Is Scooby Doo A Real Dog Breed?

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Scooby Doo is one of our favorite childhood cartoons. Scooby is one of the reasons we love dogs, especially large, goofy, and clumsy dogs like him. Many dog owners want to know what type of dog Scooby Doo is, and to be honest, it is a question we would love to know the answer to. Well, the truth is that Scooby is a Great Dane. However, there are a few critical differences between Scoob and Great Danes as we know them today. Here’s what you should know.

Scooby’s origin

You probably feel like Scooby and the Mystery Gang are on television forever. Well, you’re not wrong. Scooby cartoon first aired nearly 50 years ago. Since then, the lovable gang has taken our hearts. Even today, kids love cartoons, and to be honest, we sneak in an episode or two every now and again. Scooby’s fantastic character and his love for large sandwiches are something we all can relate to. These characteristics are the main reason Scooby appeals to so many generations.

To fully understand why Scooby looks the way he looks, we need to dive in and see what the cartoon creator had to say about Scooby’s origins and breed. The creator of the Scooby Doo character and cartoon is Iwao Takamoto. He said in an interview that he spoke to an owner of a prize-winning Great Dane, learned the features a Great Dane should have, and decided to keep some and lose some. In that interview, Takamoto stated;

“I decided to go the opposite and gave him a humpback, bowed legs, small chin, and such. Even his color is wrong,”

Scooby characteristics

Each dog breed has a set of unique characteristics that make them slightly different than other breeds. Since Scooby is a dog, we can look at his characteristics and learn what breed he actually is. Unfortunately, there are no talking dog breeds, although that would be pretty awesome.

Once again, as Takamoto stated, Scooby has a humpback, which would be considered a severe fault in the dog show ring. Bowed legs are another thing judges would not look too kindly on, and a Great Dane’s jawline should be pretty strong. However, the most significant issue dog show judges would have is Scooby’s colors.

1. Color

Each internationally registered dog breed has a unique set of colors described in its standard. All deviations from said colors are considered faults and would immediately disqualify a dog. Scooby is brown with black spots, and that combination of colors is not allowed in the Great Dane breed.

RELATED: Most Popular Great Dane Colors

2. Character

Perhaps the most significant difference between Great Danes and Scooby Doo is their character. Great Danes were originally bred to be fearless hunting dogs capable of tackling large prey like elk, wolves, and boar. If you’re a Scooby Doo fan, you know that he is not the bravest of dogs. In fact, he’s scared of almost everything.

Great Danes are one of the most impressive dog breeds you could ever come across. They have impressive statures, but their character should be the opposite of what the cartoon creator gave to Scooby. These dogs are reserved, friendly, and confident. If they weren’t, they couldn’t hunt such powerful animals.

RELATED: Great Dane: Fun Facts About the Apollo Dog Breed

Great Dane characteristics

As we already said, these dogs are pretty impressive. They are large, powerful dogs with long straight legs. They should have a balanced build, a square jaw, and have pretty muscular bodies. Unlike Scooby, Great Danes shouldn’t have such large paws. There is a color combination called harlequin, which resembles the coat Scooby has. However, where Scooby has brown hair, a harlequin Great Dane should have white hair. Large black patches can appear throughout the dog’s body.

So, is Scooby a Great Dane?

Technically - yes, Scooby is a Great Dane. More precisely, he should be considered a Great Dane mix. However, Scooby’s creators gave him characteristics that are not consistent with the modern-day breed we know. Nevertheless, cartoon creators have a great imagination and the freedom to create dogs that might not exist in nature. We will still follow Scooby and the gang’s adventures, even if we can never be exactly sure what breed Scooby Doo is.

World Dog Finder team