Back in the past, we were only interested in fulfilling our days with interesting cartoons, but as we grow old, strange questions pop into our minds.
For example: Why is the grass green? Or in this case: What kind of dog is Scooby-Doo?
What is Scooby-Doo?
The owner of Scooby-Doo is Warner Bros. Entertainment. According to the available data, there have been 48 Scooby-Doo films, 14 completed Scooby-Doo TV series, and one Scooby-Doo spin-off slated for release in 2024. But it doesn’t stop here, there are also around 15 comic series, 20 video games, and 6 stage plays.
Although Great Danes are not fearful dogs in reality, in the cartoon, Scooby-Doo acts as a scared dog with attacks of bravery from time to time.
Scooby-Doo’s Characteristics and Breed
Scooby-Doo is that cute furry character that speaks in broken English and usually puts the letter “R” in front of words. But this is not an obstacle for the dog to show the same level of intelligence as his human friends. Beyond this, Scooby-Doo is one brave and loyal dog that shows courage and heroic performance when chasing monsters.
Although this dog has some human characteristics, it is a brown dog from head to toe with several distinctive black spots on its upper body. The creator of this character is Iwao Takamoto, and he explained that before inventing the character, he spoke to a Great Dane breeder. This breeder explained to him the desirable characteristics of a pedigree dog, but Takamoto then represented Scooby as the opposite of this.
The only truth about this dog is that it is a fictional character for which the creators took creative liberties when designing his appearance. But one of the inspirations was the Great Dane. They have massive stature but gentle nature, just like Scooby-Doo.
Differences Between Scooby-Doo and Great Danes
When considering the physical traits, it is obvious that Scooby-Doo lacks many things from the real Great Dane. This includes the straight back and legs, but also the small chin. Considering this, we can notice that the creator Takamoto built him the opposite.
Real Great Danes have athletic physics, elegance, and muscular bodies. If you watch only one episode, you can notice that Scooby-Doo is the opposite. It shows off his clumsiness, motionless running, and laziness. The interesting thing about this fictional character is that it produces a noise and a screaming sound, especially when afraid. His knees also produce a noise when he is afraid.
Similarities Between Scooby-Doo and Great Danes
Scooby-Doo also has some nice characteristics that he “stole” from the Great Dane. It is very friendly, great with people, and playful. And let’s not forget that it is extremely smart; of course, when he wants to.
One big similarity between the fictional and real characters is the enormous appetite. Scooby-Doo enjoys his Scooby Snacks, and real Great Danes enjoy everything. We can see the amount of their appetite by their size. Most people know Great Danes as gentle giants. And gentle stays there due to their non-aggressive personality and loving nature.
You might think that only toy breeds are lap dogs. Well, you are wrong! Great Danes can also be lap dogs, especially when they are scared. It is not typical for a Great Dane to get scared, but it still happens. And that’s exactly what Scooby-Doo does when he gets scared. He immediately runs to his bestie – Shaggy. This also shows his loyalty and devotion to his human.
Interesting Facts About Scooby-Doo
Here are some interesting facts that you might not know:
1. After the assassination of the U.S. presidential candidate Sen. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in 1968, this cartoon was propelled due to their claims that it might cause cartoon violence and dangers to children.
2. This year, on November 10th, “Scooby-Doo, Where Are You” celebrated 55 years of its premiere.
3. Frank Sinatra’s song “Strangers in the Night” left a trace on the inspiration for Scooby-Doo’s name. The director of CBS at that time, Fred Silverman, said that he came up with the famous “Do be do be do” after hearing Sinatra’s song.
4. Scooby-Doo does not age in the cartoon. This cartoon celebrated 55 years, but Scooby-Doo has 7 years all the time according to the creators. Quite strange for a Great Dane to live that much, right? In reality, Great Danes live for up to 10 years.
5. This show was translated into 15 languages and aired in more than 45 countries worldwide.
6. Scooby’s siblings are Skippy-Doo, Dooby-Doo, Howdy-Doo, Yabba-Doo, and Ruby-Doo. In the cartoon Scrappy-Doo (his nephew) shows up and saves the show from cancellation. But soon after, this pup becomes “the most hated character in television history”.
What the Public Thinks of Scooby-Doo
It is no secret that some parents find this cartoon to be “too much” of everything. They say that it can be violent from time to time and that their children face nightmares after a few episodes. They think that a more kid-friendly version would be better for their kids.
But in general, many parents and children love this cartoon. They say that it is one of the best classic cartoons of all time. They say that it has great messages and role models, as well as educational value.
The mystery behind the real breed of Scooby-Doo persisted for a while. The only truth is that Scooby-Doo is the closest to Great Danes considering the physical appearance and character.
