John Wick's Dog is one of the more memorable Battle Pass quests in Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 3, and for good reason. The black pitbull is locked in a cage somewhere on the new map, guarded by waves of security NPCs, and tracking him down earns you full health and shields plus a rare weapon. The catch is that he doesn't spawn in the same place every match, which trips up a lot of players. Here's exactly where to look and what to do when you find him.
Do you need the Battle Pass to rescue John Wick's Dog?
Yes. Completing the rescue quest and unlocking the Dog (Pen & Ink) sidekick requires owning the Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 3 Battle Pass. Without it, you can still interact with the dog if another player has already freed him, but the quest itself won't register and you won't unlock the sidekick.
Dog locked in a cage
Where does John Wick's Dog spawn?
The dog has two possible spawn locations, and the game picks one randomly at the start of each match. There is no icon for the dog on the main map, so you won't spot it by opening your full map. What you can do is watch your minimap for a small icon showing a dog and a cage, or simply listen for barking as you approach either location.
If you land at one location and find nothing, head straight to the other. The dog always spawns somewhere, so the second spot is guaranteed if the first is empty.
Sinister Strip (southern building)
The more straightforward of the two locations. Head to Sinister Strip and look for the large building just south of the POI name on your map. You'll know you're in the right building because the lobby is decorated with Dark Voyager statues. The dog can be found on the ground floor, either already in the cage or roaming freely if someone beat you there.
Battlewoods sewers (northeast)
The trickier location. The dog spawns inside the sewers beneath Battlewoods, accessed by jumping into the river that runs alongside the POI. There are three entry points: one on the eastern wall, one to the north, and a southern entrance that you approach from the east side of the Golden Reel movie theater rather than from the water. Once inside, the dog will be in the sewer tunnels.
Sewer entrance at Battlewoods
How to rescue John Wick's Dog
When you find the dog still in the cage, the process plays out in two stages.
- Clear the first wave of guards. Security NPCs will open fire as soon as you get close. Take them out before approaching the cage.
- Clear the second wave. A fresh group of enemies spawns after the first wave is down. Deal with them too, and keep an eye out for other players who may be hunting the same objective.
- Open the cage. Once the area is clear, interact with the cage to free the dog.
- Pet the dog. Walk up to the freed dog and interact again to pet him. This completes the Battle Pass quest.
Other players know exactly where the dog spawns. Expect competition, especially early in the match. Consider dropping on the location immediately rather than looting first.
Rescuing the dog rewards you with full health and shields plus a mythic 9mm Baba Yaga pistol. Petting the dog can also drop a Legendary Lancehead Pistol, though this isn't a guaranteed reward every time.
What do you unlock by rescuing John Wick's Dog?
The first time you complete the quest, you unlock the Dog (Pen & Ink) sidekick for your locker. From there, playing Chapter 7 Season 3 matches with the sidekick equipped gradually unlocks additional cosmetics tied to him.
If another player has already freed the dog before you arrive, you can still walk up and pet him. You'll collect the weapon rewards and complete the quest on your first interaction, even if you weren't the one who opened the cage.
What happens if you already petted the dog in a previous match?
Once you've completed the quest and unlocked the Dog (Pen & Ink) sidekick, subsequent interactions with the dog in future matches still restore your health and shields. The sidekick cosmetics unlock passively over time just by having the sidekick equipped in your loadout.
For more on surviving Chapter 7 Season 3, check out the guide on how to use the self-revive device to get back into fights with 30 HP, and if you're working through other seasonal objectives, the full Fortnite guides collection has everything you need for the current season.