Dog Pokémon: The Best Canines In The Entire Franchise

Let's take a look at man's best friend in the Pokemon Franchise! Even if you're more of a Cat Pokemon lover, you can't deny these pup based Pokemon are adorable and super creative. Just bear in mind that when dealing with Pokémon, the definition of “dog” may become a little… stretched, to say the least. 

 30. Electrike - kind of a 'does what it says on the tin' Pokemon, but still adorable! It is an electric dog in Pokemon anime, added back in Generation 3. You may have to be careful cuddling this one as it stores electricity in its hair and is liable to accidentally discharge it all on you if you startle it! It gives off sparks from all over its body in seasons when the air is dry. The Electrike stimulates its leg muscles with electric charges. These jolts of power gives its legs explosive acceleration and reaction speed. It's safe to say that sparks will fly between you!

 29. Smeargle - an adorable sheep-pup looking creature that looks a little like a beagle, this little critter is a firm favourite among artists in the Pokémon universe. Known as the Painter Pokémon, it has the ability of being able to paint beautiful works of art with its tail. It paints using a fluid excreted naturally by their tail as a means to mark its territory, with each one having a different color depending on the individual Smeargle. A little creepy but also ingenious and adorable! 

 28. Manectric - is a lightening bolt fused dog/wolf creature that is the evolved form of Electrike. It can heal and recover quickly in battle, thanks to its electrical powers, its giant mane is a magnet for electricity, which it can use to create a thundercloud overhead to rain down lightening bolts during battle. A super spiky pup like critter! 

 27. Poochyena - a Dark-type hyena wolf-like doggy Pokemon from Generation 3, that oversaw the addition of many new dogs, perhaps the most famous being Poochyena. This little guy has huge fangs, loves to bite and has a tendency to use them on unsuspecting prey, just like a small hyena would. It also is an omnivore and eats everything - teething problems perhaps? Despite its chewing habits, there is so much to love about this adorable critter, it will pull on your heartstrings and make a great companion if you raise it from this young age. Despite being a bit scaredy, it’s playful and will eat whatever you throw at it. No complications! 

 26. Mightyena - the evolved form of Poochyena, it goes from the cute little pup that made your life brighter to a bigger and stronger creature that’ll make you feel safe and protected. Mightyena’s Intimidate ability will drop any foe’s attack stat right when it hits the field, keeping danger at bay. In the wild these guys look after the weakest members of their tribe and family by traveling and hunting in packs, so they are all looking out for each other. This pack-mentality means it will only follow Trainers that prove to be good leaders. 

 25. Zigzagoon - although said to be a raccoon, it still has some pup like features that mean it has to have a spot on this list! Zigzagoon are rather peaceful, curious creatures that populate the tall grasses around the Hoenn region. They are not exactly a battle Pokemon but are incredibly endearing and adorable. They get distracted easily, like a real life pup and by doing this they’re also prone to picking up stuff while roaming, thanks to their Pickup ability. Having one around may net you some interesting trinkets! 

 24. Snubbull - this Johto bulldog Pokemon is an adorable grumpy looking ball of pink! It arrived back in Generation 2 and is known as the Fairy Pokémon. It is said to have a fierce appearance to scare away its enemies, as it is a gentle soul and is non aggressive and does not like to fight. It is a devoted and loyal soul and is saddened when others run away from it. It's a Pokemon that is like the real life grumpy cat, which is so cool. Treasure yours with a whole heap of love!

 23. Granbull - the evolved form of Snubbull, our loveable Pokemon now transforms in to its ultra powerful looking grown up self! With enormous fangs, like Snubbull, it relies on its fierce appearance to scare off enemies but in combat, it has a useful Intimidate ability. However despite the rough and tough look, deep inside dwells the same gentle, loyal and sensitive Pokémon, liable to get scared and flail about if a situation becomes difficult.

 22. Furfrou - The fluffiest Pokemon pup that ever existed, the more Furfrou is groomed, the bigger variety of styles there are for it to wear, even really out-there and kooky styles. It also has much more strength than meets the eye and is itself a warrior, said to have guarded the King of Kalos back in medieval times. Nowadays they may be entered into contests to compete on which Furfrou has the prettiest haircut and the most elegant nature, but if things get rough it’ll be sure to take a solid stance and protect its trainer from harm. So much fun and an amazing Pokemon to keep close to you.

 21. Houndour - is a dual Dark/Fire type Pokemon introduced back in Generation 2 and would fit right in inside a gang of motorcycle enthusiasts, just a feeling. Not only is it the most metal of all Pokémon, it also makes a great guard dog with its Early Bird skill that keeps it from falling asleep. It's very loyal and protective and possesses remarkable teamwork traits that come in handy when hunting and living as a coordinated pack.

 20. Houndoom - the evolved form of Houndour, this pup gets even fiercer with ram like horns, a devil-like tail and has been mistaken for the Grim Reaper in the past! It looks straight up vicious, and has the skills to prove it, with amazing offensive capabilities and speed, and a mega evolution that takes this badass critter to the next level. It seems made to guard evil lairs, as we noticed with Team Rocket’s adoration in Generation 2, plus produces eerie howling that has speculated to long been associated with death. It also spits out boiling poison! There really is a Pokemon creature for everyone and I feel that this pup will have a lot of admirers!

 19. Entei - embodying the passion of lava, it is known as the Volcano Pokemon and said to have had been   born in the eruption of a Volvano. This legendary fire-type dog from Generation 2 does not evolve or have any known evolved form and it is said that one is born every time a new volcano appears. And several cultures around the Pokémon world believe a volcano erupts every time Entei roars. In combat it sends up massive bursts of fire that utterly consume all that they touch. This canine force of nature can also destroy its enemies with pummeling attack and high-speed movements with a force of power that embodies its legendary status.

 18. Fennekin - perhaps more of a fox, but definitely counts as a pup (and belongs to the Canidae family) is one of the starters for generation VI’s Kalos region. It also may be somewhat reminiscent of a Fennec fox, one of the cutest animals ever, so it couldn't not be included! A bit temperamental and liable to set things on fire, it intimidates opponents by puffing hot air out of its ears. It is super easy to keep fed as it likes munching on twigs when walking, which give it energy.

 17. Braixen - is a cool Fire-type bipedal dog creature in Pokemon anime, the evolved form of Fennekin. Not quite dog, yet not quite a person, Braixen stands on its two legs looking adorable. It carries a twig around in its tail and when the twig is plucked from its tail, friction sets the twig alight. It can then use it to send signals and communicate with its allies. It still keeps its adorable huge Fennec Fox-like ears!

 16. Nickit - a fox-like pup introduced in Generation 8 that lives in the forests and grass patches of the Galarian region, Nickit is designed to look more like European foxes in contrast with other Pokémon fashioned after the Japanese varieties. This dark-type creature has soft pads on its feet that let it move around without making a sound. True to name, they will also often use this skill to steal food! 

 15. Thievul - the evolved form of Nickit, this Generation 8 Pokemon is now able to execute cleaner heists that can’t be traced back to your home and it loves to eat Pokemon eggs. In competitive play, Thievul is interesting for its Stakeout ability which makes it stronger against enemies who’ve just switched in. This creates a strong deterrent against many strategies relying on changing monsters in the middle of battle. 

 14. Suicune - a legendary Water type dog creature that looks majestic, such an incredible design! Suicune stars on the cover of the game Pokémon Crystal and is known as the Aurora Pokemon. Suicune is a graceful and compassionate creature, it wanders the world in search of pure water and purifies any contaminated or dirty water it finds, but packs a punch in combat, with its strongest moveset Snarl & Hydro Pump. It may be a compassionate Pokémon with stats focused on defense, but is well equipped to show its power and strength in battle.

 13. Galarian Zigzagoon - the adorable cousin of formerly featured Zigzagoon! Galarian Form Pokemon are Regional Variants of Pokemon previously discovered in other regions and this spiky racoon and dog creature definitely looks familiar - only it kind of looks like a liquorice allsort, which is adorable. It also bears some similarities to a border collie dog, aesthetically and also is just as playful! This dark/normal-type is a curious rascal for sure.

 12. Vulpix - is like a cute little fox-pup-squirrel like creature with thick and curly auburn locks! It is a true OG fire-type Pokémon that is known as the Fox Pokemon and is known to manipulate balls of fire to catch its prey. Raising one from a young pup means it will grow close to you just like a puppy Pokemon. Cuddling your Vulpix companion is a little like enjoying an animated hot water bottle as it will keep you warm in the Winter, plus brushing its beautiful tail is said to be a Zen-like experience. It also evolves into Ninetales when exposed to a Fire Stone.

 11. Lillipup - is a Yorkshire Terrier puppy, for sure, right? With its face full of fur, it has to be one of the cutest in the Pokemon Universe! This normal-type addition to Generation 5 has super brave traits that mean it can face strong opponents despite its small size, but is also alert enough to run away if it’s in serious danger. Lillipup has an adorable Pickup ability, which means it can bring you gifts! It can evolve in to Herdier.

 10. Herdier - the evolved form of Lillipup and a super loyal dog companion, it lives as a popular herding dog in the Kalos region. It’s even known as the Loyal Dog Pokémon because of its amazing relationship with humans, which has existed since time began. This adorable Terrier is worth the effort to train and makes an amazing companion. It evolves in to Stoutland starting at level 32. 

 9. Stoutland - known as the Big Hearted Pokemon, this majestic creature sports the best moustache ever, which kind of looks like a Superman-esque cape as it runs about. Its dignified demeanor and strong, loving relationship with humans means they make incredible companions and this dog is nothing short of magnificent, plus it is able to intimidate any lesser foes with ease. According to Pokémon lore, other than its tanky stats and nice physical Attack, this sweet soul was very much adored in colder regions because of its long, thick fur able to keep humans warm. Its ability to help rescue humans in colder mountainous areas is also akin to our real-world St. Bernards.

 8. Boltund - said to be able to run nonstop for three whole days, this pup Pokemon is an incredible athlete. Boltund reigns from the Galar region, an amazing creature able to generate electricity and channel it in to its legs to keep them moving. It also has incredible speed, which is amazing in combat. It also keeps a strong bite to protect its trainer. It's a super strong electric dog-themed monster who reminds me a little of a real world Sonic the Hedgehog. Or Quicksilver. Or Dash from The Incredibles. 

 7. Yamper - the pre-evolved form of Boltund, Yamper is the cutest hot dog shaped, corgi lookalike Pokemon pup ever! Despite being less developed than Boltund and not much of a fighting Pokemon, Yamper has the charm of a thousand puppies brought together in one short-legged package. Other than being too cute for words, this electric-type loyal pup can also retrieve failed Pokéballs thanks to its Ball Fetch ability, saving you a lot of trouble, time, and money early in the game. 

 6. Zacian - this elaborately designed, magnificent Legendary pup Pokemon is able to absorb metal particles, transforming them in to a weapon it uses to battle. This fairy/steel-type wolf is known as the Warrior Pokémon, and it’s the Crowned Sword form of the Hero of a Thousand Battles. It has super stellar stats, but this one is focused on the offensive. Introduced in Generation 8, Zacian bears a striking similarity to Sif, a boss in the Dark Souls franchise who’s also a wolf holding a sword!

 5. Zorua - a prank player and joker, this Dark-type Pokemon is often known as the Tricky Fox Pokemon. It's definitely a michevious character with a tendency to play pranks on people and disguise itself as other things, like children to surprise and confuse others. Although it likes to stir up trouble, its beauty, cuteness and timidness make it incredibly endearing to all kinds of trainers. 

 4. Zoroark - the evolved form of Zorua and known as the Illusion Fox Pokémon, the mischief and pranks are taken to a whole other level. No longer satisfied with small pranks, Zoroark has moved on to large-scale deception and foolosophy with the aid of its illusions. It possesses the ability to confuse and fool others, so they are no longer aware of what is reality and what is trickery. This skill is very useful to Zoroark in the wild, as it allows them to protect their nests from wandering eyes. It also possesses great special attack and speed which means it always remains steps ahead of any opponent.

 3. Growlithe - an OG Fire-type Pokemon pup with a courageous nature and super cool tiger-like design. It's known as the Puppy Pokemon but it's a firey one at that! Growlithe can breathe a stream or plume of intense fire toward its target with the full force of its Z-Power. Many might remember how back in the 90s Growlithe was in a league of its own - and thanks to its loyalty and great sense of smell, Growlithe are bred and trained to become police dogs in the Pokémon universe.

 2. Arcanine - the evolved form of Growlithe, this Fire-type grown up baby is known as the Legendary Pokemon - and wait until you see just how strong Arcanine is in battle. With incredible offensive capabilities and solid stats overall, Arcanine is the dominant pup of the bunch. Introduced in Generation 1, this incredible pup is also said to be firecely loyal and exert incredible bravery in the face of danger. You will definitely feel safe (and warm) with Arcanine by your side. In the Pokémon universe Arcanine are not just official police dogs, but also considered to be warriors said to participate in many wars throughout history. 

 1. Rockruff - such an adorable Pokemon, enough to make you cry while making fan art while simultaneously searching for puppies up for adoption. Rockruff is a Rock type Pokemon that may be something of a mix between a classic Japanese fox and the spitz breed of dogs, but also has a bit of a Colourpoint colouring, like a Siamese cat (I'm sorry, I'm a cat gal too). This guy is just plain adorable. It is able to intimidate any opponents by striking the ground with the rocks on its neck and when the opponent flinches, goes in for attack, although I can't imagine it not feeling like a loving embrace - the heart strings have been pulled and I am obliged to put this little guy in first place.

Hungry for more Pokemon? Let's check out Best Snake Pokemon, Best Bat Pokemon or Best Grass Pokemon in the Franchise - or even Best Pokemon ROM Hacks and Fan Games