Growlithe, Arcanine and Entei are based on the koma-inu. The koma-inu is often call "lion dogs". They're those statues you see in front shrines, guarding the entrance. They look like they can rip your heart out seems meh-bad. But they also look noble. then we have lycanroc it has 3 forms midday, midnight and afternoon it has the similarities of a okuri inu. The good news is that it protects you from other yokai but the bad news is that if you stumble or fall, that triggers it and it'll pounce and kill you. whice is similar to lycanroc.
