I would like to help my fiancee make her first Hunter character, and she would like to incorporate caricatures of her two real-life dogs into the build. I suggested that the Hunter with the Packmaster archetype may be best for her as the class and archetype emphasizes fighting alongside multiple animal companions.
I understand that, while the standard Hunter will be able to maintain a strong combat partner throughout most of the game due to its class abilities, the Packmaster both spreads its class abilities and effective druid level between the two companions. I believe this will serve to actually weaken the class overall, but I believe that this build can still play reasonably well with the right tools.
So, my question is what feats and items could my fiancee incorporate into her build that can capitalize on the strengths of having two animal companions, and what can she take to increase the companions combat strength overall?
Also, I would like to get some suggestions on good canine-like animals she could take as companions, and what the most optimal effective druid level division is while still allowing both to be as relevant as possible in combat.
All Paizo and 3rd party material is allowed. Race is open, and it is a 30 point-buy game.
Best Answer
Paizo published a solution for exactly this problem: the Boon Companion feat.