Do Druid's Animal Companion Level Up?

[axp_dave]

I'm playing my first Druid and we just leveled up from 3rd to 4th level (we started at 3rd level). My animal companion is a war dog. Do I need to level up my dog as well?? The chart for animal companion groups 3 - 5 level for the animal companion, does that mean I do not make any changes to the dog?

We are playing a city campaign so I would not want to try a strong animal companion as the dog is accepted on the streets versus a volverine would cause problems.

Thank you.
David

 

[James McMurray]

Animal Companions, Familiars, etc. do not gain levels. They gain abilities and hit dice as listed in their charts.

 

[mikebr99]

Your Riding dog is going from 2HD to 4HD... it will receive:
2 - d8s for hps
+2 nat armour adjustment
+1 to STR & DEX
2 more tricks
evasion
another feat (at 3rd HD)
another stat boost (at 4th HD)
more skill points

And animal companions do not change size as they increase in HD.

Bonus HD: Extra eight-sided (d8) Hit Dice, each of which gains a Constitution modifier, as normal. Remember that extra Hit Dice improve the animal companion’s base attack and base save bonuses. An animal companion’s base attack bonus is the same as that of a druid of a level equal to the animal’s HD. An animal companion has good Fortitude and Reflex saves (treat it as a character whose level equals the animal’s HD). An animal companion gains additional skill points and feats for bonus HD as normal for advancing a monster’s Hit Dice.

Mike