Many Pokemon are based on real-world animals. Zubat bears an obvious resemblance to bats, while Caterpie can hardly be told apart from a caterpillar. Some of these animals even mimic the behavior of their counterparts. This is perhaps most true for Growlithe, a tiger-striped dog-like animal that has been around since Generation 1 and has made more than its fair share of appearances in the anime. When creating this Pokemon, Game Freak got things right, which is never more obvious than in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet where gamers get to witness both the good and the bad that comes with dogs.
It is a loyal and fiercely defensive dog that will do anything to protect its own. However, in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, it is not the kind of creature you want to run into in the wild. In the overworld, players encounter plenty of Pokemon. While most Pokemon will leave trainers alone, Growlithe is one of the few that will randomly chase the Trainer. This is another characteristic that dogs have come to be known for.
Dogs: A Man’s Best Friend
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In pop culture, dogs are generally depicted as creatures that love humans, are fiercely loyal, and will lay down their own lives to protect those that they love. Throughout Pokemon’s history, Growlithe has been depicted in quite a similar fashion. Growlithe is a Fire-Type Pokemon, with Hisuian Growlithe being a Rock-Type critter.
According to Pokedex entries, it is a trustworthy and loyal Pokemon that will fiercely bark at any opponents that threaten its Trainer. It is also said to be very brave and has a keen sense of smell. In the Pokemon anime series, Growlithe is often found alongside Officer Jenny. It serves the same role that German Shepherd police dogs typically serve in the real world. It is a somewhat adorable Pokemon, and it marks the beginning of the franchise’s trend of greatly favoring dog Pokemon when pandering to fans.
Eventually, Growlithe evolves into Arcanine. The orange hound doesn’t look much different, except for being bigger, and looking a bit more confident of itself. It is also orange, with black stripes like a tiger throughout its body. Like Growlithe, this Pokemon is also known for its unwavering loyalty, which is what most players would expect from a dog. Players seeking a Growlithe to raise won't have to try hard, as they'll find these hounds coming their way in the wild without much effort.
Dog Pokemon: Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing?
As loyal and lovable as dogs can be, there are two sides to every coin. In the case of dogs, they have sharp teeth that can be used quite viciously if the animal wishes to. Over the years, dog attacks have mutilated and killed humans, with children being the majority of the targets. Growlithe, as loyal as it, displays similar characteristics within Scarlet and Violet. As players explore Paldea, they will find several Pokemon roaming the overworld. Most of the creatures will leave Trainers alone, as long as they don’t make contact. Growlithes are different, however, as they will chase players down and demand an unprovoked battle.
In addition to the battle being entirely unprovoked, it is somewhat disturbing that the Growlithe is so eager to chase down children, who are the primary victims of dog attacks. Given the fact that players find Growlithe in the wild, the creature should essentially be treated as a feral dog. Nevertheless, it does serve as a stark reminder that while the puppy is cute, it is still capable of some serious damage. Inadvertently or not, Growlithe ends up solving the same problems and posing the same issues as dogs do in the real world. They are incredibly useful as working animals, and it is impossible to name a creature more loyal and obedient to humans. Nevertheless, their ability to chase children and be used as weapons are rather unsavory aspects of dogs, which in turn makes Growlithe a more realistic Pokemon.
Dogs in Video Games
Pokemon is not the first video game franchise that has explored the dual nature of dogs. Perhaps most famously, this was explored in Naughty Dog's The Last of Us Part 2. To the Washington Liberation Front, dogs are loyal team members they love dearly and even play fetch with. However, to Ellie and the Seraphites, dogs are a nuisance that bring them nothing but pain and possibly death and injury. Fortunately, Abby is able to teach Yara, one of the Seraphites, that there are many dimensions to dogs and while they can be vicious, they also have a soft and playful side which has made humans fall in love with them for centuries. Consequently, while players may rejoice in killing enemy dogs in some circumstances, as it makes infiltrating areas easier, it also leaves players with a pang of guilt knowing that these are genuine pets that are loved and cared for by the WLF.
The good and the bad of dogs have been explored quite thoroughly in video games, though admittedly, most depictions focus on the lovable parts of dogs. For example, In Grand Theft Auto 5, players get Chop, and if players manage to make it happy, it will begin responding to Franklin's orders. In the realm of negative depictions, one of the most annoying dog enemies that players come across in the Resident Evil series is the zombie dogs. While they don't deal much damage, they move at an incredible speed, making it a pain to avoid their incessant attacks.
Growlithe is far from the only dog Pokemon, which is good news for players who want a four-legged friend to keep by their side. For a scary companion, Houndoom, Mightyena, and Lucario will get the job done with ease. Those seeking cuter friends should turn to adorable critters like Fidough, Rockruff, and Boltund who are more than sufficient.
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet and available on Nintendo Switch.
