Well Cyndquil is the best against the Gyms, and is the strogest, as well as being my personal preferance. Hoever you can catch Growlithe North of Violet City, who eventually becomes stronger. There are plenty of decent Wtaer~Types near the beginning like Wooper and Goldeen, not to mention Suicune, the star of the show! Also IMHO Feraligatr is ugly, so is pwned by the graceful and powerful Suicune. There are, oddly enough, no decent Water~Types near the beginning of the game however, and training Chikorita can pay off, besides it learning interesting moves, so perhaps Chikorita.
~sandos;152;