Houndmaster

A Houndmaster takes on  the task of training a dog to be a trustworthy and valuable companion. This dog learns various commands and stances to better protect and serve the Houndmaster. From pinning an enemy to defending its owner, or even just supporting a party emotionally, this dog is capable of many different types of support.

Canine Companion

When you pick this archetype at 3rd level, you gain a canine companion that accompanies you on your adventures and is trained to fight alongside you. This companion shares most statistics with the Mastiff, but it can be any dog breed desired, including in size. Add your proficiency bonus to the beast’s AC, attack rolls, and damage rolls. Its hit point maximum equals four times your fighter level plus four times its constitution modifier. It's hit dice are d4s and it has a total amount equal to your fighter level.

The canine obeys your commands as best as it can. It takes its turn on your initiative. If you are incapacitated or absent, the beast acts on its own, focusing on protecting you and itself.

If the canine dies, you can obtain a new companion by spending 8 hours bonding with a canine that isn’t hostile to you.

Optional Rule: With your dm's permission, you may bond with a creature that is a wolf, or non-canine creature, such as a big cat or fox. In this case, it shares the same statistics as described before.

Special Commands

Your canine companion learns special commands that it can perform. On your turn, you can verbally command the beast where to move (no action required by you). You can use your bonus action to verbally command it to take the Attack, Dash, Disengage, or Help action. If you don't issue a command, the beast takes the Dodge action. Once you have the Extra Attack feature, you can may replace one attack with an attack from your canine companion. Your companion never requires your command to use its reaction, such as when making an opportunity attack.

In addition, you may use your bonus action to verbally command it to perform the following special commands:

• Distract. Your canine barks and growls at a creature within 15 feet of it. The target must make a Wisdom saving throw or have disadvantage on its next attack roll or saving throw and be frightened of your canine until the start of your next turn.
• Flank. If your canine is within 5 feet of a hostile creature, melee attack rolls against that creature have advantage against that creature until the start of your next turn.
• Move. Your canine can move an object or any medium or smaller creature. Moving a creature in this way costs twice the movement that would be normally expended.
  
• Pin. Your canine makes an attack roll against a medium or smaller creature within 5 feet of it. On a hit, it deals no damage, but instead the creature is grappled until the start of your next turn. The creature may use its action on its turn to attempt to escape. Only one creature may be grappled in this way at a time.
  
• Protect. Your canine grants a creature of your choice within 5 feet of it (you may target yourself) a +1 bonus to its AC until the start of your next turn. If a creature moves within 5 feet of the creature, the canine may use its reaction to move and make an attack against that creature.
  

If a command requires a saving throw, the DC for that saving throw is equal to 8 + two times your proficiency modifier

Therapy Dog

Starting at 7th level, your canine comforts you and your allies in moments of respite. During a short rest, you grant a number of creatures equal to your proficiency bonus a d10 hit die that can be used to recover health during that rest.

Ultimate Ally

Starting at 10th level, your companion improves as you do. You may increase your canine's Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, or Wisdom scores by a combined total of 3 points. Any time you have an ability score improvement from Fighter from this point, your canine gains another 1 point like this as well as an increase to its base walking speed by 5 feet.

Hound's Surge

Beginning at 15th level, your companion pushes itself beyond its normal limits when it sees you doing the same. When you activate your action surge feature, you gain an additional bonus action that can only be used to command your canine.

Unstoppable Canine

By 18th level, your canine learns to fight in many ways similar to you. Your canine gains two uses of your indomitable feature per long rest. These uses are separate from your own indomitable feature.

It addition, whenever you command your canine, it may make an attack against a creature within reach.