• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer
Gameranx

Gameranx

Video Game News, Lists & Guides

  • News
  • Features
  • Platforms
    • Xbox Series X
    • PS5
    • Nintendo
  • Videos
  • Upcoming Games
  • Guides

Fallout 4: Meet the Real Dogmeat

July 27, 2015 by Ian Miles Cheong

Meet River, the dog Dogmeat was based on.

In case there was ever any doubt, Fallout 4's Dogmeat is based on a real dog. The dog's name is River and he or she (it hasn't been made clear) belongs to one of the game's developers, lead level designer Joel Burgess.

In a presentation at QuakeCon 2015, Fallout 4 creative director Todd Howard said that River spent a lot of time at the Bethesda offices to help the team get a feel for the dog's animation and behaviorial tics. 

According to Howard, that whenever the player character was performing an action, the team wanted to figure out what the dog was doing as well.

The presentation goes on to show River chasing frisbees and running around.  

Burgess and his wife Michelle also posted tweets of River comparing them to Dogmeat. You can see River below. 

So good! #Fallout4 #artteamisamazing #lookatthoseeyebrows pic.twitter.com/k3YEREugOv

— Michelle Burgess (@MichelleBurgess) July 8, 2015

Dogmeat is my copilot. Literally. #BE3 pic.twitter.com/tNUq2vFuKj

— Joel Burgess (@JoelBurgess) June 15, 2015

Share this post:

FacebookTwitterLinkedInPinterest

Recent Videos

25 BEST Superhero Games of ALL Time

25 BEST Superhero Games of ALL Time

10 Weird Gaming Stories of July 2026

10 Weird Gaming Stories of July 2026

PLAYSTATION RESPONDS TO PHYSICAL DISC BACKLASH & more

PLAYSTATION RESPONDS TO PHYSICAL DISC BACKLASH & more

Why Assassin's Creed Odyssey Was Almost A Masterpiece

Why Assassin's Creed Odyssey Was Almost A Masterpiece

10 Worst In-Game Decisions I Shouldn't Have Made

10 Worst In-Game Decisions I Shouldn't Have Made

What's The Most Expensive Gaming Thing Ever?

What's The Most Expensive Gaming Thing Ever?

20 NEW Survival Games of 2026

20 NEW Survival Games of 2026

Marvel's Wolverine: 10 Things You NEED TO KNOW

Marvel's Wolverine: 10 Things You NEED TO KNOW

20 RPGs That NEVER REALLY END

20 RPGs That NEVER REALLY END

Category: Updates

Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • PlayStation Is Not Seeing “Any Impact To Our Business” For Cancelling Physical Games – Just Before #PSBlackout Starts
  • Super Mario Sunshine And Two Unreleased Virtual Boy Games Are Coming To Nintendo Switch Online
  • Sony CFO Lin Tao Says They Understand The Community’s “Emotions” About The End Of Physical PlayStation Games
  • “No Battle Pass, No Bullshit” – Gears Of War: E-Day Goes Old School On Customization Items
  • FBI Asking Steam Malware Victims To Contact Them After Recent Crackdown

Copyright © 2026 · Gameranx · All Rights Reserved · Powered by Mai Theme