Youll see that stats go nowhere real quick until you max out the pets skills. oull get a few points here and there, but once they GM skills, the stats fly on up.
As far more damaging pets, heck yes! For non-magery pets, I think that Hiryus and....omg! I cant remember what the self-healing wolves are called! Cu Sidhe (had to go look it up

) but those two are probably the highes damage dealers.
Then for castting pets, theres White Wyrms and Rune Beetles. I favor the Rune Beetle for the poisoning that they have...