Baldur’s Gate 3: How to get the owlbear cub and Scratch the dog

While adventuring in Baldur’s Gate 3, you might encounter a couple of animals that you can have as pets in your camp. One of them is the dog Scratch, and the other is an owlbear cub. Here’s our guide on how to get the owlbear cub and Scratch the dog in Baldur’s Gate 3.

Note: Before you get to unlocking Scratch the dog and the owlbear cub, you might want to solve the scuffed rock puzzle first. It’s a real tricky one (it’s not that hard at all).

Baldur’s Gate 3 (BG3): Best way to get Scratch and the owlbear cub

There are a few ways to rescue the owlbear cub and have it join your camp. There’s only one way to get Scratch the dog to join your camp, but it’s fairly easy to do if you know where to look.

The owlbear cub can be found inside, well, the Owlbear Cave. This location is discovered fairly early on in Baldur’s Gate 3 and is found directly north just before the Blighted Village. It’s also where you’ll find a Gilded Chest of Selûne. Inside the cave, you’ll find the mama owlbear and her cub.

How to get the owlbear cub in BG3

I recommend you use Speak with Animals here because you’ll instantly launch into a fight if you aren’t sneaky. If you want to go the non-lethal route, there is no way to get the owlbear to join your camp here.

When I encountered the owlbear and the owlbear cub, I was forced to immediately attack it because I told the two NPCs outside the cave mourning over a dead companion to avenge their friend’s death by killing the owlbear.

I didn’t want to kill the owlbear, so I turned on non-lethal attacks. I successfully knocked out the owlbear, but the second the fight was over, one of the NPCs ran up and killed the mom. So I killed those NPCs. Immediately. I could’ve also restarted from my last quicksave, too.

Note: If you leave the Owlbear Cave, the two creatures will be gone the next time you return. In my Baldur’s Gate 3 playthrough, I simply avoided fighting or killing either of them.

The owlbear mom is very territorial and may attack you on sight. However, if you want the owlbear as a pet, you need to kill the mom. After killing the mom, you’ll leave the owlbear cub for now and meet it at the Goblin Camp.

You can also not kill the mom and just leave. If you do that, the owlbear cub will still be found at the Goblin Camp later. I’ve done both and know from personal experience.

How to get the owlbear cub from the Goblin Camp in BG3

Fast forward a bit once you reach the Goblin Camp in Baldur’s Gate 3. Once you arrive, you’ll find the owlbear cub as the goblins’ new pet. You can choose correct dialogue options right then and there to take the owlbear cub from them.

Speak with Krolla and tell her that you want to leave with the owlbear cub. You can use Intimidate, Persuade, or the Illithid Mind to convince her. Your companions will approve of this too.

Screenshot by PC Invasion

Instead of this, I decided to defeat every goblin in the camp. With everyone dead, you can roll successful Nature and Animal Handling checks to have the owlbear cub return to your camp and travel with you for the rest of the game.

However you go about it, that’s how you get the owlbear to join your camp and stay with you for the rest of the adventure. Give it a few long rests and you’ll see the owlbear show up at your camp.

How to get Scratch the dog in BG3

Once you’re back outside, head a bit north and you’ll find a dog standing next to the corpse of his master. This is Scratch. If you approach, you’re given several dialogue options and skill checks (Animal Handling, Perception, and Intimidation). I chose Animal Handling here because that’s what I’m proficient at and I knew it would help me get Scratch as a pet.

Screenshot by PC Invasion

Continue the dialogue and tell the dog, Scratch, that his master is gone. You can then let Scratch have your scent. It’ll say that the dog will follow you back to camp shortly. You can also use the spell Speak with Animals to make your recruitment of Scratch and the owlbear cub easier.

Just like with the owlbear, continue with your adventure and do a few long rests. After you do that, you’ll find Scratch and the owlbear show up and stay in your camp.

Note: Your pets, Scratch the dog and the owlbear cub, should appear in your camp. If they’re not there, you might need to do a couple of long rests until they spawn.