OSRS A Ruff Situation quest guide: requirements, rewards and how to start

Quest overview: A Ruff Situation

A Ruff Situation is a Novice, members-only quest launching in September 2026. The story involves Talia and Chase, who have set up a Dog Shelter near Ice Mountain. They need your help to get the shelter running. The quest is designed to be accessible to low-level players, with only a 15 Crafting requirement.

The quest is part of the August 2026 monthly update announcement (11 August 2026) alongside Bronzeman Mode. It introduces a new pet system for OSRS: puppies that grow into dogs, similar to the existing kitten/cat system from Gertrude's Cat. The quest is one of five poll questions opening on 14 August 2026.

The quest name is a play on 'a rough situation' — a dog shelter in need of help. The writing style is expected to be light-hearted, in keeping with other Novice quests like Gertrude's Cat and Eadgar's Ruse.

Requirements and how to start

The only requirement for A Ruff Situation is Level 15 Crafting. This makes it one of the most accessible quests in the game — most players will meet this requirement without any specific training. The quest is members-only, so free-to-play players will need membership to access it.

To start the quest, speak to Talia south of the Asgarnia Monastery. The Monastery is located north of Falador, east of the Goblin Village. Talia is just south of the Monastery, near the dog shelter. The quest is expected to take 15-30 minutes, consistent with other Novice quests.

Recommended items: a spade (for the clue digging mechanic), food (low-level monsters may be encountered), and perhaps some crafting materials. The exact quest steps will be revealed on launch, but the low requirement means preparation is minimal.

• Requirement: 15 Crafting (members only).
• Start: Talia, south of Asgarnia Monastery.
• Expected duration: 15-30 minutes (Novice tier).
• Recommended: spade, food, crafting materials.

Quest rewards

The primary reward is 1,000 Crafting XP, a modest but welcome boost for low-level Crafting training. The main attraction, however, is the access to puppies — new followers that grow into dogs. This is the first major expansion of the pet/follower system since the introduction of cats from Gertrude's Cat.

Puppies grow into fully grown dogs when fed regularly over a few hours. Unlike kittens, they do not constantly demand attention or run away if neglected — growth pauses if you stop feeding them, allowing you to keep a puppy forever if you prefer. Eleven breeds are available: Chihuahua, Collie, Corgi, Greyhound, Husky, Labrador, Pug, Samoyed, Spaniel, Shepherd, Shiba, and Yorkie.

Fully grown dogs can live in the Player-Owned House Menagerie, and you can own multiple breeds and colours at once. They also have unique gameplay functions: dogs can dig for treasure trail steps (saving you from carrying a spade), and fully grown dogs can be traded for 100 blood runes (200 with the Morytania Medium Diary completed).

• 1,000 Crafting XP.
• Access to puppies (11 breeds, grow into dogs).
• POH Menagerie: own multiple breeds at once.
• Clue hunting companion: dig for treasure trail steps.
• Blood rune trade: 100/200 blood runes per dog.

Clue hunting companion and blood rune trade

The clue hunting companion mechanic is a significant quality-of-life improvement for clue scroll enthusiasts. A fully grown dog (or the Bloodhound) can dig for treasure trail steps, eliminating the need to carry a spade in your inventory. This saves one inventory slot and removes the risk of forgetting your spade when heading to a clue location.

The blood rune trade is another interesting mechanic. You can trade a fully grown dog to an NPC near the Theatre of Blood for 100 blood runes (200 with the Morytania Medium Diary). This creates a new, renewable source of blood runes — one of the most expensive runes in the game. The trade is a unique way to profit from the dog-raising mechanic, especially for players who enjoy the pet-raising aspect.

Both mechanics are subject to the August 14 poll (questions 4 and 5). If they pass, they will be implemented alongside the quest in September 2026.