K | The Canine Detective banner

K | The Canine Detective

she/her

5.0

(2)

Timezone

America/vancouver

Language

English

Identity

LGBTQ+
Queer
Neurodivergent
Women/Femme Identifying

About K | The Canine Detective

Hey, I am K (she/her). A virtual dog trainer, lifelong fantasy nerd, and dog mom of three. Welcome to the dog side of TTRPGs! During the height of Tumblr LoTR and Hobbit fanfiction, the idea of a dog joining Thorin's Company lodged itself in my brain. Would a dog have worsened the party's stealth stats, or were the bumbling dwarves doomed as is? And what would it take for a canine companion to be a helpful member of the fellowship rather than a liability? And so, over a decade ago, the seed for canine adventuring RPGs was planted. I love dogs. And one of my biggest bugbears is when canine characters in games and stories aren't acting like dogs! Dogs are not accessories or gear. They have their own thoughts and feelings, and this is reflected in their behaviour (like any other NPC in our favourite campaigns). My table is a safe space for adults who never stopped playing childhood games of make-believe. All player characters get their time in the spotlight, their backgrounds are used for plot hooks, and their canine companions are given agency, being collaboratively created by both the GM and player. The goal is always to have fun, tell good stories, and connect with other dog-loving gamers. I currently run one shots, mini campaigns, and short campaigns, usually ranging between 1 and 12 sessions. Scheduling is the enemy (and oftentimes cause of death) of campaigns everywhere. So if you and your furry friend are ready to get questing but none of my available listings work for you, shoot me a message! A great table is always worth a little coordination. Outside of TTRPGs, I help dog lovers live happier lives with their dogs. When not with clients, I am probably reading, out in nature, or trying to write while all three dogs demand pets at once.

At a glance

Less than a year on StartPlaying

Highly rated for: Creativity, Knows the Rules, Teacher

Featured Prompts

I became a GM because

I know what it's like to have a GM mishandle a PC's doggo. And I wanted to run games where players could adventure alongside their own pups (yes, we will turn your real-life dog into a companion for your character).

My favorite shows/movies are

Avatar: The Last Airbender, The Owl House, Dimension 20, Pride and Prejudice, Stranger Things, Bridgerton, early 2000s Barbie, The Good Place, and, honestly, anything with a satisfying ending. Although I must admit, I am a sucker for a good plot twist.

How K | The Canine Detective runs games

HOW I RUN GAMES: 📖 your characters’ aspirations are the main plot 🥳 vibes are fun and supportive (we cheer our fellow players on) 🧌 cool art for all major NPCs 🤖 no AI used (support artists!) 🎵 some mood music & setting art 💞 romance can be incorporated consensually 🌈 safety and inclusion above all (this is a bigotry free zone) 🚪 open door policy always (life happens, and you’re welcome back anytime) 🎲 the dice tell the story WE MAY NOT BE A MATCH IF… 🚫 you want tons of crunchy combat 🚫 you think your character is more important than other players’ 🚫 you don’t like dogs

Featured Prompts

My favorite trope is...

1) Assembling the team (collecting a crew for a heist/mission). 2) Meet-cutes & anything romcom-like. 3) The wisecracker ruins the big bad's monologue. 4) Animal companions in epic adventures. 5) Time-travelling shenanigans (and arguments about how it works).

K | The Canine Detective's ideal table

My tables are small (1 to 4 players), so everyone gets their turn being a main character, and nobody waits an hour for a turn to talk. I use several safety tools, including an open-door policy, mid-session breaks, and debriefing with Stars and Wishes. You are welcome to step away at any time for any reason and come back whenever you are ready. I want you at my table if you are into collaborative storytelling, a member of several fandoms, respectful of people's boundaries, communicative about your wants and needs, and excited about dogs going on adventures! And if you are brand new to TTRPGs, send me a message! I am happy to share where I get my inspo and info from (I'm no gatekeeper). But in general, no experience is necessary to play in my games, as I often run my own system(s).

Featured Prompts

I love it when a player

uses their common sense to solve a problem while the rest of the party is running around being extra.

I think it's a red flag when players...

don't conspire with each other out of session while creating pinterest boards and fanfiction about their PCs (like why else do we play these games /jk)

K | The Canine Detective's Preferences

Systems

Dungeons & Dragons 5e
Homebrew Game
Realms of Pugmire
Heckin' Good Doggos

Platforms

Game style

Roleplay Heavy

Theater of the Mind

Rule of Cool (RoC)

Social