoyed | Pure white, fluffy 'smiling' dog. |
| Shiba Inu | Shiba, Inu, Shiba Inu | Includes the 'Doge' variation. |
| Shih Tzu | Shihtzu, Shih Tzu | Small companion dog with long hair. |
Special & Mythical Variants
Beyond standard breeds, the pack includes several 'Easter Egg' and mythical variants that can be obtained through specific names or environmental conditions.
- Cerberus: A terrifying three-headed hound. Named by using the tag 'Cerberus'.
- Skeleton Dog (Grimm): A skeletal remains of a dog, perfect for undead-themed bases. Named using 'Skeleton' or 'Grimm'.
- Wither Skeleton Dog: A charred, black skeletal dog. Named using 'Wither'.
- Astronaut Corgi: A Corgi wearing a space helmet that actually floats off the ground.
- How to obtain: Tame or breed a wolf at Y-level 250 or higher, or use the name tag 'Astronaut'.
- Snood: A special accessory variant where the dog wears a head-sleeve. The color of the snood can be changed using Dyes just like a standard collar.
Mechanics & Customization
Taming and Breeding
When a wolf is tamed, its model and texture are randomized. Breeding two dogs will result in a puppy that randomly selects a breed from its parents or a new random breed, depending on the pack version. All breeds have unique 'baby' models that scale correctly.
Custom Name Tag Support
Advanced users can add their own custom names to trigger specific breeds by editing the pack files:
1. Open the Better Dogs .zip file.
2. Navigate to assets/minecraft/optifine/mob/wolf.
3. Open wolf_tame.properties with a text editor.
4. Locate the breed you want (e.g., golden_retriever).
5. Add your custom name to the name.X line (e.g., name.5=ipattern:Buddy).
6. Save the file and reload the pack in-game (F3 + T).
Dyeable Collars
Most breeds support the vanilla collar dyeing mechanic. Simply right-click a tamed dog with any dye to change its collar color. For the 'Snood' variant, this dye will change the color of the headwear instead.
Technical Details
The pack is designed with performance in mind. Despite the high number of models, it uses a 16x16 resolution to maintain a 'Vanilla+' aesthetic and ensure compatibility with lower-end PCs.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Resolution | 16x16 (Vanilla Style) |
| Total Breeds | 41+ |
| Total Textures | 130+ |
| Format | OptiFine CEM / EMF |
| Animations | Custom (Idle, Walk, Sit, Pant) |
Note on Wolf Armor: In versions 1.20.5 and above, wolf armor is displayed as a floating heart icon above the dog's body. This is a universal solution to prevent the need for 40+ individual armor models, which would significantly impact game performance.