Discretion is the Better Part of Valor
Manned by the nefarious Soartroopers, these smaller craft are mostly harmless… on their own.
The problem you face when dealing with DOG Fighters is that you’re almost never dealing with just one. As soon as one spots you, its pilot will call for backup and before you know it you’ll be up to your neck in DOG Fighters.
They’re small and maneuverable, making them difficult to hit, but the trade-off is that their offensive capabilities aren’t as high as standard sized fighter craft. They can’t carry heavy lasers, they don’t have enough heat shielding to withstand atmospheric entry, and they don’t have enough thrust to achieve escape velocity, meaning they must be deployed in the area of operations and attack in groups to cause significant damage.
If you can catch one unaware, it’s easy to eliminate and move on. But the emphasis here is really on move on, because the next one is never too far away and neither is its base of operations.