Okidogi using its chain as a weapon
Okidogi is a bulky, bipedal canine Pokémon, with broad shoulders, pointy ears, and a large, fluffy tail. Its fur is almost entirely black, except for the green on its muzzle, face, chest, hands, back, waist, thighs, and feet. It has magenta crescent-shaped markings on its face, which also contains yellow eyes, a rounded magenta nose, and sharp teeth. Its ears have magenta insides, and its hands have five fingers each and magenta paw pads. Hanging around its neck is a magenta Toxic Chain that resembles a leash. Okidogi is a male-only species with no female counterpart.
In myth, it is said that Okidogi was once a smaller, weaker Pokémon, but a desire for strength led it to meet the Mythical Pokémon Pecharunt, in need of retainers in its journey to Kitakami, used its Binding Mochi and Toxic Chain to tame and transform Okidogi. This resulted in the Toxic Chain being wrapped around its neck, chaining Okidogi to Pecharunt's will. Okidogi transformed as the chain enhanced its capabilities, granting it a powerful physique by stimulating its muscles heavily.[1] The toxic chain, when thrown, is powerful enough to let Okidogi pulverize anything it hits. It is a ruffian with a short temper. It traveled from a distant land with Munkidori, Fezandipiti, and Pecharunt to steal the masks of Ogerpon and its partner and gift them to Pecharunt's caretakers, Okidogi and Fezandipiti were sent to sneak into Ogerpon's cave while the two were away, managing to steal three of them, but Ogerpon's partner return in time to see what was happening and fend them off, managing to protect one of the masks, though left heavily injured. After finding out, Ogerpon encounters the four close to Mossui Town, and attacks them, Okidogi losing its life in the fight along with the other retainers. Pecharunt managed to survive, being knocked out and sent rolling away inside its shell. To the villagers of Mossui Town, it looked like the trio had fallen protecting the village from the enraged ogre, nicknaming them the Loyal Three and giving them a proper burial while Ogerpon retreated to Oni Mountain.
Okidogi, together with Munkidori and Fezandipiti, are known as the Loyal Three, the heroes of Kitakami. They are beloved by the people of Kitakami as heroes that once protected the land from the "evil ogre",[2] and stone statues bearing their likenesses were made by the people as an expression of their gratitude right where the three had been buried.[3] According to locals, worshiping Okidogi will grant kindness and help ensure things are 'okey-dokey' between both sides. Even with its greedy and mean personality, Okidogi has good relationships with its teammates, talking to them in private and acting together to defeat their opponents. By consuming the Kitakami Mochis, Okidogi can become a Titanic Pokémon.
As seen on the signs around Kitakami
- All of the levels at which Okidogi learns its moves, aside from level 1, are multiples of 8. It shares this trait with Pecharunt and the rest of the Loyal Three.
Origin
Okidogi seems to be based on a dog, specifically the Shiba Inu or the Japanese Akita, as it shares a bulkier appearance with the latter. The similarity is further pronounced with its Shiny variant and its association with Kitakami, which draws inspiration from the real life Tōhoku region of Japan, which contains the Akita Prefecture.
Pecharunt and its Loyal Three of Okidogi, Munkidori, and Fezandipiti, and their relationship to Ogerpon, may reference the Japanese folktale of Momotarō. The tale relates the titular Momotarō, a boy born from inside a peach, who traveled alongside a talking dog, monkey, and pheasant to fight a band of oni (a Japanese folkloric creature commonly equated to ogres in translations). The chains binding the Loyal Three may be based on shimenawa, woven ropes used in Shinto purification rituals; on Okidogi, the chain visually resembles a dog leash.
Name origin
Okidogi may be a combination of okie-dokie (variant of "okay") and dog. "Dogi" may also be a reference to training uniforms used for martial arts, hence the fighting typing.
Iineinu may be a combination of いいね ii ne (interjection to express approval) and 犬 inu (dog).