In Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl, Dawn receives Piplup as her first partner Pokémon.
Dawn begins her journey in the Sinnoh region and chooses Piplup from Professor Rowan’s laboratory. In the anime, Piplup is portrayed as energetic, proud, and strongly attached to Dawn. It remains outside its Poké Ball for much of the series, making it one of the most recognizable members of her traveling team.
Dawn’s ambitions differ from Ash’s. Rather than focusing primarily on becoming a Pokémon League Champion, she aims to become a top Pokémon Coordinator. Piplup therefore participates in both battles and Pokémon Contests, where performance, timing, and appeal are important alongside strength.
Viewers sometimes confuse Dawn’s partner with the Sinnoh starter Pokémon used by other characters. Ash eventually obtains Turtwig and Chimchar, while Paul is associated with several powerful Pokémon, including Chimchar earlier in its life. Dawn’s signature first partner, however, is Piplup, the Water-type starter from the Sinnoh games.