The Pokemon universe is home to a delightful array of creatures, including some lovable dog and puppy lookalikes. Here are all the canine creatures available so trainers can have their pick of the pack, including Growlithe, Lillipup, and the Legendaries Zacian and Zamazenta.
Amidst the dragons and Legendary beasts that fill the Pokemon universe, common animals have always served as pivotal design references in the series, and it’s clear that The Pokemon Company is very fond of man’s best friend, as numerous dog Pokemon have been released over the years.
From iconic Fire types like Arcanine to menacing Fighting types like Zamazenta, there are plenty of dog-type Pokemon to choose from. In fact, every game has seemingly brought a new dog-inspired Pokemon to the series’ ever-growing roster – and Scarlet & Violet and its DLC are no exception.
How many dog Pokemon are there?
We’ve scoured the depths of the Pokedex from Kanto to Paldea and discovered that a whopping 40 canine Pokemon have been discovered so far.
You can see the full list of all the ‘mon that fall into the category released in every game below.
Every dog Pokemon in the Pokedex – Full list
Gen 1
| NUMBER | POKEMON | TYPE | SPRITE |
|---|---|---|---|
| #0037 | Vulpix | Fire | |
| #0038 | Ninetales | Fire | |
| #0058 | Growlithe | Fire | |
| #0059 | Arcanine | Fire |
Gen 2
| NUMBER | POKEMON | TYPE | SPRITE |
|---|---|---|---|
| #0209 | Snubbull | Fairy | |
| #0210 | Granbull | Fairy | |
| #0228 | Houndour | Dark/Fire | |
| #0229 | Houndoom | Dark/Fire | |
| #0235 | Smeargle | Normal |
Gen 3
| NUMBER | POKEMON | TYPE | SPRITE |
|---|---|---|---|
| #0261 | Poochyena | Dark | |
| #0262 | Mightyena | Dark | |
| #0309 | Electrike | Electric | |
| #0310 | Manectric | Electric |
Gen 4
| NUMBER | POKEMON | TYPE | SPRITE |
|---|---|---|---|
| #0447 | Riolu | Fighting | |
| #0448 | Lucario | Fighting/Steel | |
| #0492 | Shaymin (Sky Forme) | Grass |
Gen 5
| NUMBER | POKEMON | TYPE | SPRITE |
|---|---|---|---|
| #0506 | Lillipup | Normal | |
| #0507 | Herdier | Normal | |
| #0508 | Stoutland | Normal | |
| #0570 | Zorua | Dark | |
| #0571 | Zoroark | Dark |
Gen 6
| NUMBER | POKEMON | TYPE | SPRITE |
|---|---|---|---|
| #0653 | Fennekin | Fire | |
| #0654 | Braixen | Fire | |
| #0655 | Delphox | Fire/Psychic | |
| #0676 | Furfrou | Normal |
Gen 7
| NUMBER | POKEMON | TYPE | SPRITE |
|---|---|---|---|
| #0744 | Rockruff | Rock | |
| #0745 | Lycanroc | Rock |
Gen 8
| NUMBER | POKEMON | TYPE | SPRITE |
|---|---|---|---|
| #0827 | Nickit | Dark | |
| #0828 | Thievul | Dark | |
| #0835 | Yamper | Electric | |
| #0836 | Boltund | Electric | |
| #0888 | Zacian | Fairy | |
| #0889 | Zamazenta | Fighting |
Gen 9
| NUMBER | POKEMON | TYPE | SPRITE |
|---|---|---|---|
| #0926 | Fidough | Fairy | |
| #0927 | Dachsbun | Fairy | |
| #0942 | Maschiff | Dark | |
| #0943 | Mabosstiff | Dark | |
| #0971 | Greavard | Ghost | |
| #0972 | Houndstone | Ghost | |
| #1014 | Okidogi | Poison/Fighting |
While the argument could be made that Pokemon like Eevee should make this list, the cuddly creature hasn’t actually been officially specified as being a dog or cat Pokemon.
For now, these are the only Pokemon that are officially categorized as man’s best friend.
What are the best dog Pokemon?
The overall best dog Pokemon in the franchise based on their design, lore impact, type combination, and stats are Arcanine, Houndoom, Zoroark, Lucario, and Zacian.
Arcanine
The iconic Gen 1 Arcanine has been a fan-favorite Pokemon since it was released, as it resembles a gigantic version of man’s best friend. It represents loyalty at its finest and it’s said to be a great protector.
This majestic dog’s design was inspired by mythical canines such as the Japanese Okinawa Shisa and the Chinese guardian lion-dog, giving it a sense of nobility.
Power-wise, Arcanine is a strong Fire-type Pokemon with access to nukes such as Fire Blast and Flamethrower. It has a strong Attack and Sp. Attack, with an overall total of 555.
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Houndoom
Based purely on its design, Houndoom is one of the coolest in the whole franchise thanks to its gothic vibe. Its black fur and skull details make it look like a hound from hell, intimidating even the most formidable opponent.
Its dual Dark/Fire-type combination gives this Pokemon plenty of useful resistances with Ghost, Steel, and Psychic being the standouts. Houndoom’s base stats have a total of 500, with its Sp. Attack being the most remarkable (110).
Its Mega Evolution can be scary too, but somehow regular Houndoom with its goat-like horns make it look more devilish.
Zoroark
Inspired by mythical foxes, Zoroark has a sleek and terrifying design that goes hand in hand with both its Dark type and illusionist abilities.
One of the main reasons players love Zoroark is because it can take on the appearance of the last Pokemon in the player’s party, deceiving enemies and creating openings for attacks.
With a total base stat of 510 and an impressive Sp. Attack of 120, Zoroark can be a great addition to any party.
Lucario
The powerful Lucario is not only one of the best dog Pokemon but is one of the best Pokemon in the whole franchise, having important appearances in the anime and other video games such as Super Smash Bros.
As a dual Fighting/Steel-type, it has key resistances to Dark, Dragon, Rock, and even Steel-type Pokemon, to name a few. It also has access to an extraordinary move pool with attacks such as Meteor Mash, Aura Sphere, and Close Combat.
More so, this Anubis-inspired creature can increase its total base stats from 525 to 625 when Mega Evolved, pushing its already strong Attack stat from 110 to 145.
Pokemon Go players looking for a solid ‘mon to beat Giovanni‘s iconic Persian can pick Lucario, as it is the ideal choice if you focus on its Fighting-type moves.
Zacian
The final dog on our list is not only a great Pokemon but also a Legendary. Zacian, the mascot of Gen 8’s Pokemon Sword is a crossover between a fierce wolf and a noble knight, sword and all. It represents bravery, justice, and courage and has two forms.
Its regular Hero form is a pure Fairy-type. However, its Crowned Sword form turns it into a dual Fairy/Steel-type Legendary with 11 resistances, making it one of the best Pokemon to take to battle.
Crowned Sword Zacian has a cooler design and much better stats, taking its overall base stats from 660 to 700 and increasing its Attack from 120 to 150 and its Speed from 138 to 148, which means is almost certain it will strike first every time.
How are dog Pokemon categorized?
While a lot of Pokemon may look like canines, we have only included those that are explicitly described as such in their Pokedex entries or that can be clearly categorized as such by popular opinion.
For example, Entei might look like a gigantic wolf, but Pokemon designer Muneo Saitō has stated that the silhouette “could look like a dog or a cat”, while fellow Raikou clearly resembles a Sabertooth tiger.
Meanwhile, Pokemon like Smeargle have made the list due to its Japanese name being a blend of dog and doodle. Foxes have also been included, as they belong to the same canine family.
Those are all the Dog Pokemon in the franchise. You can also check out our list of every Cat Pokemon, the Cutest as well as the Creepiest ‘mons, and the 40 top Legendaries of all time.