Reuploaded from my FA

Excerpt from the blog of A. Manchineel:

" One of the earliest known examples of a trained Pokemon in the Kanto region. Arcanine has the honor of being considered both a majestic, divine being, and a forever loyal companion of humanity from the beginning.

Once a feared predator, those ancient peoples who ventured to conquer a potential threat to their kinsmen instead found a curious and playful creature that seemed to regard them not as prey, but as friends. This then became a trend as humanity allegedly continued to obsessively befriend and tame every Pokemon they could until the present day. 
(There are some accounts through various oral histories that the first Pokemon ever tamed was actually a Rhydon, but Arcanine remains the most popular image of prehistoric human-Pokemon bonds.)

Nowadays you’re just as likely to see a Growlithe or Arcanine relaxing in a Kalosian villa as you are to see it running wild in its home region of Kanto. The temperament of an Arcanine runs the gamut from a cuddly couch-potato you leave alone with your baby to the steely behemoths used by law enforcement agencies worldwide. 

In the battling circuit, Arcanine are primarily seen biting or blowing swathes of Fire at their opponents. If up against a Fire-resistant opponent or one with hardier defenses, Arcanine can also make use of their cloven hooves to trample and kick like their relatives Bouffalant and Tauros. 

The ubiquitous popularity and presence of Arcanine can be troublesome for those with poor experiences with the line. Due to their usage in law enforcement (along with other Pokemon Houndour and Gumshoos), many former criminals have aversions to the line after being bitten or stepped on. This issue can compound itself, as those afraid of “Humanity’s Best Friend” are often viewed as untrustworthy.  "