November 1 is “Dog Day” in Japan — a date chosen by the Japan Pet Food Association as a play on the Japanese word for a dog’s bark: “wan wan (11) wan (1).” To mark the occasion, Anime! Anime! ran a reader poll asking fans to name their favourite anime dog character. The survey ran from 15 to 21 October 2026 and collected 130 responses. The gender split was roughly even, and the largest age groups were those 19 and under and those in their 30s, each accounting for around 30 percent of respondents.
1st Place — Sadaharu, Gintama
Sadaharu claimed the top spot for the second consecutive year with approximately 12 percent of the vote. The enormous white dog was picked up by Kagura and became a pet of the Yorozuya, where his habit of chomping down on people’s heads keeps everyone on their toes.
Fans praised his lovable chaos: “He’s huge, fluffy, and adorable — and I love how he bites the main character’s head without a second thought. Very dog-like!” Others highlighted the gap between his cute appearance and his powerful “love bites,” as well as his loyalty to the Yorozuya crew. Some readers also noted that Sadaharu is actually a divine dog spirit (狗神) tasked with guarding a dragon vein, adding: “I thought he was just a pet, but he carries a real burden — that backstory hits hard!”
2nd Place — Inukai Komug / Cure Wonderful, Wonderful Precure!
Inukai Komug, the Papillon dog owned by Inukai Iroha, climbed from third to second place with around 7 percent of the vote. Driven by her desire to protect Iroha, Komug gains the ability to transform into a human and become Cure Wonderful.
Readers loved her cheerful, loyal personality: “She’s carefree and loves Iroha more than anyone — her dog-like devotion is beautifully portrayed, whether she’s in dog form or Precure form.” Others were moved by the theatrical film’s treatment of the difference in lifespan between humans and dogs, noting that “Komug gave us a hopeful answer that left us feeling encouraged.” Komug also appears in the currently screening film Eiga Meitantei Precure! Fushigi na Niwa to Futari no Himitsu.
3rd Place — Inuyasha, Inuyasha
Inuyasha, the half-demon son of a demon father and human mother, slipped from second to third with roughly 5 percent of the vote but held on to a podium finish. Recognisable by his dog ears and long silver hair, he adventures through the Sengoku era alongside Higurashi Kagome.
Fans enjoyed the comedy of Kagome’s “Sit!” command sending him crashing to the ground: “He acts so tough normally, but he goes down instantly — it never gets old!” His distinctive dog ears also drew plenty of affection. With the series approaching its 30th anniversary, Inuyasha’s blend of bravado and charm clearly remains as appealing as ever.
Other Notable Mentions
- Daigoro from Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You — a regular customer’s dog left in the shop’s care; deceptively capable, and the subject of a memorable dual-voiced performance by Sato Takuya.
- Dog DOGE from Super Kaguya-hime! — a virtual dog Kaguya created in-game, faithfully following her everywhere in VR space.
- Rihaku (Li Bai) from The Apothecary Diaries — treated like a large dog by Maomao, yet beloved by people and animals alike; his visible excitement at the prospect of seeing Bai Ling is endearing.
- Salsa from WILD HALF — a mysterious dog who can speak and transform into a human, living with a boy named Taketo and solving cases together; fans hope voice actor Koyasu Takehito would reprise the role if an anime adaptation were ever made.
Top 10 Ranking — Favourite Anime Dog Characters 2026
- 1st — Sadaharu (Gintama)
- 2nd — Inukai Komug / Cure Wonderful (Wonderful Precure!)
- 3rd — Inuyasha (Inuyasha)
- 4th — Shiro (Crayon Shin-chan)
- 4th — Chuken Otako (Super Kaguya-hime!)
- 6th — Dog DOGE (Super Kaguya-hime!)
- 6th — Shiro (Hoozuki no Reitetsu)
- 6th — Bond Forger (SPY×FAMILY)
- 9th — Inubashiri Momiji (Touhou Project)
- 9th — Nakahara Chuya (Bungo Stray Dogs)
- 9th — Pluto (Mickey & Friends)
This year’s results show that fans are drawn not only to cute appearances but also to the unwavering loyalty and devotion that make dog characters so beloved in anime.
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