Dogs,^{[1][2][name reference needed]} also known as Canines,^[3] are recurring Animals in The Legend of Zelda series. They usually appear in towns or other populated areas.

Characteristics[]

Link's Awakening[]

Dogs appear as Mutts who roam Mabe Village in their first appearance in Link's Awakening. Although normally harmless, treated as enemies, they will retaliate at Link if he attacks them. Mutts can be defeated by using Magic Powder or the Magic Rod. Chain Chomps, animals with Dog-like behavior (and also actually enemies from the Super Mario franchise), also appear for the first time in this game as pets of Madame MeowMeow.

Ocarina of Time[]

Dogs are commonly found running around the Castle Town Market and throughout Castle Town's back alleys in Ocarina of Time. These Dogs are smaller and have shaggy fur, resembling terriers. One particular Dog, Richard, is owned by Mamamu Yan, who holds her Dog in very high esteem compared to the other mutts of the town.^[4][5] At night, when all the Dogs roam the town, Mamamu Yan is unable to find hers, and asks Link to go look for him.^[6] Richard can be found behind a stall near the entrance to the market. As thanks for returning Richard, Mamamu Yan rewards Link with a Piece of Heart.

After awakening seven years later as an adult in the Temple of Time, Hyrule Castle Town is destroyed by Ganondorf and the Dogs are nowhere to be found. Mamamu Yan will have also moved to Kakariko Village along with the rest of the Hylians. After the Hero of Time successfully gains Epona and Talon moves back to Lon Lon Ranch, she will mention that Talon reminds her of her Dog, Richard.^[7] Since Richard is nowhere to be found, and she refers to him in the past tense,^[8] it is implied that Richard died in the seven year period.

Majora's Mask[]

The Dogs of Termina are mostly found at the Doggy Racetrack near Romani Ranch, operated by Mamamu Yan in Majora's Mask, which houses thirteen of the canines. In this mini-game, Link chooses a Dog from the kennel that he will bet on in a race. By picking up a Dog while using the Mask of Truth, Link can read the thoughts of the animal.^[9] This is especially useful while choosing a Dog for the races, as each one have unique reactions. In addition to the white and brown colorations from Ocarina of Time, Dog coats in Majora's Mask may also be gray, yellow, and and even blue. Other Dogs include the Dog of the Cursed Rich Man found inside the Swamp Spider House. If Link reads its mind, it will say his master's eyes are always filled with greed.^[10] There is also the Dog roaming South Clock Town, who constantly thinks of Deku Link.^[11]

Dogs react differently to each of Link's Mask transformations. When Link is in Deku form, Dogs will act hostile towards him, growling and barking, and even knocking him over (but will not cause damage). When Link is in Goron form, Dogs will growl at him while stepping back and then run away frightened if approached. When Link is in Zora form, Dogs will give affectionate barks as they chase him, and whine at his feet. However, they pay no mind to the Fierce Deity, much like in his normal self. If Link performs the march while wearing the Bremen Mask, Dogs will fall in line behind him and march along with him to the music, until he stops playing. If he does this at the Doggy Racetrack, the Dog nearest to the young hero will follow him.

It is also mentioned by Guru-Guru that a Dog was the leader of the animal troupe,^[12] and wore the Bremen Mask, which Guru-Guru stole.^[13]

Oracle of Seasons[]

A Dog named Flash appears in eastern Horon Village in Oracle of Seasons. He can be seen fetching a red ball thrown by his master.

Oracle of Ages[]

One unnamed Dog appears as the pet of Mamamu Yan in Lynna City in Oracle of Ages. Mamamu Yan still believes her pet to be much cuter than the rest,^[14] despite the fact that there are no other Dogs in all of Labrynna. In the Trading Quest, Mamamu Yan will take the Doggie Mask to hide her dog's face, whom she claims is very shy.^[15] In return, she gives Link the Dumbbell that the Dog played with.^[16] After receiving a secret from Mamamu Yan's mother in a Linked Game of Oracle of Seasons, and telling this secret to Mamamu Yan, she will mention that she has lost her Dog somewhere in town and will ask Link to go find it.^[17] The Dog will appear randomly in Lynna City. After finding and returning the Dog (who can be lifted using the Power Bracelet), Mamamu Yan rewards Link with the Snowshoe Ring.^[18]

The Minish Cap[]

Several Canines appear in The Minish Cap. Fifi is a Canine owned by Stockwell and can be found at Stockwell's House at Lake Hylia. Stockwell claims he is too busy to visit his Canine,^[19] and as such he becomes very lonely.^[20] Link can bring him a Bottle of Dog Food as a favor to Stockwell, who will let Link keep the Empty Bottle afterwards.^[21]

Other, more mutt-like Canines appear in Hyrule Town. One is Rolf, a dark-furred Canine belonging to Romio. The other is Growler, a light-brown Canine, who, in the beginning of the game, blocks a staircase leading to the southwestern part of Town.

While in Minish-sized, Link can speak to Canines and even Fuse Kinstones with Fifi and Rolf.

Twilight Princess[]

Dogs can be found in Ordon Village and Hyrule Castle Town in Twilight Princess. Unlike previous games where Dogs resemble terriers, the canines are based on Labrador Retrievers. Dogs can be picked up and played with. Link can even play fetch with them using bones found lying around, much to the Dog's enjoyment.^[22] If the bone is thrown into the patch of Grass next to the Medical Clinic or near a Tree, the Dog may bring back a Green Rupee or a Heart instead of the bone.

Dogs can be spoken to while in Wolf form, and will often give Link helpful advice on his quest. One particular Dog, owned by Jaggle and Pergie's family, gives Wolf Link helpful information as to how to dig and use his senses when he returns to Ordon Village for the first time in wolf form.

Stalhounds, skeletal Dog-like beasts, appear roaming Hyrule Field at night.^[23] Link must defeat a pack of Stalhounds in order to recover the Wooden Statue, the key to recovering Ilia's memory.^[24] Stalhounds also appear within the Cave of Ordeals.

Breath of the Wild[]

Hylian Retrievers are a breed of Dog in Breath of the Wild. According to the Hyrule Compendium, it is said that all Hylian Retrievers are descendants of the dog once owned by the King of Hyrule. These Dogs have a unique appearance, as they are not entirely based on a real-world breed.

Other Appearances[]

Freshly-Picked Tingle's Rosy Rupeeland[]

Nomenclature[]

In certain foreign versions of The Minish Cap, Rolf and Growler are given similar names (ワウ (Wau) and マウ (Mau); these names are onomatopoeias for barking in their respective languages).

Names in Other Regions
Language		Name
		Dog	Richard	Flash	Rolf	Growler
	EnglishUK	Dog	Richard	Flash	Rolf	Growler
	Japanese	犬	リチャード	ラッシュ	ワウ (Wau)	マウ (Mau)
	French	Chien	Kiki	Flash	Wouf	Waf
	FrenchCA		Cachou (OoT3D)
	German	Hund	Richard	Caprice	Woff	Wauwau
	Italian	Cane	Richard	Flash	Uau	Arf
	Spanish	Perro		Curro	Fiera	Leon
	SpanishLA		Ricardo (OoT3D)

Gallery[]

• 

  A brown Dog from Ocarina of Time

• 

  A yellow Dog from Majora's Mask

• 

  A blue Dog from Majora's Mask

• 

  Link holding a Dog from Twilight Princess

• 

  Rolf from The Minish Cap

• 

  Dr. Troy with a dog.

• 

  Barkle from Freshly-Picked Tingle's Rosy Rupeeland

• 

  Hylian Retriever model from Breath of the Wild

• 

  Hylian Retriever model from Breath of the Wild

See Also[]

• Chain Chomp
• Fifi
• Hylian Retriever
• Mutt
• Stalhound
• Doggy Racetrack

References