Stardew Valley Player Edits the Game to Get Their IRL Dog on Their Farm

Stardew Valley Player Edits the Game to Get Their IRL Dog on Their Farm

Key Takeaways

  • Players can change their Stardew Valley pet’s appearance by manually editing save files, a process usually not undertaken by average gamers.
  • CactusGobbler swapped a number in the save file to change his dog’s breed to match his real-life pet, circumventing limitations in the game.
  • While altering save files may not be an option for console players, this method provides a workaround for those seeking specific pet breeds in the game.

As a seasoned Stardew Valley gamer, I have to admit, I was blown away by the lengths CactusGobbler went to get his digital pup to look just like his real-life furry friend! Modding and tweaking games is usually not my cup of tea, but when passion meets persistence, even a techno-phobe like me can’t help but be impressed.


A dedicated fan of “Stardew Valley” went to great lengths to incorporate their game dog into the game by personally editing their save file. While there are numerous mods available for “Stardew Valley”, most players aren’t inclined to tamper with their saves in such an intricate way.

Players in Stardew Valley have the chance to own a unique pet companion right from the start. Upon launching the game for the first time, you’ll be asked if you prefer cats or dogs as your pet. After a few days of gameplay, Marnie will offer you an opportunity to adopt one. At the beginning, there were only two types of pets – cats and dogs. However, the game has since broadened its selection, now providing players with various breeds and types of pets to choose from.

For Reddit user CactusGobbler, who plays Stardew Valley and owns a real-world dog that resembles one of the new breeds added in version 1.6, finding an identical canine counterpart in the game proved disappointing as they had just started a fresh farm in version 1.5. Previously, players could modify their pet’s appearance using the illusion altar, but this option was removed with the introduction of multiple pets in update 1.6. Determined to make the game more personal, CactusGobbler delved into Stardew Valley’s save files and tracked down where the farmer’s dog data was stored, then manually edited the information to change their pet’s appearance.

How Did a Stardew Valley Player Change Their Dog Breed?

Luckily, CactusGobbler shared some instructions about modifying the game’s save files. Specifically, he explained that he opened two files associated with the game’s saves: one labeled as the name of the farm followed by a sequence of numbers and “savegameinfo.” Within these files, he looked for the term “breed,” which stores information about the type of pet the player owns. In his instance, he changed “1” to “3,” resulting in an updated appearance for the dog, as this corresponded to a newer breed that had been incorporated into the game.

1. The players were thrilled by CactusGobbler’s endeavors and praised his adorable pet too. Some expressed regret that using the illusion altar on pets was no longer an option. However, CactusGobbler acknowledged the possibility of acquiring another pet, but as he is still in the first summer of the game, it would take a considerable amount of time to reach the maximum friendship level with his current pet and unlock additional ones. Fiddling with the save file might need some experimentation, but it ultimately saved more time compared to playing through the entire game to achieve max friendship with the Stardew Valley pet.

As of now, the update for version 1.6 of Stardew Valley hasn’t been released on consoles and mobile devices. If you’re eager to acquire the new pet breeds, it’s wise to consider the initial choices made by other players since modifying save files on these systems is typically not an option. So, either decide on your preferred pet at the outset or prepare for a prolonged playthrough to unlock more options.

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2024-08-23 02:53