diff --git a/internal/cmd/sling.go b/internal/cmd/sling.go
index 5f719fcc..dee4fd62 100644
--- a/internal/cmd/sling.go
+++ b/internal/cmd/sling.go
@@ -5,10 +5,13 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"os"
 	"os/exec"
+	"path/filepath"
 	"strings"
 
 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
 	"github.com/steveyegge/gastown/internal/beads"
+	"github.com/steveyegge/gastown/internal/config"
+	"github.com/steveyegge/gastown/internal/dog"
 	"github.com/steveyegge/gastown/internal/events"
 	"github.com/steveyegge/gastown/internal/session"
 	"github.com/steveyegge/gastown/internal/style"
@@ -25,6 +28,7 @@ var slingCmd = &cobra.Command{
 This is THE command for assigning work in Gas Town. It handles:
   - Existing agents (mayor, crew, witness, refinery)
   - Auto-spawning polecats when target is a rig
+  - Dispatching to dogs (Deacon's helper workers)
   - Formula instantiation and wisp creation
   - No-tmux mode for manual agent operation
 
@@ -34,6 +38,8 @@ Target Resolution:
   gt sling gt-abc gastown               # Auto-spawn polecat in rig
   gt sling gt-abc gastown/Toast         # Specific polecat
   gt sling gt-abc mayor                 # Mayor
+  gt sling gt-abc deacon/dogs           # Auto-dispatch to idle dog
+  gt sling gt-abc deacon/dogs/alpha     # Specific dog
 
 Spawning Options (when target is a rig):
   gt sling gt-abc gastown --molecule mol-review  # Use specific workflow
@@ -177,8 +183,31 @@ func runSling(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 	if len(args) > 1 {
 		target := args[1]
 
-		// Check if target is a rig name (auto-spawn polecat)
-		if rigName, isRig := IsRigName(target); isRig {
+		// Check if target is a dog target (deacon/dogs or deacon/dogs/<name>)
+		if dogName, isDog := IsDogTarget(target); isDog {
+			if slingDryRun {
+				if dogName == "" {
+					fmt.Printf("Would dispatch to idle dog in kennel\n")
+				} else {
+					fmt.Printf("Would dispatch to dog '%s'\n", dogName)
+				}
+				targetAgent = fmt.Sprintf("deacon/dogs/%s", dogName)
+				if dogName == "" {
+					targetAgent = "deacon/dogs/<idle>"
+				}
+				targetPane = "<dog-pane>"
+			} else {
+				// Dispatch to dog
+				dispatchInfo, dispatchErr := DispatchToDog(dogName, slingCreate)
+				if dispatchErr != nil {
+					return fmt.Errorf("dispatching to dog: %w", dispatchErr)
+				}
+				targetAgent = dispatchInfo.AgentID
+				targetPane = dispatchInfo.Pane
+				fmt.Printf("Dispatched to dog %s\n", dispatchInfo.DogName)
+			}
+		} else if rigName, isRig := IsRigName(target); isRig {
+			// Check if target is a rig name (auto-spawn polecat)
 			if slingDryRun {
 				// Dry run - just indicate what would happen
 				fmt.Printf("Would spawn fresh polecat in rig '%s'\n", rigName)
@@ -593,8 +622,31 @@ func runSlingFormula(args []string) error {
 	var err error
 
 	if target != "" {
-		// Check if target is a rig name (auto-spawn polecat)
-		if rigName, isRig := IsRigName(target); isRig {
+		// Check if target is a dog target (deacon/dogs or deacon/dogs/<name>)
+		if dogName, isDog := IsDogTarget(target); isDog {
+			if slingDryRun {
+				if dogName == "" {
+					fmt.Printf("Would dispatch to idle dog in kennel\n")
+				} else {
+					fmt.Printf("Would dispatch to dog '%s'\n", dogName)
+				}
+				targetAgent = fmt.Sprintf("deacon/dogs/%s", dogName)
+				if dogName == "" {
+					targetAgent = "deacon/dogs/<idle>"
+				}
+				targetPane = "<dog-pane>"
+			} else {
+				// Dispatch to dog
+				dispatchInfo, dispatchErr := DispatchToDog(dogName, slingCreate)
+				if dispatchErr != nil {
+					return fmt.Errorf("dispatching to dog: %w", dispatchErr)
+				}
+				targetAgent = dispatchInfo.AgentID
+				targetPane = dispatchInfo.Pane
+				fmt.Printf("Dispatched to dog %s\n", dispatchInfo.DogName)
+			}
+		} else if rigName, isRig := IsRigName(target); isRig {
+			// Check if target is a rig name (auto-spawn polecat)
 			if slingDryRun {
 				// Dry run - just indicate what would happen
 				fmt.Printf("Would spawn fresh polecat in rig '%s'\n", rigName)
@@ -842,3 +894,144 @@ func qualityToFormula(quality string) (string, error) {
 		return "", fmt.Errorf("invalid quality level '%s' (use: basic, shiny, or chrome)", quality)
 	}
 }
+
+// IsDogTarget checks if target is a dog target pattern.
+// Returns the dog name (or empty for pool dispatch) and true if it's a dog target.
+// Patterns:
+//   - "deacon/dogs" -> ("", true) - dispatch to any idle dog
+//   - "deacon/dogs/alpha" -> ("alpha", true) - dispatch to specific dog
+func IsDogTarget(target string) (dogName string, isDog bool) {
+	target = strings.ToLower(target)
+
+	// Check for exact "deacon/dogs" (pool dispatch)
+	if target == "deacon/dogs" {
+		return "", true
+	}
+
+	// Check for "deacon/dogs/<name>" (specific dog)
+	if strings.HasPrefix(target, "deacon/dogs/") {
+		name := strings.TrimPrefix(target, "deacon/dogs/")
+		if name != "" && !strings.Contains(name, "/") {
+			return name, true
+		}
+	}
+
+	return "", false
+}
+
+// DogDispatchInfo contains information about a dog dispatch.
+type DogDispatchInfo struct {
+	DogName  string // Name of the dog
+	AgentID  string // Agent ID format (deacon/dogs/<name>)
+	Pane     string // Tmux pane (empty if no session)
+	Spawned  bool   // True if dog was spawned (new)
+}
+
+// DispatchToDog finds or spawns a dog for work dispatch.
+// If dogName is empty, finds an idle dog from the pool.
+// If create is true and no dogs exist, creates one.
+func DispatchToDog(dogName string, create bool) (*DogDispatchInfo, error) {
+	townRoot, err := workspace.FindFromCwd()
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("finding town root: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	rigsConfigPath := filepath.Join(townRoot, "mayor", "rigs.json")
+	rigsConfig, err := config.LoadRigsConfig(rigsConfigPath)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("loading rigs config: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	mgr := dog.NewManager(townRoot, rigsConfig)
+
+	var targetDog *dog.Dog
+
+	if dogName != "" {
+		// Specific dog requested
+		targetDog, err = mgr.Get(dogName)
+		if err != nil {
+			if create {
+				// Create the dog if it doesn't exist
+				targetDog, err = mgr.Add(dogName)
+				if err != nil {
+					return nil, fmt.Errorf("creating dog %s: %w", dogName, err)
+				}
+				fmt.Printf("✓ Created dog %s\n", dogName)
+			} else {
+				return nil, fmt.Errorf("dog %s not found (use --create to add)", dogName)
+			}
+		}
+	} else {
+		// Pool dispatch - find an idle dog
+		targetDog, err = mgr.GetIdleDog()
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("finding idle dog: %w", err)
+		}
+
+		if targetDog == nil {
+			if create {
+				// No idle dogs - create one
+				newName := generateDogName(mgr)
+				targetDog, err = mgr.Add(newName)
+				if err != nil {
+					return nil, fmt.Errorf("creating dog %s: %w", newName, err)
+				}
+				fmt.Printf("✓ Created dog %s (pool was empty)\n", newName)
+			} else {
+				return nil, fmt.Errorf("no idle dogs available (use --create to add)")
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Mark dog as working
+	if err := mgr.SetState(targetDog.Name, dog.StateWorking); err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("setting dog state: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	// Build agent ID
+	agentID := fmt.Sprintf("deacon/dogs/%s", targetDog.Name)
+
+	// Try to find tmux session for the dog (dogs may run in tmux like polecats)
+	sessionName := fmt.Sprintf("gt-deacon-%s", targetDog.Name)
+	t := tmux.NewTmux()
+	var pane string
+	if has, _ := t.HasSession(sessionName); has {
+		// Get the pane from the session
+		pane, _ = getSessionPane(sessionName)
+	}
+
+	return &DogDispatchInfo{
+		DogName:  targetDog.Name,
+		AgentID:  agentID,
+		Pane:     pane,
+		Spawned:  false, // TODO: track if we spawned a new session
+	}, nil
+}
+
+// generateDogName creates a unique dog name for pool expansion.
+func generateDogName(mgr *dog.Manager) string {
+	// Use Greek alphabet for dog names
+	names := []string{"alpha", "bravo", "charlie", "delta", "echo", "foxtrot", "golf", "hotel"}
+
+	dogs, _ := mgr.List()
+	existing := make(map[string]bool)
+	for _, d := range dogs {
+		existing[d.Name] = true
+	}
+
+	for _, name := range names {
+		if !existing[name] {
+			return name
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Fallback: numbered dogs
+	for i := 1; i <= 100; i++ {
+		name := fmt.Sprintf("dog%d", i)
+		if !existing[name] {
+			return name
+		}
+	}
+
+	return fmt.Sprintf("dog%d", len(dogs)+1)
+}