All about pets in GTA Online: A Safehouse in the Hills

Pets in GTA Online: A Safehouse in the Hills might end up being one of the most quietly exciting parts of the new mansions expansion. Rockstar finally seems ready to let players own an actual pet, not just borrow one tied to another character. After years of Chop being very clearly Franklin’s dog, this is the first time GTA Online is opening the door to pets that belong to the player.

From what’s been revealed so far, pets in GTA Online: A Safehouse in the Hills are tied directly to the new mansions available through Prix Luxury Real Estate. These properties come packed with high-end features, and one detail stands out immediately: dedicated kennels for your domesticated companions.

Note: Parts of this article are speculative and based on the author's views.

Pets in GTA Online: A Safehouse in the Hills is a real ownership feature this time

We’ve technically had animals around before. Chop has been hanging out since the Agency update, but he was always framed as Franklin’s dog, not something the player truly owned. With A Safehouse in the Hills, that barrier finally breaks.

Pets in GTA Online: A Safehouse in the Hills could change how properties feel (Image via Rockstar Games)

At around the 0:04 mark of the YouTube trailer, there’s a dog casually present while characters are working out, and that small detail completely changes how player-owned properties could feel going forward.

The kennels being listed alongside trophy cabinets, private salons, and custom garages makes pets feel like a permanent lifestyle feature rather than a temporary gimmick. This is the first strong sign that Rockstar wants pets to be part of your character’s identity, not just background flavor.

What kind of pets could appear

Rockstar hasn’t confirmed specific breeds yet, but there’s plenty of room to speculate based on what already exists in GTA Online. Chop is a Rottweiler, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see similar large guard breeds show up first. German Shepherds, Dobermans, or even Bulldogs already exist in some form in the game’s world and would fit naturally into mansion ownership.

Smaller dogs also feel possible if Rockstar wants variety, but the wording around kennels and 'domesticated companions' leans toward dogs rather than exotic animals. Other pets aren’t impossible, but dogs feel like the safest and most natural starting point.

Will other animals be added later

It’s hard not to wonder if Rockstar might expand beyond dogs eventually. GTA has featured wildlife and miscellaneous animals for years, but owning them has never been an option. Still, the Franklin-and-Chop setup shows Rockstar knows how to script animal interaction, feeding, and bonding.

That said, nothing so far suggests cats, birds, or more unusual pets in GTA Online: A Safehouse in the Hills. The tone of it feels grounded in luxury and realism, which again points toward dogs being the focus, at least for now.

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Edited by Rishi Pallav