Stalvenhound

Stalvenhounds are one of the most common companion animals in Stalvenrakh. predominantly serving as mounts, especially in the military, though more affluent families will often keep some as domestic pets. One of the notable aspects that makes them so popular in this regard is the strong bonds they develop, from a strong paternal connection to the first creature they lay eyes on when opening their eyes for the first time which in turn flourishes to encompass the close friends & family of the one they're bonded with.
Appearance
Stalvenhounds are on average 1.5 metres tall, & 2.5 metres in length with long, shaggy fur across their entire body, disguising a lot of the muscular bulk of their frame, & their bushy tails are roughly half the length of their torso. Face & ear shape varies, though the military has a strong preference for straight ears & longer muzzles, making them more efficient at tracking. Because of this, stalvenhound breeders value these traits more highly and trade them at a higher cost, whilst smaller muzzled breeds with floppy ears are more popular amongst families, finding the features "cuter" despite the practical disadvantages to them.
Diet & Behaviour
Stalvenhounds are carnivorous, subsisting off of small game. Due to their widespread use in stalvenrakhi society, there's never a shortage of stores selling processed food that suits their nutritional needs, some of which is entirely plant-based. Stalvenhounds form strong bonds with those they care about, leading to remarkable tales of loyalty throughout history, from steeds diving back into danger to rescue lost riders, to lost or stolen ones finding their way backs to their rightful owners. This has led to issues at times, such as in situations where the owners sell their stalvenhound due to financial hardship. 
Whilst not a frequent sight, stalvenhounds in the wild tend to roam in familial groups because of this. They often give birth to only one or two pups at a time, & have a couple of years between pregnancies. This spaced-out nature tends to lead to packs of around 8-10 at a time, the majority of which are related. It takes 1 1/2 years for a newborn stalvenhound to fully mature, but it's not normally until 3-5 for them to be fully considered adults, at which point some choose to leave the pack in search for a prospective mate. Commonly this leads to the lone hound finding & joining a new pack, but on occasion may run into another lone hound & found their own pack.