The Animal Crossing franchise has been host to all manner of animal villagers, each one wonderfully unique and varied. Now with over 380 animals confirmed to be available to join your island in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, it’s hard to pick a favorite.
Even just looking at the dog villagers themselves, there are handfuls of contenders for the best of the bunch, so today we’re taking a look at the cutest pooches in the game. These dogs are the very best of the best, man’s most adorable friends, and although ranking these villagers is sure to divide some readers, we’ve done our best to keep things objective.
Please note: At this early point in the game’s lifespan, it is hard to track down in-game screenshots of each individual villager, but the following candidates are all in fact confirmed to be in Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
Updated September 3rd, 2020 by Ericka Blye:Just as “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder”, so is cuteness. What some might consider cute, others might disagree with entirely. That’s one of the great things about Animal Crossing: New Horizons’ vast collection of villagers, there are so many different picks that at least one is bound to please almost any player! Every single villager has their charm, though it’s hard to argue with the idea that Dog villagers are some the most wholesome and cutest villagers around. Here are a few more that deserve to be on the list.
15 Butch
It might be surprising to find a cranky villager on this list, but once you put time into befriending them, they become just as friendly and sweet as other villagers. Despite how “tough” his name is, Butch wears a cute blue Argyle Vest.
Even his home, which is decorated to look like a dusty old road out west, has some cuteness to it as he has two Throwback Racer Beds to represent cars on a road. Butch is one of three cranky dog villagers in the series, and the only one to appear in the games that weren’t exclusive to Japan.
14 Biskit
If this lazy dog villager’s name wasn’t cute enough for you, maybe the fact that he wears a laser cat t-shirt will explain why he’s on this list. While his personality in past games wasn’t the cutest, in current games like New Horizons, he’s much more interested in eating as many delicious snacks as he can and finding the best places to relax.
The interior of Biskit’s house goes well with his personality as he has it decorated like a backyard, that includes a colorful jungle gym and a picnic basket set up on the ground.
13 K.K. Slider
One of the most famous dog characters, both in-game and in real life, is the musician K.K. Slider. This free-spirited traveling artist has been apart of the series since the very first game, giving the player a copy of his song after he performs it.
He’s a very laid back and friendly character who is loved by everyone in the game, especially Isabelle who has a crush on him. Aside from being a talented musician, his most notable feature is that he doesn’t wear clothes, though as a dog that isn’t all that alarming.
12 Portia
Portia is the only Snooty dog villager in the series so far. Snooty villagers, like cranky ones, need time to warm up to the player before they show their true caring nature. She’s a very cute dalmatian with an elegant style, as seen by the Rad Power Suit Skirt she wears and the items she decorates her home in, like the Rose Bed and the vanity from the Antique series.
The best way to keep Portia happy and increase your friendship with her is by giving her gorgeous and elegant items in black and purple like a Flashy Kimino or Rhinestone Shades.
11 Daisy
The first entry on our list is Daisy, a youthful dog villager who is known for being very shy and caring. Daisy can get upset easily, and wears colorful clothing from the ‘Kiddie’ series. These factors combined with her stating that she wants to be a fossil excavator “when she grows up”, indicate that the villager could be younger than first thought.
Her kind personality allows her to get along with the majority of villagers very easily, though she can become upset when cranky villagers respond rudely to her. However, should the player upset her, she is quick to re-build bridges.
10 Maddie
There are few villagers peppier than Maddie, and her absence was felt by many when she disappeared from both Wild World and City Folk. Thankfully she’s back, as of the New Leaf Amiibo expansion, and everyone’s islands are better off for it in New Horizons.
This cute villager is thought to resemble Lady from Disney’s ‘Lady and the Tramp’, and she is obsessed with keeping clean. According to her Amiibo card, Maddie is also a big fan of going online, so she’s sure to be checking her ranking on this list, even now.
9 Cookie
Just one look at Cookie shows that she’s a clear candidate for the cutest dog in Animal Crossing. Named for her cute appearance and even sweeter personality, Cookie brings a whole lot of color to your island when she arrives. K.K. Slider himself must see something in her because Cookie notably appears a model on the album cover of ‘DJ K.K.’
Cookie’s special skill is dancing, and she hopes to one day take up acting to add to her resume. Overall, she’s a very talented individual with one of the cutest styles in the game.
8 Shep
Being a smug personality type, you may not expect to see Shep on a list ranking the cutest villagers, but it’s hard to argue once you see him. This denim-clad dog has light brown hair covering his eyes, resembling the sheepdog that he was without a doubt named after.
Shep will be kind to the player, even flirting with them from time to time, and he’s deeply invested in fashion. His picture quote, “even dogs won’t get in the middle of true love”, reveals that the dog is, at his core, a truly wonderful companion to have. It’s so good to see that he’s returning for New Horizons.
7 Bea
Bea is a sweetheart that deserves a place in anyone’s island lineup just like she deserves a place on this list. Her name is a reference to the Beagle dog breed, and her special skill is waking up early. The latter is probably for the best as her goal is apparently to become a dentist one day.
As a normal villager, she’s easy to get along with for all players, making her a welcome addition to your island. She’s no pushover though and will be down for a fierce competition from time to time, all while being as cute as a button.
6 Goldie
Goldie is one of the original villagers, shown off way back in the first entry of the Animal Crossing series. She is a normal-type villager, meaning that Goldie is about as basic as she gets. Partner that up with her catchphrase “woof” and you’ve got a solid recipe for a dog alright.
Despite this, Goldie deserves some love. She loves to read, has a crush on the Labrador from the Nintendogs cover, and is incredibly easy to befriend. According to Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp, “her luscious locks are famous for their natural fluff and sweet aroma. Folks always ask her what her secret is, but she just tells them the truth: she doesn’t have any secrets.”
5 Benjamin
4 Walker
Walker is another cute lazy villager whose name and personality might be a clever little nod to sleepwalking. As a lazy villager, he’s very friendly and easy to get along with by most other villagers, except snooty and jock villagers.
In New Horizons he decorates his house with a few pieces from the Study Set, the Wooden Set, and other items (like the Toy Box), which gives his place a kid’s bedroom theme. Walker is also connected to a sad fan theory, where players think the mummy dog Lucky is Walker after he’s passed away.
3 Cherry
Cherry is everyone’s favorite goth girl villager, and she more than deserves her spot on this list. From her spiderweb top to her fake eyelashes, she oozes her trademark rock ’n’ roll style and has become something of an icon in the Animal Crossing fanbase.
Being a sisterly personality, players can start their island on New Horizons with Cherry as one of their initial villagers. Because of this, more people than ever will be falling in love with Cherry’s cute style as they make their homes together on Tom Nook’s new, deserted island business venture.
2 Bones
Bones is the purest Animal Crossing dog, having made it all the way from the very first entry in the series to New Horizons. He’s a relaxed villager with a lazy personality and is honestly hard not to get along with.
Bones’ quote is “a snack a day keeps the vacuum away” which are truly words to live by, whether you’re a dog or simply enjoying some time off. What’s more, his initial catchphrase “yip yip” is sure to be a hit with fans of the Avatar: The Last Airbender series. His dream is to be an explorer, and we wish him all the best in his endeavors.
1 Isabelle
It would be an actual crime not to place Isabelle on the top of this list, and many fans of the franchise would find Isabelle being the cutest dog in New Horizons hard to deny. This clumsy but hardworking dog was the mayor’s loyal companion in New Leaf and now works beside Tom Nook while enjoying island life.
Isabelle is so cute that she garnered a large fan-following, resulting in her being included in other franchises such as Mario Kart 8, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. On Valentine’s Day back in New Leaf, she even sends you a chocolate cake with a thank you letter, but her real crush is on the top dog of Animal Crossing: K.K. Slider.
NEXT: Animal Crossing New Horizons: 10 Villagers You DON’T Want On Your Island
