Growlithe is a loyal and protective Fire-type Pokémon introduced in Generation I. Known as the Puppy Pokémon, it has a brave and trustworthy nature, often used by police and security forces for its keen sense of smell and protective instincts. Growlithe has orange fur with black stripes along its back and legs, with a cream-colored muzzle, chest, and tail. It has a superb olfactory sense, capable of detecting and remembering any scent, which it uses to determine the emotions of other living things.
This canine Pokémon is extremely loyal to its Trainer and will fearlessly defend them from harm, even against larger and stronger foes. Growlithe is known to bark fiercely at and chase away any perceived threats to its territory or Trainer. In the wild, Growlithe can be commonly found in grassy plains and has a long history with humans, as its bones have been discovered in Stone Age ruins.
Interestingly, Growlithe has a regional variant in the Hisui region (ancient Sinnoh) where it developed a dual Fire/Rock typing due to exposure to volcanic activity in coastal highlands. This Hisuian form has soft, insulated fur to survive cold weather and a fragile rock horn that it rarely uses.
Pokédex Data
- National Pokédex Number: #058
- Type: Fire
- Height: 0.7 m (2'04")
- Weight: 19.0 kg (41.9 lbs)
- Abilities: Intimidate, Flash Fire, Justified (Hidden)
- Catch Rate: 190 (24.8% with PokéBall, full HP)
Breeding
- Egg Groups: Field
- Gender Ratio: 75% male, 25% female
- Egg Cycles: 20 (4,884–5,140 steps)
Pokédex Entries Across Versions
- Red/Blue: Very protective of its territory. It will bark and bite to repel intruders from its space.
- Yellow: A Pokémon with a friendly nature. However, it will bark fiercely at anything invading its territory.
- Gold: Extremely loyal, it will fearlessly bark at any opponent to protect its own Trainer from harm.
- Crystal: It has a brave and trustworthy nature. It fearlessly stands up to bigger and stronger foes.
- Ruby/Sapphire: Growlithe has a superb sense of smell. Once it smells anything, this Pokémon won't forget the scent, no matter what. It uses its advanced olfactory sense to determine the emotions of other living things.
Evolutions
Growlithe evolves into Arcanine when exposed to a Fire Stone. In its Hisuian form, it evolves into Hisuian Arcanine, also using a Fire Stone.
Habits
Growlithe is known to live in pairs and be vigilant when guarding its territory. It will remain motionless until given an order by its Trainer. When it detects an unknown smell in its territory, it roars to flush out the intruder. Growlithe is also known to fight with Rockruff over territory.
Additions Across Generations
- Generation II: Growlithe gained the ability to learn several new moves, including Safeguard and Iron Tail.
- Generation IV: Growlithe's hidden ability, Justified, was introduced.
- Generation VIII: Hisuian Growlithe, a regional variant with Fire/Rock typing, was introduced in Pokémon Legends: Arceus.