OSRS A Ruff Situation Quest Guide: Dog Shelter, Puppies & Clue Digging

The Short Answer

A Ruff Situation is a new Novice members quest added on 8 September 2026. You help Talia and Chase open a Dog Shelter south-west of the Edgeville Monastery, rescue a stray’s missing puppies around Varrock, and unlock adoptable puppies that grow into dogs — including clue-scroll digging once they are adults.

• Start: talk to Talia at the Dog Shelter (south-west of Edgeville Monastery).
• Hard req: 15 Crafting, members.
• Bring: needle or costume needle, thread (if using a normal needle), fur, grain.
• Combat: two Outlaws, levels 22 and 23.
• Finish: three puppies returned → shelter opens → adopt and hunt remaining breeds.

Requirements, Items, and Why It Matters

Skill gate is low on purpose. The payoff is the dog: unlike kittens they will not run away if you skip feeding, you can keep them as puppies by not feeding them, and grown dogs can dig Treasure Trail steps so you do not need to carry a spade. Up to 12 dogs can live in a Player-Owned House menagerie — matching the 12 breeds.

Inventory before you start

• Needle or costume needle.
• Thread — not needed with a costume needle.
• Fur: fur, bear fur, grey wolf fur, fox fur, or jaguar fur. Baraek in Varrock Square sells fur for 20 coins.
• Grain — pick it from the wheat field north of the Cooks’ Guild if you skip the bank trip.
• Combat bracelet or skull sceptre for a fast return to the monastery/shelter.
• Food if your combat is low; the outlaws are easy but HCIM have already died here.
• 200 coins after the quest if you want to adopt immediately.

Walkthrough: A Doggone Mess

Talk to Talia at the camp just south-west of the Edgeville Monastery. Combat bracelet or skull sceptre is the fastest arrival. She explains the monks allowed the shelter, they cannot find enough strays, and they used to keep cats with help from Gertrude. She sends you to Gertrude.

1. Go to Gertrude’s house south of the Cooks’ Guild in western Varrock (Skills necklace → Cooking Guild is close).
2. Tell her Talia’s shelter is dogs-only now. Defend the “mangy dogs”; she points you to a dog near the bank.
3. Head slightly north-east to the stray barking at a guard just south of Varrock west bank.
4. Talk through the guard: the dog is usually friendly but has been gone for weeks. He suggests you follow her.

Walkthrough: Every Dog Has Its Day

Follow the stray to the house just west of Thessalia’s Fine Clothes. Inspect the torn newspaper, chewed box, and rough bedding. The puppies are missing — she runs again.

First puppy (Cooks’ Guild)

Follow through the bank (a banker tries to shoo her). She stops north of the Cooks’ Guild. A cutscene shows Picklenose grabbing a puppy; he flees when he sees the adult stray.

Second puppy — stuffed dog for the goblins

1. Interact with the stray again so she is following.
2. Talk to Picklenose on the west side of the Cooks’ Guild with the other goblins.
3. They want guard dogs for Goblin Village and have no idea how to care for them. Offer a stuffed dog instead.
4. Use grain on fur with needle + thread (or costume needle) to make a stuffed dog.
5. Talk to Picklenose again. They take the toy and hand over the puppy (Labrador).

Third puppy — outlaw camp

Interact and follow again. She weaves before stopping at the Outlaw Camp entrance. Kill the two outlaws (level 22 and 23). After the fight, a cutscene returns the puppies to the shelter.

All 12 Puppy Breeds (Where to Find Them)

Three come from the quest. The rest wander until you pick them up — see the wiki Puppy page if a spawn moves after an update. Yorkies are easy to miss because they are tiny.

If clues are a bigger bottleneck than the quest itself, use the clue scrolls guide after you have a grown dog. Crafting 15 is trivial next to Crafting 1–99 if you still need the level.

FAQ

Is A Ruff Situation actually a new quest?

Yes. Released 8 September 2026 with Crab Quest. The wiki news post is the announcement wrapper; this page is the quest.

How long does it take?

Wiki length is Short. Fastest recorded completion as of 11 September 2026 was 6:27. Three Hardcore Ironmen had already died on the outlaw step by that date — treat the fight as real if you are HCIM.

Do dogs run away like kittens?

No. Skip feeding to keep puppy form. Grown dogs help with Treasure Trail digging.

Can I wear cat cosmetics at the shelter?

Catspeak amulet: your puppy does not react well. Cat ears / hell cat ears: Talia refuses to talk (“cringe head wear”). Chase just laughs it off.

Should I outsource this?

Most accounts can finish it in one sitting. If you want the pet/clue unlock without the Varrock run, read how questing services work — optional, never required for this walkthrough.

Related Guides

• OSRS Crab Quest Guide — the other 8 September 2026 quest (Sailing 40, Fishing 30)
• OSRS Clue Scrolls Treasure Trails Guide — why adult dogs matter after this unlock
• OSRS Lost City Quest Guide — another short quest with an outsized unlock
• Optimal quest order
• Best quests for beginners
• Quests hub · Skills

Bottom Line

A Ruff Situation is a new 2026 Novice quest: 15 Crafting, a Varrock follow-the-dog loop, one Crafting toy, two low-level outlaws, then a pet that actually helps clues. Do it once, bank the three story puppies, then sweep the world spawns when you are already in those areas.

Confirm live spawns and item names on the OSRS Wiki quest page if an update moves a breed. Bils Services has offered hand-done quest help since 2018 if you would rather skip the run.