The 23 Best Dogs in Anime, According to the Internet

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Anime expert Dianté Richard shares some of the goodest good pups across anime

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IN THIS ARTICLE

1 Iggy (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure)

2 Black Hayate (Fullmetal Alchemist)

3 Ein (Cowboy Bebop)

4 Pochita (Chainsaw Man)

5 Tetsuya #2 (Kuroko no Basket)

6 Pakkun (Naruto)

7 Heen (Howl’s Moving Castle)

8 Akamaru (Naruto)

9 Shiro (Elegant Yokai Apartment Life)

10 Makkachin (Yuri!!! On Ice)

11 Guts (Kill la Kill)

12 Sadaharu (Gintama)

13 Menchi (Excel Saga)

14 Cezar (Castlevania)

15 Jeff (Kiki’s Delivery Service)

16 Buddy (Nichijou)

17 Apo (Space Brothers)

18 Bond Forger (Spy x Family)

19 Chouchou (One Piece)

20 Bee (Dragon Ball Z)

21 Tadakichi-san (Azumanga Daioh)

22 Mike (Hunter x Hunter)

23 Zeke (High School of the Dead)

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Co-authored by Dianté Richard and Raven Minyard, BA

Last Updated: August 18, 2026 Fact Checked

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Let’s face it: dogs are always the best characters in film and TV, and this applies to anime, too! All anime dogs are totally adorable, but which ones are the best? We interviewed an anime expert and searched the internet far and wide to compile a list of anime fans’ favorite pups. Read on to see if your favorite made the list!

Best Dog Characters in Anime

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Anime expert Dianté Richard says some of the best dogs in anime are Iggy from JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure and Black Hayate from Fullmetal Alchemist. Other fan-favorite dogs include Ein from Cowboy Bebop, Pochita from Chainsaw Man, Akamaru from Naruto, Guts from Kill la Kill, and Sadaharu from Gintama.

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1

Iggy (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure)

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1. Iggy is one of the best dogs in anime, says Richard, and is one of the coolest characters from Part 3 of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure! Introduced in Stardust Crusaders, Iggy is an incredibly intelligent Boston terrier who can wield a Stand. He’s not exactly the most well-behaved dog, as he farts in Polnareff’s face and laughs about it, but that’s part of what makes him so entertaining. Plus, at the end of the day, he’s a loyal partner.

   Meet the wikiHow Expert

   Dianté Richard, also known as D-Rich, is an anime and cartoon expert. He’s been creating content about anime, cartoons, TV shows, and movies since 2020.
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2

Black Hayate (Fullmetal Alchemist)

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1. Richard agrees that Black Hayate is another super cool pup from anime! The tiny gray and white dog takes to the military well and is an obedient helper who does whatever needs to be done. The stray Shiba Inu was adopted by Riza Hawkeye, who definitely trained him well. Though the homunculus Gluttony terrifies other dogs, Black Hayate attacks it with no issues. He even gets his own happy ending at the end of the series—he has 3 puppies.

3

Ein (Cowboy Bebop)

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1. Ein is a genetically engineered corgi known as a “data dog.” He has superhuman intelligence that even allows him to hack into computer systems. He’s not a fighter, but he’s loyal and ready to defend those he cares about. He helps soften Spike’s hard exterior, and his presence is part of what makes Cowboy Bebop such a beloved show.
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4

Pochita (Chainsaw Man)

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1. Who knew a dog with a chainsaw for a nose could be so cute? Pochita is literally the Chainsaw Devil, but he’s also a heckin’ cute little guy. He’s incredibly devoted to his master, Denji, and fuses with him to save his life. While his role in Chainsaw Man is relatively small, he’s a fan-favorite character and one of the most iconic dogs across all of anime.

5

Tetsuya #2 (Kuroko no Basket)

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1. Tetsuya #2 is named after his owner, Tetsuya. He’s the unofficial mascot for the Seirin basketball team, and he loves playing basketball himself. He’s the best cheerleader a team could ask for… even if he pees a lot.
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6

Pakkun (Naruto)

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1. Pakkun is a pug who is one of Kakashi’s ninja dogs. He’s basically an old man in dog form. He’s lazy, has an attitude, and talks in a raspy voice, but deep down, he wishes he could help out more than he does. While he can’t fight like the younger dogs, his strong sense of smell proves that he’s still useful to the team.

7

Heen (Howl’s Moving Castle)

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1. Honestly, is there a Howl’s Moving Castle character who isn’t iconic? Heen is a shaggy-haired errand dog for Madame Suliman. He’s sent to escort Sophie to Madame Suliman, but the whole time, Sophie thinks he’s Howl in disguise, so it’s pretty funny when she finds out he’s literally just a dog. When Howl and Sophie escape, Heen joins them and gets to be a regular dog.
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8

Akamaru (Naruto)

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1. Pakkun isn’t the only beloved dog from Naruto. Akamaru is Kiba Inuzuka’s ninja hound and partner. He fights alongside Kiba, helping him in his shinobi training as well as in battle. The two are incredibly close, partially thanks to Kiba’s ability to communicate with Akamaru.

9

Shiro (Elegant Yokai Apartment Life)

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1. Shiro is the definition of a good dog, even if he doesn’t get a traditional happy ending. He started out as a stray and was soon befriended by a young boy named Kuri. When Kuri was killed by his abusive mother, Shiro killed her in revenge. However, a group of passersby heard the fight and killed him, too. His spirit then joined Kuri’s, and Shiro continued to defend Kuri from his mother in the afterlife, proving that he’s eternally loyal.
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10

Makkachin (Yuri!!! On Ice)

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1. Makkachin may not have supernatural powers or strong fighting skills, but he’s a good boy, and in a romance anime like Yuri!!!, that’s all we need. He’s Victor Nikiforov’s toy poodle, and he accompanies Victor all over the world. And Victor is just as loyal to Makkachin as Makkachin is to him; he even takes a break from skating to spend more time with Makkachin in his later years.

11

Guts (Kill la Kill)

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1. Guts got his name because he “eats with a lot of gusto.” He’s an adorable pug who’s always hungry and will steal the food off the plates of anyone not paying attention. His mischievous antics and silly character design are what make him such a beloved anime dog.
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12

Sadaharu (Gintama)

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1. Originally a god who was supposed to protect the Dragon’s Lair, Sadaharu is a giant white dog that joins the Yorozuya clan after losing his job. Though he’s large and intimidating, he’s more of a mascot than a guard dog… Though he’ll certainly defend his clan when he needs to. He’s stubborn and destructive, but that’s what makes Kagura (and anime fans) love him so much.

13

Menchi (Excel Saga)

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1. Menchi’s story is darkly comedic. Also known as “Emergency Food Supply,” she is captured by Excel and spends most of her time trying to escape. What makes her so memorable is that at the end of each episode she “sings” a tragic song (translated for the audience by a human) while being cooked. In the final episode, however, the roles are reversed, and the translator is being cooked while Menchi translates. Pretty iconic of her, if you ask us.
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14

Cezar (Castlevania)

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1. Everyone says they want their dog to live forever, but what if that meant becoming a zombie? Cezar didn’t have the best life, but his afterlife treats him pretty well. He’s missing an eye and a leg, but that doesn’t stop him from being a good boy. Hector loves him unconditionally, and Cezar adds a bit of wholesomeness to the dark fantasy series.

15

Jeff (Kiki’s Delivery Service)

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1. Jiji the cat isn’t the only iconic pet in Kiki’s Delivery Service. Jeff is an elderly Saint Bernard who belongs to Ket. He doesn’t play a large role in the film, but he’s totally endearing in the few scenes he has. He finds Jiji pretending to be a stuffed animal, and instead of hurting or harassing him, Jeff protects Jiji and returns him to Kiki.

   • More of a cat person? No worries! Check out our “17 Cute Anime Cats That You’ll Totally Want to Cuddle” article to see which other anime cats are as beloved as Jiji!
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16

Buddy (Nichijou)

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1. Buddy is a mysterious yet friendly dog in Nichijou. Whenever something bad happens to Yuuko, Buddy appears to comfort her. His owner, Kiyoshi, is often seen chasing after him whenever this happens. We certainly wish we had a Buddy that appeared whenever we’re feeling down!

17

Apo (Space Brothers)

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1. Apo is Hibito’s pet pug. Named after the Apollo space missions, Apo is a friendly, playful pup who loves food… especially hot dogs. He also makes a great alarm clock, as he has a habit of waking Hibito up right on time each morning.
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18

Bond Forger (Spy x Family)

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1. Bond may look like nothing more than a big, cuddly dog, but like the entire Forger family, there’s more to him than meets the eye. Before he joined the Forger family, Bond was experimented on, which gave him the ability to see the future. He’s incredibly intelligent and very protective of Anya, who understands him better than the others thanks to her telepathic powers.

19

Chouchou (One Piece)

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1. Though his role in One Piece is relatively small, Chouchou’s impact is anything but. After the death of his owner, Chouchou continues to look after the pet food store in Orange Town. He’s willing to put his own life at risk to protect his owner’s memory, proving just how loyal he is.
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20

Bee (Dragon Ball Z)

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1. Bee is the adorable dog that made Buu leave his villainous past behind. When Buu found Bee, he healed the dog and bonded with it immediately. When the mercenary Van Zant seemingly killed Bee, Buu brought it back to life, and they stuck together for years. Bee even makes small appearances in Dragon Ball Super.

21

Tadakichi-san (Azumanga Daioh)

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1. Tadakichi-san, or Mr. Tadakichi, is the beloved Great Pyrenees who belongs to Chiyo Mihama in Azumanga Daioh. He’s a gentle giant who allows Chiyo to ride on his back, and he’s well behaved and patient with her. He even gets along with cats!
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22

Mike (Hunter x Hunter)

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1. In addition to being the size of a house, Mike is also an incredibly intelligent hound. As the guard dog for the Zoldyck family, he memorizes the scent of everyone he meets, and he knows who to kill based on which gate they use when entering the property. We definitely wouldn’t want to get on his bad side!

23

Zeke (High School of the Dead)

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1. Zeke may be a tiny puppy, but he proves that he’s powerful in his own right. He belongs to Alice, a young girl whose father was murdered. Zeke is extremely loyal to her and even protects her from Them, the zombies that plague the world. He can also detect Them before anyone else, which helps his group stay safe.
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• Richard says Alexander from Fullmetal Alchemist is another iconic anime dog. While he was a sweet pup and super cool pet, Richard admits that he has a rather tragic story. Alexander started as the friendly family pet of the Tucker family, who was especially bonded with Nina Tucker. Unfortunately, Nina’s father was on a deranged mission to create a chimera—a creature made from 2 different animal species—and fused Nina with Alexander. And sadly, the Nina-Alexander chimera did not live for long.
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