>>52313985>>52314199They're both.
Poochyena has been consistently used as a "dog" Pokemon, from its naming convention to its application as a popular pet in-universe and as a dog in spinoffs (Mystery Dungeon pairs his mission with Growlithe, with flavortext stating they want to play catch with each other, and Poochyena was the face of the Lunar New Year dog event).
The line's hyena tendencies come from their biting prowess, with hyenas having bone-crushing bites, and the teamwork and loyalty involved in spotted hyena packs. The line's fur pattern, pointy ears, and color scheme are based on the striped hyena, however.
