What Kind of Dog Is Scooby Doo? A Guide to the Great Dane

what kind of dog is scooby doo

If Scooby Doo has taught us anything, it’s that fear of the unknown is the one thing that always gives us the heebie-jeebies. Scooby’s entire detective career revolves around tracking down human villains dressed as monsters.

And once their true identity is revealed at the end of each episode, there’s nothing left to scare us — well, other than these people’s sinister motives.

But what about Scooby’s true identity? What kind of dog is Scooby Doo, the scared boy that he is? Which features does he share with the Great Dane, and what sets him apart from this breed?

Which Dog Breed Is Scooby Doo?

Scooby Doo

Image source: Pinterest

We’ve got enough reasons to believe Scooby is a Great Dane based on his looks. Even his creator, Iwao Takamoto, admitted to having used this dog breed as inspiration. Still, there seems to be something peculiar about our friend here. Before we get to that, let’s learn a thing or two about Great Danes.

What Are Great Danes Like?

Dane

Despite its name, the Great Dane has German, not Danish origins. This breed appears to have been around for over four centuries. And today, it bears the name “the Apollo of dogs” because of its imposing physical features.

By considering the unique characteristics of this breed, you may gain more insight into what a real-life Scooby would look like.

For starters, Great Danes are extremely large dogs, with a male specimen reaching the height of 32 inches. A male Great Dane can weigh 100‒120 pounds, which explains why these dogs are considered giants.

Overall, this breed has a muscular body and long, straight front legs. But it also has other prominent physical features that make it stand out from other dog species.

For example, the head of a Great Dane is massive and somewhat triangular. It’s pretty narrow, with a flat top, supported by a long and muscular neck. When it comes to this breed’s ears, they drop forward unless they’re cropped to stay erect. The fur of a Great Dane can range in colors, being either black, brown, or yellow with darker spots.

But what about the personality of this dog breed? For starters, the stature of these dogs can’t go unnoticed. It seems that their character owes a lot to their physical elegance and grace. But a Great Dane is also a very gentle and affectionate dog of a playful yet sensitive nature.

What’s Scooby Doo Like?

While reading about the Great Dane, you’ve probably noticed the obvious resemblance Scooby bears to this breed. You might be able to spot the similarities between the two right away, especially the ones regarding their looks.

Like the Apollo of dogs, your favorite cartoon good boy has a remarkable and wondrous size. Scooby also possesses a triangular head, long neck, and blunt ears.

And as for its character, this ticklish dog has a few common personality traits it shares with the Great Dane breed. Scoob’s inherent loyalty and affectionate nature are on a par with the temperament of its Great Dane cousins. Still, you probably wouldn’t consider Scooby the typical representative of this breed, and here’s why.

When designing its fictional character, Scooby’s creator did have in mind the Great Dane breed. Takamoto even spoke to his friend, a Great Dane breeder, about these dogs’ characteristic physical and mental traits.

But in the end, the animator decided to incorporate the exact opposite features into Scooby’s looks and character. So, yes — your favorite TV dog is a Great Dane, but a somewhat misshapen one.

The first clue can be Scoob’s lack of elegance, mirrored in his funny posture. Another visible hint is that you won’t generally find a Great Dane with dark spots on a brown body. And unlike its cousins, Scooby’s legs are bandy, he has a double chin, and his feet are too big.

But what’s probably even more obvious is Scooby Doo’s pretty original character. Despite his job, your favorite cartoon detective is chicken-hearted. The complete opposite of a Great Dane, Scooby lacks courage and grace. So different, yet so alike — probably even Scooby himself wouldn’t know how to solve the mystery of his enigmatic character.


Featured image source: Pinterest.com

Nicole Middleton
Nicole calls herself a typical millennial girl and thrives on her share of social media, celebrity gossip, and all things viral content. She’s a big fan of pop music and plays the guitar as a hobby.