Lesser Dog

Lesser Dog is one of the members of the dog family who lives in Snowdin, appearing first as an enemy in Snowdin Forest and then as an NPC in Snowdin town. In battle it wields a long stone sword (perhaps about as long as his body if a little shorter) and a large, full-body shield engraved with the Delta Rune, signifying its place in the royal guard.

Its name derives from the constellation "Canis Minor", which is Latin for "lesser dog".

Appearance
Its fur is completely white and its red tongue appears to be perpetually lolling out of its mouth. It wears gray, presumably metal armor with a darker gray band around the waist area.

Personality and traits
Like several other dog characters, Lesser Dog reacts over excitedly to physical attention and is capable of extending its neck at a seemingly limitless rate when stimulated by being pet.

The Lesser Dog appears to enjoy spending its time off sentry duty by playing card games (namely poker and go fish) against itself at Grillby's; however, judging by its regular failure even against itself, it may not be very good at the game.

Attacks

 * A dog resembling the Annoying Dog appears to the right of the screen and runs on the spot for a moment before leaping leftward.
 * A blue spear comes in from the right of the screen and moves all the way to the left, followed by a white spear coming in from the left, stopping in the middle and moving back leftwards for a moment before the attack ends.

Strategy

 * If you pet it, you can spare it. If you keep petting it, its head will keep rising, eventually surpassing the dialogue box and even the menu.
 * Like other dog enemies, the Stick can be used to end the Lesser Dog battle instantly.

True Pacifist Ending Credits
In the playable epilogue for the Pacifist Route Lesser Dog has apparently finally won a game of poker against itself, sitting in Grillby's bar - the only dog character not to be outside the Snowdin Library playing with its family member Endogeny.
 * White Text - "Searching for Affection"
 * Yellow Text - " Found A Loving Owner "
 * In order to achieve yellow text, Lesser Dog must be pet enough times for the attacks to stop, and then spared.

Quotes

 * "[Pant pant]" [Encounter]
 * "[Pant! Pant!]" [Pet]
 * "[Excited noises]" [Pet+]
 * "[Motor revving]" [Pet++]
 * "[Plane takeoff]" [Pet+++]
 * "[Kettle whistling]" [Pet++++]

Flavor Text

 * Wields a stone dogger made of pomer-granite. [Check]
 * Lesser Dog appears. [Encounter]
 * You barely lifted your hand and Lesser Dog got excited. [after petting Lesser Dog for the first time]
 * Lesser Dog is barking excitedly. [after each of Lesser Dog's attacks after being pet]
 * You lightly touched the Dog. It's already overexcited... [after petting Lesser Dog a second time]
 * You pet the Dog. It raises its head up to meet your hand. [after petting Lesser Dog a third time]
 * You pet the Dog. It was a good Dog. [after the fourth pet]
 * Lesser Dog is overstimulated. [after each of Lesser Dog's attacks after several more pets]
 * You pet the Dog. Its excitement knows no bounds. [after yet another pet]
 * Critical pet! Dog excitement increased. [after yet another pet]
 * You have to jump up to pet the Dog. [after yet another pet]
 * You don't even pet it. It gets more excited. [after yet another pet]
 * Lesser Dog shows no signs of stopping.
 * There is no way to stop this madness. [after yet another pet]
 * Lesser Dog enters the realm of the clouds. [after yet another pet]
 * You call the Dog but it is too late. It cannot hear you. [yet another pet...]
 * You can reach Lesser Dog again. [after Lesser Dog's head comes back from the sky]
 * You pet Lesser Dog. [after many pets]
 * Lesser Dog is lowering. [after Lesser Dog's head comes back from the sky]
 * It's possible that you may have a problem. [after Lesser Dog has been pet a little too much]
 * Lesser Dog is learning to read. [after Lesser Dog's head has lowered into the text box]
 * Lesser Dog is whining because it can't see you. [after Lesser Dog's head has lowered into the text box]
 * Lesser Dog is unpettable but appreciates the attempt. [after Lesser Dog's head is below the text box]
 * Hello There. [after Lesser Dog's head is below the text box]
 * Perhaps mankind was not meant to pet this much. [after Lesser Dog's head is below the text box]
 * It continues. [after Lesser Dog's head is below the text box]
 * Lesser Dog is questioning your choices. [after Lesser Dog's head is below the text box]
 * Lesser Dog is beyond your reach. [after Lesser Dog's head is below the screen]
 * Lesser Dog has gone where no Dog has gone before. [after Lesser Dog's head is below the screen]
 * Really... [after Lesser Dog can be pet no more]
 * Lesser Dog tucks its tail between its legs.  [When HP is low]

Trivia

 * The Lesser Dog's continuously rising head may be a reference to the Long Cat internet meme.
 * The amount of petting done is reflected in the Lesser Dog's snow sculptures at his sentry post. If you kill Lesser Dog, then there will only be a pile of mushy snow.
 * The Red Bird NPC in Grillby's will comment on the disappearance of the Dogs, even if Lesser Dog is still alive.
 * If Lesser Dog is the only enemy that you have killed, Undyne will comment on it, claiming that it was only seeking affection.
 * There exist sprites for an unused dog enemy similar to that of Lesser Dog, in which the files name "DogeB". It looks less like most of the other dogs in the game, looking like more of a golden retriever of sorts. It is unknown if this was originally meant to be Lesser Dog or a whole new monster altogether. Also, "Doge" may be a reference to the popular Doge meme.
 * Faun speaks of the Lesser Dog, saying how it gets too exited making snowdogs and cannot finish them.