they arent dogs , they are base off tigers , lion and leopards hence there speed and running away all the time. doesnt make sense if they were dogs , they are known to be called legendary beasts
According to Bulbapedia:
Many refer to them as legendary cats or legendary dogs, depending on if they personally see feline or canine features in the individual Pokémon. However, they are more likely based on many different creatures and mythological deities, such as Raijū, the Chinese guardian lions, and the qilin. On top of that, they also seem to have been stylized to fit the classic idea of three jungle cats or jungle beasts— the tiger, lion, and cheetah (or leopard).
