I know the Players Handbook says Druids art the class that usually has animal familiars, but can a character like mine (level 4/1Fighter/Cleric) have one too? I did some messing about in the animal companion creator for DnD 3.5 and came up with a pretty cool looking large dog I named Garl. He's modeled after the Riding Dog (I love DnD, but some of these names crack me up) from the Player's Handbook and a bull mastiff which is a pretty tough and strong dog even in real life.
I didn't mark that my character can commune with the dog via magic and didn't give the dog any magic spells since I'm not a Druid or something like that. I just made him as big, tough and strong as a real-life mastiff would be (did some research on AKC's website): made him know a few basic dog tricks like come, stay, guard, attack etc; gave him a good bite attack and a spiked collar to protect his neck. I'm going to run it by my DM next gaming session, but I thought I'd ask you guys first.
If your playing 3.5 then the feat Wild Cohort should help you.
Also: if you want a tough pup, in the tail end of Heoroes of Battle is the war mastiff.
Also a note about training your dog. In the Races of the Wild there are more tricks you cna train your animals to know.
I had a fighter that my DM allowed me to buy and train a few dogs, so I was basicly a pack leader and had three dogs running around with me, they would dart in and give me and my party members flanking bonuses. One of the bonuses was I was extremly hard to kill and the druid spent any healing that would have been on me on my dogs. In 40 something sessions I only lost one of my three dogs.
-Nerp
Awesome! Thanks for the replies. Sounds like a dog is just what I need to make my character even more help to our adventuring party. If I train him right with the feats you guys mentioned, using him could be a similar effect as leveling up would be. Besides, my DM keeps making dungeons where I can't ride my warhorse into battle and have to leave him back at the dungeon entrance with the mule. A dog could come along no problem.
Thanks lots,
Arcto
Awesome! Thanks for the replies. Sounds like a dog is just what I need to make my character even more help to our adventuring party. If I train him right with the feats you guys mentioned, using him could be a similar effect as leveling up would be. Besides, my DM keeps making dungeons where I can't ride my warhorse into battle and have to leave him back at the dungeon entrance with the mule. A dog could come along no problem.
Thanks lots,
Arcto
A trained dog can also gaurd the horse(s). It's not unknown for us evil DMs to slaughter/steal a parties mounts. Especially if they're left untended. 
Ok, granted, yes I could kill the dog just as easily....I'm the DM, I can do anything. But if the players actually take precautions I generally give them some credit.
Discuss with the DM and the rest of the group first before deciding you purchased a dog.
Because you are not a Druid or Ranger, your dog is of the "pet shop" variety. Normal animals do not change or grow in 3.5, and will forever have a paltry amount of HP leading to one-hit deaths.
Additionally, many players and DMs won't appreciate one character getting minions, eating up more table time as he/she issues them orders.
Because you are not a Druid or Ranger, your dog is of the "pet shop" variety. Normal animals do not change or grow in 3.5, and will forever have a paltry amount of HP leading to one-hit deaths.
Wild Cohort fixes this.