Ah, dog Pokémon. You can’t help but love them. From Growlithe, the fire-breathing pups, to the majestic Manectric and all in between, we at Pocket Tactics can’t help but look for a pooch to add to our party when taking on a new adventure. So, in this guide, we’ve listed all our favorite woofers with reasons why they almost always make for an excellent addition to your roster.
For even more great guides to the world of Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, read our articles covering Pokémon Scarlet and Violet gym leaders, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet tera raid battles, Pokémon Scarlet and Violet co-op, and Pokémon Scarlet and Violet Terastal Pokémon. Or, if you’re looking for more monster-taming adventures, see our list of the best free Pokémon games.
Here’s our guide to the best dog Pokémon.
Yamper
Introduced in Pokémon Sword and Shield, the corgi Pokémon Yamper is an adorable little fella that is also an electric type. With its stumpy little legs, pricked-up ers, and lightning-bolt tail, there’s no denying that we have a lot to thank the designers at Game Freak for with this little loveable pup.
Yamper evolves into Boltund, who is based on a greyhound, but we just love his original form so much. It’s got that classic corgi cushion, and it’s a great little friend to find early on in the region of Galar. Its evolution, Boltund, has access to the move nuzzle, which you can use to deal a little damage while paralyzing your opponent. It’s a very useful Pokémon for catching shinies and legendaries.
Snubbull
We want justice for Snubbull. This pink little fairy-type is an ugly Pokémon and that’s exactly why I love it. It’s meant to look like a bulldog, and just like them, we adore them for all their flaws and think they’re much cuter than they might come across at first.
It also has a bizarre voice in the anime that only enamored me even more. Why didn’t the bulldog Pokémon appear in the Britain-based Galar? Who knows, but Game Freak? You messed up.
Lycanroc
Possibly more of a wolf than a dog, Lycanroc is based on a werewolf, and with its two different forms, it sports two great different styles and rocks them both. While its pre-evolution Rockruff is also adorable, Lycanroc is one of those rare appearances where the evolution of a Pokémon is somehow even cuter than the original.
You can find Lycanroc in Pokémon Sun & Moon, with the forms of Lycanroc reflecting the dichotomy of night and day between the two games. It’s been a common fixture since, too, appearing in almost all the main series games since its introduction. There’s a seriously good boy.
Fidough
We’ve only had Fidough for a couple of generations, but this yeasty boy has already risen (sorry) up the ranks and is being held highly among the Pokémon community as one of the best dog Pokémon. Evolving into the similarly adorable Dachsbun, this pair of pups pack quite a punch with some potent fairy attacks.
As much as we love Fidough, we have to address the elephant in the room. It would seem that Fidough is edible, considering it’s made of dough. Of course, if you’re so inclined, you could make the argument that all Pokemon are edible. However, none look quite as tasty as this little pastry pooch.
Zorua
The illusion Pokémon, Zorua, and its evolution Zoroark, have the very rare ability to copy the appearance of another Pokémon in your party, potentially goading your opponent into performing a move that won’t be very effective against the elusive dark-type.
It’s adorable in any form, but we especially love the Hisuian forms of these two, sporting an ethereal white and red wispy look that adds a slightly terrifying edge to these already spooky pooches.
Houndour
Back in Pokémon Gold & Silver, the addition of the dark type was a big deal, and the team over at Game Freak really went heavy-handed with the dark theme. Based on the hounds of hell, Houndour and its evolution Houndoom look as if they were plucked from the seven circles of hell, but cute.
A joint dark and fire-type, it’s hard to believe this cute pup can somehow grow into the metal monstrosity that is mega Houndoom, with its extended horns and truly imposing look. I love it, but I’m not sure if I would hug one.
Growlithe
Sometimes it’s hard to mess with the original. Growlithe is beloved for a reason, it is one of the first generation Pokémon that absolutely nailed the design the first time around. It became beloved in the anime because of its energetic attitude, and its evolution Arcanine is still a majestic mutt that exemplifies the very best of what Pokémon’s evolution system has to offer.
Taking a good design and building on it to make something even better, these two good boys are still some of the best dog Pokémon ever made. They even got amazing new Hisuian forms in Pokémon Legends: Arceus that add the rock-type to the fire of the originals and build on the influence of Chinese culture to create another great version of these classics.
Manectric
While Manectric might have arrived in Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire, it wasn’t until the introduction of mega evolution in generation six that we really saw Gamefreak let this dog off the leash. It might not be one of the cutest picks on this list, but it is one of the best equipped for battle.
With a 105 base speed stat, Manectric is one of the quickest pups out there and can frustrate your opponent by paralyzing other Pokémon with an array of electric-type moves. It’s not just speedy, though, with a matching 105 special attack stat that can tear through opponents who rely on water or flying-type party members. However, Manectric’s defense and special defense stats make it a bit of a glass cannon, so be sure to watch out for any ground types while leading with this powered-up pooch.
There you have it, our picks for the best dog Pokémon across the entire series. If you’re looking to stop your perfect Poké-pooch from fainting, be sure to check out our electric Pokémon weakness, fire Pokémon weakness, and ground Pokémon weakness guides.