Sweet suggestion.

Dogs could also get some gear with buffs to help offset the chance of losing the dog and better the chance of completing a mission and also add encounters with other dogs which could help harm/entrap yours if it isn't well equiped

Maybe 3 types of harnesss

Regular + 15% loyalty +5xp at mission completion

Combat I + 20% loyalty +15xp at mission completion 

Combat II + 30% loyalty +20xp at mission completion

This so said XP combined with loyalty will reduce chances of my dog cowering in combat

2 types of collars

Simple named collar for cosmetics, could add temporary loyalty

Chipped trackable collars also adding loyalty opening up a section of tracking dogs either lost or entrapped, a mission sicarios could do.

For some battlestat buffs maybe include a another course for that and add limits per dog breed

All this can be progressive, you don't have to smack us with everything at once but do acknowledge how much more dogs are capable of imagine having 2 dogs on missions and their buffs working together to better them. Coz I mean what else do dogs do but eat my food, get trained and watch me get smacked?

Add fun and simple variations:

Food Qualities

Basic kibble → reduces exhaustion moderately

Premium Chow → reduces more exhaustion, increases mood

Treats → small instant energy boost

Meaty Meal → temporary +5% tracking success

Food can also be found on missions.

 Weather & Time Conditions

Weather affects mission difficulty:

Weather Effects

Rain → +10% mission time

Windy → -5% scent accuracy

Foggy → +5% rare item chance (dogs rely more on instinct)

Sunny → Faster mission completion

Day/Night

Night missions → higher risk, better rewards

Day missions → safer, fewer rare finds

I almost added dog missions, so happy to see it as an organic suggestion.

There are a lot of things in this that I like so adding it to my queue.

Would be interesting to have different breeds have different traits that makes them better at certain missions. Maybe one breed is a better tracker, one breed is a better hunter etc.

Being able to breed dogs, up to 10 per litter random quality and stats. Cross breed to get different stats on other dogs, say female decides breed father decides trait. 

Chihuahua 5% Luck

Mexican Hairless 5% faster mission

Argentino -5% weather debuff

Pila 5% Loyalty

Mastiff +50% growl ability

Alsation +5% mission rewards

Doberman +50% maiming ability

Golden Retriever +50% Tactical reload chance

Husky +50% healing lick

Bulldog +5% experience

Leonberger +50% metal detection

Chow Chow +2.5% experience +2.5% loyalty

Open to edits additions on that, I just randomly assigned things.