Growlithe is a quadruped, canine Pokémon. It has orange fur with black stripes along its back and legs. The fur on its muzzle, chest, belly, and tail is cream-colored, as well as an additional tuft of fur on top of its head. Growlithe's coat is noticeably longer on its chest and tail. It has gray eyes, a black nose, and large, round ears. Its forepaws have two visible claws, while its hind paws have three toes each. Each paw has a brown pad.
Growlithe is a friendly and loyal Pokémon that will fearlessly defend its Trainer and territory from harm, even against larger, stronger enemies. It will fiercely bark at, bite, and chase away any perceived threat, including those who suddenly approach its Trainer. Otherwise, this obedient Pokémon will wait motionlessly until given an order. Growlithe also has a powerful olfactory sense. If it detects an unknown smell in its territory, it roars to flush out the intruder. It is able to smell the emotions of others, and never forgets a scent. However, strong, unpleasant smells can disable its sense of smell for short periods, as seen in the anime. Growlithe can be commonly found in grassy plains.
In the main series
Major appearances
James had a pet Growlithe nicknamed Growlie, which he owned as a child. However, he left it behind when he ran away from home. Despite this, it remains loyal to James.
Growlithe and its evolved form have been frequently used as police dogs by Officer Jenny prior to the Best Wishes series. A Growlithe also appeared in The Power of Us, which is set in a timeline different from the main series; it was under the ownership of the Officer Jenny of Fula City.
Other
A Growlithe appeared in The Flame Pokémon-athon!, under the ownership of Lara Laramie. It battled Ash while defending a Tauros from a ranch that he mistakenly tried to catch.
Morrison introduced his Growlithe to Ash and his friends in Saved by the Beldum. Morrison later used Growlithe in his battle against Gavin but was defeated by Marowak. During Morrison's battle against Ash, Morrison's reluctance to battle led Growlithe to be defeated by Corphish.
In On Cloud Arcanine, Drew and May discovered that the Arcanine they were trying to catch had a litter of Growlithe to take care of. Due to this, they decided to leave the Arcanine alone.
A Growlithe appeared in Cilan and the Case of the Purrloin Witness!, under the ownership of Tedesco. Growlithe helped defend Ash and his friends when Teaque's Vanillite's attacked them.
Minor appearances
Growlithe debuted in Sparks Fly for Magnemite, where it was seen in Gringey City's Pokémon Center.
A Growlithe appeared in Mewtwo Strikes Back.
A Growlithe appeared in Pikachu's Vacation as one of the Pokémon seen at the Pokémon Theme Park.
Multiple Growlithe appeared in Showdown at the Po-ké Corral, where they were were seen at Professor Oak's Laboratory.
A Growlithe appeared in Pikachu Re-Volts, where it was among the Pokémon controlled by Cassidy and Butch at Mandarin Island North.
Two Growlithe appeared in Shell Shock!, under the ownership of an expedition crew led by Nurse Joy, which was looking for Kabuto Fossils. They helped alert the group when boulders began to rain down on them.
Multiple Growlithe appeared in The Power of One.
A Growlithe appeared in the Japanese credits of Pikachu's Rescue Adventure.
A Growlithe appeared in Snubbull Snobbery, under the ownership of some security guards in Palm Hills.
A Trainer's Growlithe appeared in Hot Matches!.
A Growlithe appeared in Beauty and the Breeder, under the ownership of a Pokémon Breeder participating in a Pokémon breeding competition.
A Growlithe, along with an Arcanine, acted as security guards for a penthouse in Training Daze.
Multiple Growlithe appeared in the opening sequence of Destiny Deoxys.
A Trainer's Growlithe appeared in Off the Unbeaten Path, where it was seen participating in the Pokémon Orienteering competition.
A Coordinator's Growlithe appeared in What I Did for Love!.
A Coordinator's Growlithe appeared in Once More With Reeling!, where it was seen participating in the Terracotta Contest.
A Growlithe appeared in Not on MY Watch Ya Don't!.
A Growlithe appeared in The Champ Twins!.
A Growlithe appeared in Camping It Up!.
A Trainer's Growlithe appeared in Curtain Up, Unova League! and Lost at the League!.
A Growlithe appeared in a flashback in Secrets From Out of the Fog!.
A Growlithe appeared in Go, Go Gogoat! as a resident of an unnamed island in the Decolore Islands.
A Growlithe appeared in SS027.
A Growlithe appeared in Volcanion and the Mechanical Marvel.
Two Trainers Growlithe appeared in Alola to New Adventure!.
A Growlithe appeared in First Catch in Alola, Ketchum-Style!, where it was seen happily giving some Berries to a group of Pikipek.
Six Trainers' Growlithe appeared in A Shocking Grocery Run!.
A Trainer's Growlithe appeared in That's Why the Litten is a Scamp!.
Two Trainers' Growlithe appeared in To Top a Totem!.
A Trainer's Growlithe appeared in Racing to a Big Event!, where it participated in the Pokémon Pancake Race.
A Trainer's Growlithe appeared in They Might Not Be Giants!.
Two Trainers' Growlithe appeared in Crystal-Clear Sleuthing!.
Two Trainers' Growlithe appeared in One Journey Ends, Another Begins....
Two Trainers' Growlithe appeared in Getting the Band Back Together!.
Two Trainers' Growlithe appeared in A Glaring Rivalry!. One of them reappeared in a flashback in A Masked Warning!.
A Trainer's Growlithe appeared in I Choose You!.
Four Trainers' Growlithe appeared in A Crowning Moment of Truth!, with one appearing in a flashback.
A Trainer's Growlithe appeared in Balloons, Brionne, and Belligerence!.
Two Trainers' Growlithe appeared in Alola, Kanto!.
A Trainer's Growlithe appeared in Faba's Revenge!.
A Trainer's Growlithe appeared in the banned episode SM064.
A Trainer's Growlithe appeared in Love at First Twirl!.
A Trainer's Growlithe appeared in Sours for the Sweet!.
A Trainer's Growlithe appeared in The Power of Us.
A Trainer's Growlithe appeared in All They Want to Do is Dance Dance!.
A Trainer's Growlithe appeared in The Shape of Love to Come!.
A Growlithe appeared in I Choose Paradise!, where it was among the Pokémon seen at the Pokémon Paradise Resort.
A Trainer's Growlithe appeared in SM090, where it joined the rest of Alola in showering Necrozma with light so it could return to its normal form.
Two Trainers' Growlithe appeared in SM099.
Pokédex entries
Episode
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Pokémon
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Source
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Entry
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EP033
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Growlithe
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Ash's Pokédex
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Growlithe, a Puppy Pokémon of pleasant demeanor and great diligence. It drives enemies away with barks and bites.
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EP054
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Growlithe
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Ash's Pokédex
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Growlithe, the Puppy Pokémon. While loyal to its master, the Growlithe will drive away enemies by barking and biting.
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Episode
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Pokémon
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Source
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Entry
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DP153
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Growlithe
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Dawn's Pokédex
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Growlithe, the Puppy Pokémon. Growlithe are very loyal and won't move unless their Trainer commands it.
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In Pokémon Origins
A Growlithe appeared in File 2: Cubone at the Pokémon House in Lavender Town.
In Pokémon Generations
A Growlithe appeared in The Chase, under the ownership of an International Police SWAT team. It was used during the raid on the Viridian Gym, during which it accompanied Looker in his search for Giovanni and investigated the traces of explosions at the Gym's battlefield.
A Growlithe appeared in The Reawakening, during a flashback about the creation of the legendary beasts.