The cartoon dog Scooby Doo has won millions of hearts since he debuted in 1969 with Scooby Doo: Where Are You? For more than five decades now, Scooby Doo and his gang of friends have solved mysteries, defeated villains, and uncovered the truth, in the process entertaining children and adults alike. But have you ever wondered: What breed of dog is Scooby Doo?
The iconic cartoon character Scooby Doo is a Great Dane. Interestingly, Scooby Doo was originally meant to be a sheep dog, but his creators decided to go with a Great Dane to set him apart from existing cartoon dogs, including Hot Dog on The Archies Show.
Great Danes are one of the largest dog breeds in the world. The average Great Dane stands 32 inches tall at the shoulder and can weigh a whopping 175 pounds. When a Great Dane goes up on its hind legs, it can tower over an average-sized human. But despite their size, Great Danes are known for their affectionate disposition and social nature, making them excellent family pets.
But before you rush off to bring home a Great Dane for your family, you should know that exercise is mandatory for these dogs (two brisk walks a day at the minimum). They also love competing in dog sports and do great at tracking, agility, obedience, and flyball.
Remember also that you will need to walk your Great Dane on a leash and keep this gentle giant in a securely fenced yard. This breed was developed to hunt boar, and a Great Dane will follow their nose if they get so much as a whiff of a scent.
Last but not least, there is a huge difference in the cost of caring for big breeds vs small breeds. That’s something you should factor into the decision before buying a Great Dane puppy for your family. Also, like many of the larger dog breeds, Great Danes have a relatively low life expectancy of 7-10 years.
Joe Ruby and Ken Spears of Hanna-Barbera invented Scooby Doo. They gave him a double chin, sloped back, and bowed legs to differentiate him from the cartoon dog Marmaduke. The Japanese-American artist, Iwao Takamoto, brought the mystery-solving Great Dane, Scooby Doo, to life.
Scooby Doo’s full name is Scoobert Doo, but he’s almost always referred to by his famous nickname.
Joe Ruby, Ken Spears, and the head of children’s programming at CBS, Fred Silverman, came up with the name Scooby Doo. Legend has it that Frank Sinatra’s version of Strangers in the Night was playing during one of their meetings, and the “doo-be-doo-be-doo” ad-lib at the end of the song gave them the idea for the name.
Frank Welker has been the voice of Scooby Doo since 2002. He has also voiced Fred Jones in the Scooby Doo franchise since its inception. The first episode and early years featured Don Messick as the voice of Scooby Doo.
Yes! The Scooby Doo Spooky Coaster is an enclosed steel roller coaster at Warner Brothers’ Movie World on the Gold Coast in Australia. There’s also a Scooby Doo Museum at the Warner Brothers’ Studio Tour in Hollywood, California.
24 January, 2024