Player Critters Control

[Gamer Girl]

In D&D a player can get lots of Critters for a character. A familiar, an animal companion, or special mount. Plus more. And it's easy enough to simply buy critters too.

But the question comes down to control.

Who controls the critters, the player or the DM?

Can the player simply use the critter as a second character and have it automatically do whatever the player wants?

Does the DM control the critters actions?

Does the DM have veto power over that the critter would or would not do?

[Vistella]

Usually the PC controls them as they stand under his control (summons at least)
Animal Companions have tricks learned from their druid and familiars, well, cant they communicate telepathicly with their master anyway? so its no issue to control them

[Chilingsworth]

For familairs and summoned monsters, it can be assumed that the player controls them, since obedience is enforced by magic. For cohorts, though, it can be argued that the dm can control it. One important thing, however: if the character can't communicate with the creature in question, then he/she is severely limmited in what can be asked of it. This is most commonly an issue with summoned monsters.