03. The Dogs of Canaria

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[attr="class","guidebooktitle"]The Dogs of Canaria

[attr="class","guidebookbody"]There are 3 different variants of the recreated domestic dog that survives to this day. There are no “wild-type” dogs left. All of the dogs alive now are much different than how the dogs were on Earth. Humans needed creatures that were much more adaptable than the pets they had known and loved. So they enhanced them. Any breed or mixed breed can be any variant, as the genetics that determines the variant is separate from the genetics which determine appearance.
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In addition, dogs may be exposed to mutagens in the environment and become mutants. Or they may find a robot companion known as a Watcher to sync with their brain waves.

[attr="class","guidebooksubtitle"]Table of Contents

[attr="class","guidebookbody"] Click on the names of each type of dog in order to jump to the post about them.

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[attr="class","guidebookchapter"]I.Augments - [Type A]

Dogs enhanced by nanotechnology. May have cybernetic enhancements or advanced healing factors.
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[attr="class","guidebookchapter"]II.Espers - [Type E]

Dogs with a touch of alien DNA in their genetic code. May have psychic abilities.
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[attr="class","guidebookchapter"]III.Basals - [Type N]

Dogs recreated to be as similar as possible to the original dog. Extremely adaptive with flexible DNA.
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[attr="class","guidebookchapter"]IV. Mutants - [M-Sensitivity]

Mutants typically have unnatural features. Different variants have different susceptibilities.
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[attr="class","guidebookchapter"]V. Watchdogs - [W-Compatibility]

Watchdogs are dogs who are synced to the Watcher bots. It can give the dogs different abilities.

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[attr="class","guidebooktitle"]Augments

[attr="class","guidebookbody"]Augments are born with nanobots in their bodies and have a symbiotic relationship with them. Throughout their lives, when injured, the nanobots repair them. If their body cannot repair them quickly through their healing factors alone, they tend to take materials from the environment--mainly metals. As such, it isn't rare to find an Augment with a mechanical limb or a cybernetic eye. They typically have slightly longer fur along their spines. Though depending on fur texture and length, this might be a hard trait to detect.

[attr="class","guidebooktablefield"] Physical Traits	Longer fur along spine, often cybernetically enhanced
[attr="class","guidebooktablefield"] Lifespan	15-20 years (when nanobots stop functioning)
[attr="class","guidebooktablefield"] Strengths	Nanobot repair and augmentation.
[attr="class","guidebooktablefield"] Weaknesses	Upgrading requires materials as well as injury.
[attr="class","guidebooktablefield"] M-Sensitivity	Low, often unaffected (nanobots repair damage)
[attr="class","guidebooktablefield"] W-Compatibility	High, though requires focus to maintain link-up.

[attr="class","guidebooksubtitle"]Nanobots

[attr="class","guidebookbody"]Augments have nanobots in their bloodstream. The nanobots are present in the dogs from birth, use the dog's energy as fuel, and create more nanobots should some become damaged by using resources in the environment. An Augment cycles through these nanobots several times in their life. Dogs can learn to direct the nanobots with practice. It requires self-awareness, self-discipline, and an intense need or desire to do so.
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Typically, around 10-15 years, the data which keeps the nanobots working to their fullest potential begins to become corrupted due to the mistakes that happen when a copy of a copy of a copy is made. Most Augments do not notice this happens, as the nanobots function well enough, but the ability to heal and upgrade does start to degrade. At this point the dogs age quickly.

[attr="class","guidebooksubtitle"]Healing Factor

[attr="class","guidebookbody"]The nanobots within an Augment's bloodstream allows the dog to have faster healing. While the healing is not instantaneous, it is much quicker than the two other variants. These tiny robots (invisible to the naked eye) are constantly monitoring and repairing an Augment's body, which is why they can look quite young well into their double digits.
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Small wounds (scratches, scrapes, light bruises) heal quickly and almost instantaneously. The nanobots cannot regrow lost tissues and the dogs will scar in those areas, the same as any other dog. For larger wounds, healing is generally twice as fast as normal. The larger the wound, however, the more likely it is that the nanobots will determine it is more cost-effective, so to speak, to replace the living tissues with mechanical parts. Learning to influence the nanobots can help make this more or less likely. Augments, with a lot of practice, can even direct their nanobots towards others to help them heal as well. They cannot upgrade other dogs.

[attr="class","guidebooksubtitle"]Upgrades

[attr="class","guidebookbody"]When an Augment is injured and surrounded by enough resources to do so, they may upgrade their bodies with cybernetic parts. The nanobots take resources from the environment by moving these resources, molecule by molecule into the dog's body and building the new parts like that. The materials seem to melt around the dog as the upgrade seems to materialize. The speed depends on the size and intricacy of the upgrade. For example, upgrading a jaw requires more time than upgrading a fang. And, creating a prosthetic leg requires more time than reinforcing the bone with metal. Upgrades typically take anywhere from a few hours to a few weeks. The process is quite painful.
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Some dogs can have more involved upgrades such as weaponry or armor. This requires that the dog stays conscious throughout the entire process and influences the nanobots constantly to create the parts they want. And, this requires that the dog have the knowledge necessary in order to know, intimately, the upgrade they want. They gain this knowledge through research and information gathering.

[attr="class","guidebookquote"]Timeframe & Materials for Upgrades
[break]This is not an exhaustive list, but merely to give you an idea of the sort of things are necessary for each type of upgrade or enhancement. Use this is a resource, but please don't be limited by it.
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• Catalyst - The injury the dog receives to be able to begin upgrading. Remember that the nanobots cannot replace healthy tissues.
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• Timeframe - Describes how long the process might take for an Augment to complete this upgrade with all resources available. This process can be paused and continued later should your dog be interrupted.

[attr="class","guidebooktablefield2"]Upgrade	[attr="class","guidebooktablefield2"]Catalyst	[attr="class","guidebooktablefield2"]Time-Frame
Cybernetic eye	Loss of eye	3-6 hours
Metal-plated tooth	Cracked or chipped tooth	30-60 minutes
Robotic leg	Loss of limb	1-2 weeks
Metal reinforced bone	Cracked bone	1-3 hours

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[attr="class","guidebooktitle"]Espers

[attr="class","guidebookbody"]Espers were the result of experimenting with alien DNA in order to create fine housepets rather than the ever useful Augments. They often have small glowing horns, typically crystalline or translucent in appearance. The horns glow strongly when they are healthy and dim when they are weak or sad. In addition, their eyes may glow and change silver or gold with strong emotions. They are the only variant with an aptitude towards psychic abilities, but using them typically leaves them in a vulnerable, weakened state.

[attr="class","guidebooktablefield"] Physical Traits	Glowing horns, often crystalline or translucent; eyes may glow
[attr="class","guidebooktablefield"] Lifespan	10-15+ years (depending on breed or breed mix)
[attr="class","guidebooktablefield"] Strengths	Can develop psychic powers
[attr="class","guidebooktablefield"] Weaknesses	Use of powers causes symptoms.
[attr="class","guidebooktablefield"] M-Sensitivity	Average; may remain unaffected, but become carriers.
[attr="class","guidebooktablefield"] W-Compatibility	Low, but may force and maintain a link-up with effort.

[attr="class","guidebooksubtitle"]Alien DNA

[attr="class","guidebookbody"]The alien DNA which is spliced into their canine DNA was from an empathetic and intelligent creature. Humans thought that what was missing from the Earth dogs they spoke about was empathy. Honestly, their nostalgia colored their view. Rather than create a dog that is more empathetic, humans created a dog with psychic powers.
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The alien that Espers owe their abilities to cannot be found on Canaria. They looked like thick-bodied bear-like creatures, though had large horns and silver or golden glowing eyes. Espers have only retained the glowing eyes when they are feeling intense emotions such as grief, fury, joy, and excitement. Some Espers are more prone to eye glowing than others, the same as some humans are more prone to blushing than others. Their eyes turn silver or gold when glowing.

[attr="class","guidebooksubtitle"]Psychic Abilities

[attr="class","guidebookbody"]Espers have an aptitude to learn several different psychic abilities. They can choose to focus on only one or two. Or they can dabble in any or all of them. The age-old adage "jack of all trades; master of none" come to mind when describing an Esper who attempts to develop multiple abilities past the novice level. For the sake of the game, there are four levels of skill: [break]

[attr="class","guidebookquote"]• Novice - The lowest level of skill which requires no training. Spontaneous and undeveloped.
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• Amateur - The dog has practiced this skill to a usable level.
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• Proficient - The dog has developed this skill further.
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• Mastered - The dog has mastered the ability and unlocked the fullest potential.

[attr="class","guidebooktablefield2"]Ability	[attr="class","guidebooktablefield2"]Novice	[attr="class","guidebooktablefield2"]Amateur	[attr="class","guidebooktablefield2"]Proficient	[attr="class","guidebooktablefield2"]Mastered
Perception	Makes a dog do a double take	Disguise or hide small features	Disguise multiple features	Change what others see & hear
Telepathy	Share intense emotions	Share thoughts/speak mentally	Share memories	Share plans, plant ideas
Mood Manipulation	Soothe mild emotions	Soothe intense emotions	Change a dog's current mood	Change the mood of an area
Mind Reading	Can somewhat notice lies	Can detect general information; non-specific	Can search specific information	Can read the thoughts of others
Hypnosis	Can induce a relaxed dog to space out	Induce to space out; relaxed dogs, to sleep	Induce sleep; relaxed dogs, actions	Induce actions; relaxed dogs, comas
Telekinesis	Alter the path of a falling object	Move and turn lightweight objects	Move objects, slightly enhance agility (not speed)	Move large or heavy objects, enhance agility (not speed)

[attr="class","guidebooksubtitle"]Ability Use Symptoms

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Depending on how an Esper uses his or her power, there will be different symptoms. Each dog has his or her own tendencies as far as symptoms go. There are mild, average, and severe symptoms. And there are two different lists depending on if your dog uses their abilities intermittently or frequently. These lists are mere suggestions. Feel free to be creative!

[attr="class","guidebookquote"]Intermittent use of Abilities
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These symptoms appear within an hour after use of the power and disappear anywhere between an hour and three days.
[break]• Mild - Using a Novice ability or an Amateur ability (only if Proficient or higher).
[break]• Average - Using an ability the same level as your dog (Amateur or Proficient)
[break]• Severe - Use of a Proficient ability (Amateur) or using a Mastered leveled ability.

[attr="class","guidebooktablefield2"]Mild	[attr="class","guidebooktablefield2"]Average	[attr="class","guidebooktablefield2"]Severe
Headaches	Migraines	Seizures
Nausea	Dry heaving, chance of vomiting	Vomiting, "emptying stomach"
Drowsiness	Passing out	Coma
Dizziness	Clumsiness, as if drunk	Vertigo

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[attr="class","guidebookquote"]Frequent or Continuous use of Abilities
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These symptoms appear one hour after beginning to use an ability and get progressively worse the longer a dog continues to use them. Some abilities, like Perception, Mood Manipulation, and Mind-Reading, can be continuous. While others, like Hypnosis, Telepathy, Telekinesis, can be used frequently.
[break]• Mild - Within first 24 hours (continuous) | Within half an hour combined time (frequent)
[break]• Average - Between 24-72 hours (continuous)| Between half an hour to 3 hours combined time (frequent)
[break]• Severe - 72+ hours (continuous) | Over 3 hours combined time (frequent)

[attr="class","guidebooktablefield2"]Mild	[attr="class","guidebooktablefield2"]Average	[attr="class","guidebooktablefield2"]Severe
Mild forgetfulness	Forgetfulness	Chunks of memory missing (amnesia)
Slight anxiety	Anxiety	Panic, Paranoia
Racing thoughts	Mood swings, manic tendencies	Mood or personality disorder
Excitability and mild distractibility	Hyperactivity and distractibility	ADHD
Hearing voices	Hallucinations	Hallucinations and delusions
Slight oral fixation	Compulsive oral fixation	Pica

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[attr="class","guidebooktitle"]Basals

[attr="class","guidebookbody"]Basals are the newest variant on Canaria. They were man's attempt to recreate dogs with the pieces of genetic codes they had left from the original space-station dogs. Due to missing a lot of the usable DNA, the genetic code had to be tampered with, and some of it had to be re-written, and the result was the creation of this adaptable, intelligent creature. Basals are known for their lack of abilities, but there are often moments when an Augment or Esper gives birth to a puppy without any abilities. These are also known as Basals, though are born pure white and often lack hearing or sight, may be mute, etc.

[attr="class","guidebooktablefield"] Physical Traits	n/a
[attr="class","guidebooktablefield"] Lifespan	10-15+ years (depending on breed or breed mix)
[attr="class","guidebooktablefield"] Strengths	Highly adaptable DNA and compatibility with Watchers
[attr="class","guidebooktablefield"] Weaknesses	Lack of abilities.
[attr="class","guidebooktablefield"] M-Sensitivity	High, mutates easily
[attr="class","guidebooktablefield"] W-Compatibility	High, usually permanent and effortless

[attr="class","guidebooksubtitle"]Adaptive DNA

[attr="class","guidebookbody"]Basals are unique for their adaptive DNA. This means that mutagens can easily change their body via adaptations instead of simply causing their puppies to be born with deformities. It also means that it is very easy for them to sync up to the Watcher robots scattered around Canaria. They are even able to take Watchers currently in use by humans if they please, something that no other variant can do.
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This is possible because they are an almost entirely genetically engineered creature. The other variants were modifications to the original dog's code, most of which was lost over the years. After research, the humans were able to rewrite large pieces of the code with what, theoretically, should fit. It has created a dog that is very much like the dog of yesteryear, except their artificial DNA allows them to be extremely adaptive.

[attr="class","guidebooksubtitle"]Lethal White Basals

[attr="class","guidebookbody"]Occasionally, from any of the variants, a puppy is born completely white with a pink nose, paw pads, and light gray eyes. His coat, nose, paws, and eye color changes to what he should genetically be, by the time he's reached his second birthday. Between birth and then, his coat is usually mottled or roaned between the pure white and his adult fur color. His nose and paw pads are an intermediate color until they reach his adult shade. The eyes turn color unevenly, with one eye darkening faster than the other, and most Lethal Whites have heterochromia as adults. Ability-wise, the Lethal White Basal is almost exactly the same as a Basal with their adaptive DNA.
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This is called a "Lethal White Basal" even though the white coat color is neither permanent or lethal. However, the dogs typically are born with difficulties in either hearing, vision, with speaking, or a mix of those three. The severity is all up to chance with some dogs being only mildly affected. The name Lethal may have come from the reduced survival rate of these puppies. They are not too common, coming from a bad luck of the draw as far as genetics go.

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[attr="class","guidebooktitle"]Mutants

[attr="class","guidebookbody"]Mutants are simply dogs which have had their bodies changed by mutagens. Mutations can change a dog's appearance or add to a dog's abilities. However, Basals are the only variant to have adaptive mutations due to their flexible DNA. Espers are not immune to mutagens, but typically, they carry the mutation and pass it on to their puppies. These are known as congenital mutations and can range from aesthetic mutations to deformities. Augments can only become carriers if their nanobots have been deactivated long enough to allow the effects of the mutagens to set before being activated again. Healers can heal the effects of a mutation if the dog is actively mutating through use of the Glassrose plant.

[attr="class","guidebooksubtitle"]Environmental Mutations (Basals)

[attr="class","guidebookbody"]The most common mutations are aesthetic mutations. Exposure to mutagens typically causes non-detrimental changes to a Basal which cause the dog's body to change slightly. These mutations can be something as simple as a strange fur or eye color. Or something as interesting as a mane, feathers, etc. A dog gaining these mutations usually have few and mild symptoms.
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Basals can also gain adaptive mutations. These mutations are different in that they change a Basal dog's physical capabilities by granting new adaptations. They can be things like sharper eyesight to something like gills and the ability to breathe underwater. Only Basals can get these adaptive mutations due to their flexible DNA.
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If a mutation starts to change the structure of a dog, they may feel queasy or achy. The more extreme mutations (adaptive mutations) are often painful. Mutations manifest after prolonged exposure to mutagens and take some time to be complete. Only Basals can start to have changes within their life times. The other variants can only become carriers. Their children can then get these mutations, so it's possible to have a mutated Esper or Augment.

[attr="class","guidebooksubtitle"]Congenital Mutations

[attr="class","guidebookbody"]While only Basals can have environmental mutations, any variant can have congenital mutations. Any variant can become a carrier when exposed to mutagens and their puppies will then be born with the mutation. Congenital mutations tend to either be aesthetic mutations or deformities. So, they can be odd fur colors or they can be a crooked tail among other things. Just because a character is a carrier does not mean that all of their puppies will be deformed or mutants. It depends on several more factors. Healers can increase the chance for a healthy puppy.

[attr="class","guidebooksubtitle"]Glassrose Plant

[attr="class","guidebookbody"]Glassrose is a engineered plant designed to contain toxic chemicals and grows around factories and reactors and other areas known for high pollution or mutagens. The plant itself is a tall, thorny plant. It grows clear-petaled flowers in the Spring and Summer and small, dark fruit in the Autumn. The plant is extremely bitter and hard to stomach, but the fruit is mild tasting and sweet. The entire plant can help cleanse mutagens from the body if eaten regularly over several days and if the mutation hasn't set for Basals, even reverse the process. Fed to pregnant dogs, it can guard against congenital mutations.
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Once harvested, the plant is known to spoil quickly--within an hour or two, which is why a suspension in alcohol is usually made to lengthen its effectiveness. The plant is most effective when eaten fresh.

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[attr="class","guidebooktitle"]Watchdogs

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No dog is born a Watchdog. Watchdogs are created when a dog, usually a Basal, has their brainwaves permanently synced with a robot known as a Watcher. While there are different models of Watchers, the most common ones are round and hover. Dogs gain certain abilities when using a Watcher. If creating or syncing to a Watcher, post HERE.

[attr="class","guidebooksubtitle"]The Watchers

[attr="class","guidebookbody"]Watchers are small to medium sized, hovering, multi-purpose robots. Watchers link to the brain waves of their host and follow the dog around. They can collect and share data, send and receive communications, send small electro-magnetic surges which effect the variants in different ways, and activate human technologies such as opening doors or turning on lights. Some machines are specialized for combat, research, communication, and other tasks. Watchers run on a dog's own electrical energy and cause a dog to eat more food and tire faster than dogs of the same condition.
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Watchers were originally designed for humans. As such, many of the purposes they have for humans do not always run perfectly for dogs. The Watchers can be glitchy with most dogs, especially before the dog really gets a feel for influencing the machine, which has its own AI. Watchers were meant to help humans and not just be machines that blindly took commands from people. The machine sometimes has trouble when trying to accomplish something that makes sense for a dog but no sense for a human to do.
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There are a few different models of Watchers. Below are some descriptions of the models and what they are used for. The range in sizes changes the name. For exmaple: the smallest Tanager is known as Tanager-15, while the largest is Tanager-20.

[attr="class","guidebooktablefield2"]Model	[attr="class","guidebooktablefield2"]Size	[attr="class","guidebooktablefield2"]Utility	[attr="class","guidebooktablefield2"]Notes
Tanager	Small; 6-8in (15-20cm) in diameter	Tanagers are considered the all-rounder type of Watcher. Useful for data collection, activating electronics, and limited defense, Tanagers define "jack of all trades; king of none."	The most common to find and the most stable to use.
Shrike	Small; 6-8in (15-20cm) in diameter.	Shrikes can allow small needle-like knives to protrude from their main body to slice or stab. They tend to move quickly and erratically.	Knives tend to dull in use, but can be replaced. Can be unpredictable during high emotion moments.
Chough	Medium; 8-12in (20-30cm) in diameter.	Choughs are focused on communication. They can send and receive information with ease. They even show an ability to communicate past language barriers and speak more often than any other model.	Choughs are highly responsive to thoughts to the point where some dogs might not be able to control what their Chough may say for them.
Accentor	Medium; 8-12in (20-30cm) in diameter.	Accentors are the only Watcher which have been winterized for use in the far North. They do not need much energy and were useful for explorers.	Most commonly found in the North.
Ifrit	Medium; 8-12in (20-30cm) in diameter.	Ifrits were designed for the capture of live organisms. They can shoot retractable darts full of temporary paralytics. Side effects are numbness and tingling.	Temperamental and difficult to use. Ifrits were designed to capture animals and many dogs synced to them will find themselves on the wrong end of a dart.
Bowerbird	Large; 12-16in (30-40cm) in diameter.	Bowerbirds were designed for field research. Humans used them to collect samples from the environment and manipulate potentially dangerous resources with the retractable pincers. Dogs typically use them to collect and manipulate small, delicate items.	Bowerbirds are hard to sync with, but easy to use due to the lack of a powerful AI system, communication system, or weapon system.

[attr="class","guidebooksubtitle"]Watchdog Abilities

[attr="class","guidebookbody"]Watchdogs have the full repertoire of abilities at their disposal, but the abilities may not always work as the dogs intended. Dogs who are temporarily linked to Watchers are not called Watchdogs and cannot access all of a Watcher's ability, though they can use the robots. Below is a list of abilities that Watchdogs may have.

[attr="class","guidebooktablefield2"]Ability	[attr="class","guidebooktablefield2"]Description	[attr="class","guidebooktablefield2"]Notes
Activate human devices	Turn on lights, different machines, open automatic doors.	Only dogs who have intimate knowledge of machines can operate more complex machines.
Send and receive messages	Can send communication to nearby Watchdogs (like using a phone)	Choughs are the easiest to use for this purpose and can also break through language barriers with automatic translating across languages and even species
Lights	All models of Watchers have a small light	To be used like a flash light or torch.
Record information	Can record video or sound to replay later.	Dogs can see their recorded videos as memories if they are synced to a Watcher.
Data collection	Can obtain data from working computer systems in order to learn or scan objects for information.	Computer systems which are still working are rare and information needs to be targeted. Scanning is limited to dogs own knowledge base.