Houndour is a quadruped, canine Pokémon with short, black fur and a red underbelly and muzzle. Its ears and tail are both short and pointed. Two fangs protrude from its upper jaw, and its triangular nose is black. There are white bands on its ankles, and rib-like ridges on its back. Houndour appears to have a simplistic, stylized skull on its forehead with the eye orbits creating eyebrow patterning above its actual eyes. It also has circular, red paw pads on each of its three-toed paws.
Houndour is an intelligent Pokémon that forms packs to hunt for prey, and shows unparalleled teamwork. As seen in the anime, it will not abandon a sick pack member. It communicates using various barks and howls. Barks are used to determine the location of a pack member during a hunt, while howls are used as declaration of ownership over a territory. They are known to be loyal and obedient to their Trainers. Houndour can typically be found around rough terrain.
Major appearances
Multiple Houndour debuted in Hour of the Houndour. One of them got sick, prompting the rest of its pack to steal food in order to aid it. Ultimately, Ash helped the ailing Houndour to a Pokémon Center.
A Houndour is one of the enemies of the Pichu Brothers and can normally be seen chasing them, or anyone else that angers it, around Big Town. It appeared in Pikachu & Pichu, Trouble in Big Town, Of Meowth and Pokémon, and Pichu Bros. in Party Panic; and it also made a cameo in Giratina and the Sky Warrior.
A Houndour appeared in The Mystery is History, under the ownership of Cassidy. It was initially overpowered due to its power-amplifying headgear. It made further appearances in A Parent Trapped!, A Promise is a Promise, Showdown at the Oak Corral, and Putting the Air Back in Aerodactyl!.
Multiple Houndour appeared in From A to Z!, Meeting at Terminus Cave!, and A Towering Takeover!, all under the ownership of Team Flare Grunts.
A Team Skull Grunt's Houndour appeared in Turning Heads and Training Hard!. It was quickly defeated by Ilima and his Eevee.
Minor appearances
A Houndour appeared in Ariados, Amigos, under the ownership of Ralph. It was seen at the Pokémon Jujitsu Academy, where it defeated Mickey's Hypno.
Two Houndour appeared in Entei at Your Own Risk as some of the Pokémon resting in some hot springs.
A Houndour appeared in Johto Photo Finish, where it was one of the Pokémon being fed by Tracey at Professor Oak's Laboratory.
A Coordinator's Houndour appeared in Deceit and Assist.
A Houndour made a small appearance in The Rise of Darkrai as one of the Pokémon Darkrai hit with a Dark Void.
A Houndour appeared in Genesect and the Legend Awakened as a resident of Pokémon Hills.
A Houndour appeared during the Mega Audino journal in A Race for Home!, where it was fighting with a Scraggy.
Three Trainers' Houndour appeared in A Crowning Moment of Truth!.
Two Trainers' Houndour appeared in The Power of Us.
A Trainer's Houndour appeared in the Where Are You Going, Eevee? segment at the end of Lillier and the Staff!, where it became annoyed from a wild Eevee eating its food and chased it away. It reappeared during a flashback in We Know Where You're Going, Eevee!.
Pokédex entries
Episode
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Pokémon
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Source
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Entry
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EP150
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Houndour
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Ash's Pokédex
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Houndour, the Dark Pokémon. Houndour travel in packs and communicate through barks in order to surround their prey.
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In the Pokémon Adventures manga
In Pokémon Adventures, Gold is attacked by and defeated by four Pokémon, including a Houndour, when he enters the Ilex Forest, and is then warned to stay out by the Masked Man in You Ain't Nothin' but a Houndour and The Ariados up There. This Houndour is later used against Lt. Surge during his battle against the Masked Man, where its howls summon a herd of wild Houndour to aid it in battle. Although their constant howling prevented Lt. Surge from moving, he is able to have multiple Electrode use Selfdestruct to knock them down, allowing Surge to flee during the confusion.
One of Carl's Houndoom was seen as a Houndour in The Escape, the round in which Green and Silver escaped from Pryce.
In the Pokémon Gotta Catch 'Em All manga
Shū has a Houndour in the Pokémon Gotta Catch 'Em All manga.
In the Pokémon Gold & Silver: The Golden Boys manga
Houndour is Grey's only known Pokémon in the The Golden Boys manga.
In the Pokémon Pocket Monsters manga
Giovanni used a Houndour as part of his evil plans in PM081.
Pokédex entries
Manga
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Chapter
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Entry
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Pokémon Adventures
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PS139
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It communicates with fellow Houndours via a unique howl, informing them of its location. The herd will then move in together on their prey.*
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