Akk dog/Legends

"If you run from a pack of akk dogs, they will chase you until you're dinner. But if you stand firm and look the lead dog in the eye, they will ignore you out of respect."

- Jedi Padawan Drake Lo'gaan

Akk dogs, sometimes called aak dogs, were large reptomammals native to Haruun Kal.

Anatomy and biology


"The one I struck has barely slowed down! Lightsabers have little effect on those thick hides!"

- Depa Billaba

Scaled reptomammals native to Haruun Kal, akk dogs were Force-sensitive and thus capable of being domesticated by the native Korunnai. Great companions to these nomadic people, akks were used for protection; not only of the tribe, but of the great grasser herds shepherded through the jungles by Korun herders. Akk dogs had triangular teeth in jaws strong enough to crush durasteel; large black tongues; scaly hides that could block a lightsaber; armored, muscular tails the length of their body; shovel-sized splayed claws; and armored, lidless eyes. Their bodies were as long as landspeeders. Their heads had six vestigial horns arranged in a triangular pattern, and they had olfactory pits next to their nose. Akk dogs had two smaller varieties, and were also related to akk wolves.

Akk dogs and Galactic history
"I can't fit what I know of Haruun Kal into a guidebook description. Too much of what I know is the color of the sunflash and the smell of the wind off Grandfather's Shoulder, the silken ripple of a grasser's undercoat through my fingers, the hot fierce sting of an akk dog's Force-touch."

- Private Journals of Mace Windu

Following the Ruusan Reformations of the Galactic Republic, akks were often seen as companion to Jedi Knights, forming a Force bond like to that seen between the Korunnai on the akks' homeworld. Akk dogs were studied by the esteemed biologist and Jedi Master, Bowspritz during his visit to the Exploration Corps compound on Ord Canfre.

Illegal trade of akks reached new heights around 32 BBY, as smugglers on Nar Shaddaa sent the hounds off to various worlds, most notably the Dug homeworld of Malastare. While on Malastare dealing with the unrelated matter of the Red Iaro terrorist group, several members of the Jedi High Council were attacked by several akk dogs. Due to his Korun heritage, Master Mace Windu was able to calm the hounds, but became deeply troubled by their use as attackers. Taking it upon himself to investigate the increased smuggling of these creatures, Windu traveled to Nar Shaddaa in hopes of shutting down the black market there. Meeting with fellow Jedi Depa Billaba and Quinlan Vos, Windu commandeered a speeder bike to reach the Circus Horrificus complex, where mutant akk dogs were being used. Along with his brother and sister Jedi, Windu confronted Gargonn the Hutt, the leader of the smuggling ring, and shut down his operation.

During the Clone Wars, Windu would encounter Akks once more when he returned to his home planet of Haruun Kal to find Depa Billaba, who had fallen into madness there.

Cultural influences
Inspired by the ferociousness of akk dogs, the Skaak Tippers slicer gang incorporated the word "aak" into the name of their gang so as to give the impression that they were a pack of ferocious computer hackers.

Behind the scenes
"The Death Star is not a good place to have Aak Dogs, people!"

- A bitizen through the HoloNet

While "akk dog" is used in the majority of the Star Wars canon, they were referred to as "aak dog" in Star Wars Galaxies game and related material.

Appearances

 * Star Wars: The Old Republic
 * Star Wars: Republic 16: Emissaries to Malastare, Part 4
 * Star Wars: Republic 17: Emissaries to Malastare, Part 5
 * Star Wars: Republic 18: Emissaries to Malastare, Part 6
 * Shatterpoint
 * Star Wars: The Clone Wars novel
 * The Clone Wars: No Prisoners
 * Republic Commando: True Colors
 * Order 66: A Republic Commando Novel
 * Imperial Commando: 501st
 * Evasive Action: Prey
 * Coruscant Nights I: Jedi Twilight
 * Coruscant Nights II: Street of Shadows
 * Star Wars: Tiny Death Star
 * Scourge
 * Legacy of the Force: Revelation
 * Millennium Falcon