10 Best Dog-Like Pokémon, Ranked By Power

As the release of the new Pokémon Scarlet and Violet get closer, fans are hoping to see the new roster soon. With each generation comes a whole new lineup of fresh Pokémon to add to the Pokedex. While there are always some that are incredibly original, there is usually a handful that have a similar look.

One of those groups is Pokémon that look like dogs. There have been countless Pokémon that are based on the ever-popular animal over the years, and besides the Legendaries and Mythicals, which are obviously strong, there are plenty that are very powerful.

10 Mightyena

Also known as the "Bite Pokémon," Mightyena first made an appearance in Gen III. It looks strikingly similar to a wolf and has many moves that fit a skill-set of what a dog-like Pokémon might do. Between the moves Bite, Howl, and Play Rough, there are many moves, both offensive and defensive that help Mightyena fit into the dog category.

Overall, Mightyena may not be the strongest and is somewhat harder to find in the newer games, but it has plenty of moves that can be extremely powerful if trained and paired correctly. Fans are hoping that this old Pokémon gets a new evolution in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet. It is also a fairly fast Pokémon which helps it attack first and evade other attacks quicker, and its attack stats are one of its highest features.

9 Granbull

Granbull, which closely looks like a bulldog standing on its hind legs, is another one of the Pokémon that looks like a dog. Besides the uncanny resemblance to a bulldog, the black neckpiece looks like a collar, only adding to the overall appearance of this dog-like Pokémon.

This now Fairy-type Pokémon was originally a Normal-type when it was first introduced among the Gen II Pokémon. It wasn't until Gen VI Pokémon were introduced that it was shifted to become a Fairy-type. Regardless of the type, it has powerful attacks due to its size, but these are countered by how slow Granbull moves. It could be much stronger if it wasn't so slow.

8 Furfrou

For fans that love having the ability to make their Pokémon unique, Furfrou is the perfect option. Known as the "Poodle Pokémon," Furfrou quite literally looks very similar to a standard poodle. It is a Normal-type whose appearance can change after it is groomed, and it is one Pokémon with the most alternate forms.

Furfrou isn't as well-known as other Pokémon that look like a dog, but it is rather powerful. Its attack stats are within the higher range, although they aren't the highest, what it lacks in offensive and defensive skills it makes up in how fast it is. Furfrou is incredibly fast, which means that it can often attack before its opponent can act.

7 Manectric

This Electric-type, dog-like Pokémon is one of the few that has a Mega form. It has been making striking appearances since Gen III and has made appearances in most of the games except for Let's Go Pikachu & Eevee, and Legends: Arceus.

In both its normal form as well as the Mega form, Manectric is really fast. Its speed and the constant discharge it gives off are what make it one of the more powerful dog-like Pokémon. It doesn't have the highest attack stats, and its defense stats are rather low, but similar to Furfrou, its speed is what helps it be such a powerful Pokémon.

6 Lycanroc

A Pokémon that also shares a resemblance to a wolf is Lycanroc. This Pokémon has three forms it can take on - Midday, Midnight, or Dusk Form. All three are considered Rock-types, but each one has its own unique set of skills it can learn and is considered one of the best Rock-type Pokémon, according to Ranker.

Lycanroc in all forms is fairly powerful, but its most powerful form might be the Dusk Form. The attack and speed stats of the Dusk Form are incredibly high, and the rest of the stats are not too bad either. These high stats make many of its moves better against types that it may not normally be strong against, although it by no means is impervious to attacks from other Pokémon.

5 Boltund

Another Electric-type Pokémon that looks a lot like a dog is Boltund. It evolves from Yamper, which looks a lot like a Corgi and is known as the "Puppy Pokémon." Boltund, known as the "Dog Pokémon," uses its electric powers to improve its speed.

While this Pokémon is just an Electric-type, it tends to have a mixture of Dark, Electric, Normal, and Fairy-type moves. Whatever combination of moves the user allows their Boltund to have, its best to utilize its speed and attack since so those are the highest stats. Good attacks that hit fast make this dog Pokémon powerful.

4 Stoutland

For Pokémon fans who like to spend more time in the cold towns in each region, it's common to have Stoutland, or its previous forms, as a partner. This Pokémon is known for looking like a terrier, and for its large mustache.

Stoutland has more to offer than being able to travel effectively through the snow. It's a very powerful Pokémon with above-average stats across the board. Unlike the other dog-like Pokémon, it has a great defense system and it belongs among the ranked Pokémon with the highest defense stats. On top of being great on the defensive side of things, its attack stats are exceptionally high. It might look like a larger lap dog, but it is a Pokémon that will put up a fight.

3 Houndoom

Houndoom is one dog-like Pokémon that not only has a Mega Evolution but also has two types - Dark and Fire. Between the two types, there are a wide variety of moves that it can learn to become incredibly powerful. From Inferno, which is very powerful but not always accurate, to Foul Play and Flamethrower, which always hit their enemy and are usually strong, Houndoom is very strong.

From the strong moves, it can learn, to its sheer size (Houndoom tends to stand over four feet tall) and speed, Houndoom can be an incredibly powerful Pokémon if it is given the right moves. It is fast, although it isn't the fastest, its attack stats are really high. This makes it really strong when it is on the offensive; however, its defense stats are low, making it weak when it is on the defensive.

2 Zoroark

Similar to Granbull, Zoroark is another one of the dog-like Pokémon that is bi-pedal. Its ability, Illusion, is one of Zoroark's strongest moves. Confusing its opponent to think it's someone, or somewhere else has caused problems not only in battle but also in everyday life in the show.

Also known as the "Illusion Fox Pokémon", it relies heavily on its ability but has plenty of other strong features that make it a really powerful Pokémon. It has one of the highest attack stats of all the dog-like Pokémon. On top of being strong when on the offensive, Zoroark is notoriously fast, which not only helps make convincing illusions but also allows it to attack quickly making for a powerful punch.

1 Arcanine

Arcanine is one of the most powerful dog-like Pokémon. The evolution of the popular Pokémon Growlithe, which is also commonly seen as Officer Jenny's partner in the show, was one of the first ones to resemble a canine companion.  As one of the original 151 Pokémon it is one of the most well-known and has yet to find a worthy competitor among the other dog-like Pokémon.

This Fire-type Pokémon is strong all around with its lowest stat being defense which sits around an 80, which is still fairly high. It is one of the dog-like Pokémon that also got a Hisuian form where its stats only increased also it is also combined with a Rock-type when it is found in this form.

Next: Team Rocket's Most Powerful Pokémon, Ranked