Related with the topic, how about putting David's shepherd in a possible animal faction quest? For example, a dog adopted as a watchdog seems to be depressed because he misses his former job of herding so much. In a near or the same village, a wheresheep is unhappy with the current treatment of his/her friends from human and their dogs. While the weresheep is scheming for claiming independence from human rule for sheep "community", he/she also cannot but admit that his/her friends are rather "meek" for such plan. So, as one of possible solutions, the protagonists can recommend the shepherd as a "diplomat" between human and sheep. For, somehow, the weresheep can communicate with the dog and the protagonists can convince him/her into believing the dog is a "nice fella," compared with other dogs which humans tried to "force on them." Also, since the dog cannot speak any human language, his/her secrets are secured. Even if the dog favor sheep a bit, humans won't find it out, either. The weresheep can be happy with the idea that it's actually animals who are exploiting.
