I use a Dire Wolf or a Dire Hound.
It’s called one of those two I think.
The Druid Spells I cast on it are:
1-Awakening
2-Greater Magic Fang (although you may not need this spell due to the Awakening spell, but I cast it anyway),
3-Stone Skin
4-Bull’s Strength
5-Cat’s Grace
6-Element Protection
And I give it a Potion of Clarity if we’re in a Creature Fear situation like a Dragon or Mummy, etc…
Also, If the baddies like to cast Invisibility on themselves or Darkness Spells
I always have "True Seeing" and "Ultravision" Spells cast on my Companion so they always see the enemy.
Fafnir <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />
What dragon your animal companion killed? With sure isn`t the Lich Dragon, try to send your animal against this Dragon, it`ll only be a meat shield.
Your animal can be very strong in high lvls but your shapechange ability is limited a lot, and as a shifter i think is more nice cause you have to handle the situation with your own hands. I like to see the character hiting how many monsters he/she can in a moment, i think the rogue/assassin/shadowdancer is a very good class, except against beasts what are imune to sneak or death attack. The good thing is always the surprise element cause you are invible, you can kill anyone in one(paralyse and death) hit or two if the enemy don`t die at the first attack.