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Contents hide How to start the Thrown to the Dogs quest and pet the dog Follow the dog and protect the dog Where to find the key in Thrown to the Dogs Examine the gravesite

If you splashed out for an early copy of Assassin’s Creed Shadows you’ll have access to a pre-order exclusive side quest called Thrown to the Dogs. It’s a bit underwhelming if you ask us, but it is one you can take on and complete as Naoe in the early game while you’re exploring the Izumi Settsu province.

It stars a mongrel who’s master has passed away. The dog’s a bit worse for wear having taken part in a tussle. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to complete the Thrown to the Dogs quest in Assassin’s Creed Shadows.

The quest starts just south of Osaka at Tennoji Temple. Captured by VideoGamer

Go to the northwest of the temple grounds. Captured by VideoGamer

Reach the top of the small hill to find an injured dog. Captured by VideoGamer

Pet the dog to start the quest. Captured by VideoGamer

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How to start the Thrown to the Dogs quest and pet the dog

To start the quest, head to the quest marker located on a small hill in the northeast of the Tennoji Temple grounds in the east of Izumi Settsu. Check the map images above for the exact location, including zoomed-in and zoomed-out shots to make it easier to find. 

Look out for a path sprinkled with pink blossoms leading up the hill. Once you reach the top, you’ll find the dog next to several stone statues and a large tree. Approach and pet the dog to start the quest. Turns out the animal once belonged to someone called Ichiro. Naoe asks the dog to lead her to whoever hurt it.

Follow the dog and protect the dog

Follow the dog down the hill, along the path to the right towards Osaka, and then left at the crossroads. You’ll bump into a Samurai Dualist and his goons who will immediately turn hostile. Defeat them. The Dualist will mention Ichiro’s dog and a mysterious key.

Keep following the dog down the same path heading southwest and then go right into a small farm settlement. Here, you’ll meet Takako, Ichiro’s sister-in-law. You’ll learn Ichiro died choking on fish bones. Before dying, he hid the inheritance and gave the key to the dog. The dog got hurt defending the key against Takako’s guards.

The choice has no bearing on the rest of the quest. Captured by VideoGamer

At this point, you’ll have two dialogue options:

  • You will pay for hurting this dog.
  • Touch this dog, and deal with me.

The first option will see Naoe fight Takako and kill her. The second will spare her and get her to give up searching for the key. Either way, there are no changes to the outcome of the quest so take your pick.

You’ll find the key here. Captured by VideoGamer

Head to the house on the eastern side of the farm. Captured by VideoGamer

Use the crawl space at the back of the house to find the key. Captured by VideoGamer

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Where to find the key in Thrown to the Dogs

To acquire the key, use Naoe’s Observe skill and you’ll see three blue dots spread across the farm. The one you want is in the house to the east. Head to the back of the house and you’ll spot a crawl space. Go prone and crawl under the house to find Ichiro’s key.

Open the box to finish the quest. Captured by VideoGamer

Examine the gravesite

Make your way back to the gravesite at the top of the hill in Tennoji Temple where you first met the dog. Use the key to open the box dug up by the dog. Inside the box Naoe will find a letter from Ichiro urging the finder to look after the dog, which is called Tsuki-maru. After a brief cut scene, you’ll wrap up the Assassin’s Creed Shadows Thrown to the Dogs quest, earning you the Tsuki-maru pet that you can place in the Hideout.

About the Author

Tom Bardwell

Tom is guides editor here at VideoGamer.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows

  • Platform(s): PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S/X
  • Genre(s): Action Adventure

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