design/gameplay question

[Robby]

So I just restored power and opened the gate in Overture. One dog...ok, I can handle that, managed to kill it..now, I go to another room and there's two.

My basic question is, is the game generally designed to expect you will engage in actual combat with the dogs, or is there a way to stealth or trick my way through it as well?

At that point, it is your choice. But it was mostly made for stealth.