scooby-doo toy

What kind of dog is Scooby-Doo?

Scooby-Doo is the loveable cartoon character, first created by Hanna Barbara in 1969.Β  Add a ‘Dooby’ and you get his catchphrase, ‘Scooby Dooby-Doo!’ Although he’d been around all those years, there is some uncertainty about what kind of dog he is. So, in case you are wondering, we decided to answer the question – what kind of dog is Scooby-Doo?

THE SERIES

For those of you who don’t know, the cartoon series involves Scooby and four teenagers who are all members of Mystery Inc – an investigation service.  One of these – Shaggy is Scooby’s owner. They travel around the world in The Mystery Machine, and solve mysteries. 

SCOOBY-DOO’S CREATOR

His original creator Iwao Takamoto revealed in 1997, that his initial  inspiration for the cartoon dawg came from a prize Great Dane.  Takamoto spoke to a dog-show breader and learned ‘what made a prize-winning Great Dane’.  However, rather than try and replicate this he decided to go ‘in the opposite direction'(!)

Incidentally Takamoto had first started to illustrate, while in an internment camp for Japanese Americans during World War II! He became an employee of Hanna Barbera in 1961.

You can see Scooby and Shaggy below.

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by Scooby-Doo (@scoobydoo)

Takamoto no doubt (rightly) thought that by giving Scoopy the reverse attributes to a prize winning Great Dane, it would make the character more comical and more lovable.

Here are some ways that Scooby-Doo is unlike a typical Great Dane

  • Poise. Great Danes are known for their sense of balance and elegance, which is why they were named ‘Apollo of Dogs’. Scooby has all the poise of a large ballerina in lead boots.
  • Physical characteristics: Great Danes are known for a melanistic face mask – a dark shaded area around the muzzle and eye areas.  Scooby is also brown in with black spots – not generally a Great Dane colouring. Here is a Great Dane (below)
Photo by Aady Rocks on Unsplash

As you can hopefully see, Scooby-Doo does not completely conform to the features of a Great Dane, so it is not surprising there is some confusing about his type.

COURAGE AND TIMIDITY

Another way that Scooby-Doo differs from the Great Dane type is in his apparent lack of courage in the face of danger. This usually happens when Shaggy and Scooby are left to their own devices, and in some haunted house or equally foreboding place. Great Danes are known to the opposite.

However, Scooby doesn’t ultimately back down in situations that eventually lead to Mystery Inc solving a crime. While he may be more of a scaredy cat than a courageous Dane at first, he generally gets the job done. See some spooky moments below.

EATING HABITS

Another way in which Scooby-Doo is atypical of a Great Danes is in his approach to eating. Dogs of this breed generally have sensitive stomachs and are prone to bloat, if they eat too much. Scooby, along with his companion Shaggy, has an enormous appetite and devours steak, pizza, and large sandwiches without getting fat.

WHAT KIND OF DOG IS SCRAPPY-DOO?

Scrappy is Scooby’s puppy nephew, who first appeared in 1979 – 10 years after the original series. He is known for the phrases Scrappy Dappy-Doo”, and “Puppy Power! He’s a Great Dane, and more pro-active and fearless than scooby. Whereas Scooby would find himself in a dangerous situation, Scrappy would charge right into them. Scooby and Scrappy are both very different.

However, despite Scooby’s atypical features, we can still think of him as a Great Dane – albeit an ANTI Great Dane!

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