The Mystery Unveiled: What Kind Of Dog Is Scooby Doo?
One of the most loved animated characters is also one of the most intriguing. We are talking about Scooby Doo. The much adored dog has stood the test of time and has been a household name for generations.
The question, what kind of dog is scooby doo has been doing the rounds since forever. In this article we are going to find out more about the mystery that people can’t seem to solve. Everything you ever wanted to know about Scooby Doo is right here.
Scooby Doo Who?
Unless you have been living under a rock, you are bound to have heard of Scooby Doo. He is the big brown dog that can talk. This series premiered in 1969, named “Scooby Doo, Where Are You?” It consisted of the characters Shaggy, Fred, Velma and Daphne. They were the Mystery Inc. members who went around investigating to bring down suspects.
Scooby Doo is a character created by Iwao Takamoto, who was the animator for Hanna-Barbera Productions. He meticulously studied the dog breed to develop the character to be as life-like as possible, while also having a little fun with it.
The show was aired on CBS until 1970, but its popularity soared so high that it resulted in a franchise consisting of movies, spin-offs and even a live action version starring Freddie Prinze Jr. as Fred, Sarah Michelle Gellar as Daphne, Matthew Lillard as Shaggy and Linda Cardellini as Velma.
The latest installation of the show is slated to hit the screens in 2023 on HBO Max. Made for the adult audience, it will feature Mindy Kaling as Velma, Constance Wu as Daphne, Glenn Howerton as Fred and Sam Richardson as Norville, also known as Shaggy.
Where Can You Watch Scooby Doo?
Now that it has spiked your interest, you might want to know where the original Scooby-Doo can be streamed. It is available on HBO Max. The latter series that aired from 2002-2006 is also available on HBO Max.
The live action movie can be found on Netflix, with a sequel called “Scooby Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed” also available. If you want to find the complete series, it can be found on Boomerang.
What Kind Of Dog Is Scooby Doo?
Numerous questions were asked, what kind of dog is scooby-doo? What breed is scooby doo? What type of dog is scooby doo? These are the most asked questions that have been asked by generations of viewers.
Scooby Doo is a Great Dane which is one of the largest dog breeds in the world. Takamoto kept intrinsic differences between the character and the Great Dane. When people tried to find dogs that look like scooby doo and could not it became apparent that the dog was not anything like those that we know of. Which gave rise to the age old question about the scooby doo dog.
The Great Dane is known for its poise and stateliness, grace and gentility. They have straight legs and backs, and a small chin. Great Danes are known to be great watch dogs, who hate strangers. Scooby Doo on the other hand has a humped back, bent legs, and a big chin. His color too does not match that of Great Danes. He is also a bit of a namby-pamby who is scared of his own shadow.
Why Would Anyone Select Scooby-Doo to be a Great Dane?
For centuries, choosing a breed of dog for Scooby-Doo appeared to be about the easiest decision. Curiously enough, it appears that there is no hard and fast requirement to select the Great Dane for a detective hound. Here are few reasons why Scooby ended being a Great Dane:
1. Size as a Tool for Humour
Great Danes are one of the biggest dog breeds, and it makes Scooby a bit of a clumsy, awkward character with his tall build. His size provides comedy in a lot of his situations as he knocks down obstacles or creates chaos because he is too clumsy. This huge characteristic lets Scooby interact with other characters in hilariously over-the-top ways.
2. Gentle and friendly personality
Great Danes are known as “gentle giants” because of their gentle and affectionate nature. This character suits Scooby very well, as despite his fear of ghosts and monsters, he is highly loyal, loving, and protective of his friends. His fear of danger, especially creepy mysteries, contrasts with his nature being friendly and goofy, just like how Great Danes are big but gentle and kind-hearted.
3. Height and Seriousness
The size of the Great Dane lends seriousness to Scooby, which humorously contrasts with his childlike and goofy personality. It is actually quite funny to see a dog of such stature acting like a terrified, food-obsessed comic relief character.
4. Visual appeal
From a design point of view, Scooby, being a Great Dane, really stands out against the other human characters. Among all the Mystery Inc. gang members such as Fred, Daphne, Velma, and Shaggy, Scooby is in creating great visual balance in the show. His size and colors make him easily recognizable and memorable.
Scooby-Doo’s Personality: A Great Dane with a Twist
While Scooby’s physical appearance might match the description of a Great Dane, his personality is definitely a deviation from what you would normally expect from an actual Great Dane.
1. Timid Yet Courageous
Scooby is also known for his timidity with regards to ghosts, monsters, and other things that go bump in the night. Often, he is seen hiding behind Shaggy or running away from danger. The trait is, of course, exaggerated for comedic purposes.
Great Danes are not very aggressive and not easily frightened; however, they are cautious around new people. Scooby’s timidity makes the show comedic because he has to overcome his fear to assist in solving the mystery.
2. Loyal and Protective
Despite his fears, Scooby is loyal to his friends and will always stand up when needed. He is extremely attached to Shaggy, his human friend, and the two are great friends.
In fact, Great Danes are famous for being loyal and protective, generally becoming very attached to the family and gentle with the children. Scooby’s loyalty and bravery when it matters indeed reflect these qualities but are exaggerated and cartoonish in nature.
3. Hungry and Klutz-Disaster
One of Scooby’s most notable attributes: his insatiable mouth. He is always happy to chow down at Scooby Snacks, or whatever food happens on his way.
Of course, in real life, Great Danes love food and their mouth is quite large so do most dogs, but there will not be any scene that make them clumsy when they feed. Scooby’s dopesy, food-driven goofiness, especially his clumsy behavior, is the fun and comedy part of this puppy.
Scooby-Doo often indulges in some playfulness, such as chasing his tail, making funny faces, and getting into other kinds of trouble.
Considering the fact that Great Danes are playful and friendly dogs despite their size, this can be attributed to the actual characteristic of the breed, but Scooby’s antics, exaggerated and slapstick in style, are typical of the animated world.
Few Facts About The Great Dane Dog Breed
Here are some more facts about the Great Dane dog breed:
Great Dane Dog Physical Characteristics
The Great Dane is a large-sized dog breed originating from Germany. It is one of the tallest dog breeds in the world, along with the Irish Wolfhound. It has a short, smooth coat that comes in various colors, such as black, blue, brindle, fawn, harlequin, merle, silver, white, or mantle.
It has a powerful, well-formed, and muscular body, with a large head and muzzle, long limbs, and a narrow chest. It has a calm, gentle, friendly, loving, and attentive temperament, and is loyal to its family. It is also known as the “gentle giant” or the “Apollo of dogs.”
Great Dane Life Span and Health Issues
The Great Dane is prone to some health problems, such as intervertebral disk disease, joint dysplasia, allergies, eye and ear infections, and cancer. It has a short life span of 6 to 8 years.
Great Dane Dog Origin and History
The Great Dane was developed in Germany as a boar hunter, using the English Mastiff and the Irish Wolfhound as the main ancestors. It was also used as a guardian and companion of the German nobility. The name “Great Dane” is a misnomer, as the breed has nothing to do with Denmark. The original name of the breed was “Deutsche Dogge” or “German Mastiff”. The breed was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1887.
Great Dane Exercise Needs
The Great Dane requires moderate exercise and mental stimulation, as well as regular grooming and health care. Some good exercises for Great Danes are:
- Walking: Walking is a low-impact exercise that is ideal for Great Danes. It provides them with physical activity and mental stimulation, while also promoting bonding between the dog and owner. It’s recommended to walk Great Danes for 30-60 minutes per day.
- Swimming: Swimming is another low-impact exercise that is beneficial for Great Danes. It provides a full-body workout and can help improve their cardiovascular health. However, it’s important to supervise Great Danes while swimming, as they may struggle to stay afloat due to their size.
- Playtime in a Fenced Yard: Great Danes enjoy playing and running around in a safe, fenced yard. It’s recommended to provide them with toys such as balls or frisbees to encourage activity and playfulness. However, it’s important to avoid activities that require jumping or running on hard surfaces.
Lastly, Great Danes are easy to train and socialize, as it is intelligent and eager to please. It gets along well with children and other pets but can be wary of strangers and small animals. It needs a spacious and comfortable living environment, as well as a lot of love and attention.
Some Scooby Doo FAQs For You
Here are some trivia about the beloved dog detective who has everyone enthralled, young and old.
Scooby Doo’s full name is Scoobert Doo. Inspired by the Frank Sinatra song “Strangers in the Night” where he sings the last verse “doo-dee-doo-be-doo.”
It debuted on September 13, 1969 at 10:30 AM EST on a Saturday. The episode was called “What a Night for a Knight.” It was an immediate success. The show did not have to look back ever since.
Japanese-American animator, Iwao Takamoto made Scooby Doo. He is a television producer as well as a film director. Earlier on he was the production and character designer at Walt Disney and later moved to Hanna-Barbera Productions.
Scooby Doo has been played by different actors over the years. Don Messick was the original voice behind Scooby Doo and he continued to play the role until 1994 when he quit smoking and lost his deep raspy voice needed for the character.
Scooby Doo is a Great Dane with a lot of differences between the real and the animated. The differences have been introduced to keep the fantastical aspect of animation alive. Some even go onto wonder if scooby doo great dane puppies could be real.
Conclusion
Scooby Doo has been nothing short of a childhood friend and we remember him as the coolest detective in the canine world. We wanted to be part of this new world that Scooby Doo belonged to and all the characters in the show became like a family to us.
The question, what kind of dog is scooby doo may have kept you up at night until today but now that you know more than just that, what do you feel? Let us know in the comments below. Tell us what you think about the show.
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