The dog breed that gives the famous fictitious character Scooby-Doo its identity is the Great Dane. This is something that many dog-lovers had already suspected, seeing how the dog looks. Standing like a typical Great Dane, Scooby-Doo has a stocky, long torso coupled up with skinny, lanky legs.
However, and as compared to other Great Danes, Scooby has a body type and frame which are less refined. The creator of the original series, Iwao Takamoto, says that the rough features that Scooby has did not come accidentally. Takamoto mentioned that before he designed and created the character, he first spoke with a breeder who focused on the Great Dane. The breeder shared the outstanding features and aspects of the breed. While making the character, Takamoto decided to give Scooby all the features that are opposite to the Great Dane.
As a lot of people say, the rest is history, and although a Great Dane can live between 8 and about ten years, it is without a doubt that Scooby will outlive us all. This is because we love the goofy Great Dane, Scooby-Doo, and how it helps solve mysteries. With Scooby-Doo, we don’t talk about a fictitious character – we talk about a cultural touchstone.
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The History And Origin Of Scooby-Doo
As mentioned in the kicker, Scooby-Doo was a creation of Iwao Takamoto, who was a cartoonist for Hanna-Barbera Productions. The original name that Scooby-Doo had was Scoobert. It was in 1969 that the character became popular in Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!
The storyline brings together Scooby-Doo, the cartoon’s face, and Vilma Dinkley, Daphne Blake, Fred Jones, and Scooby’s owner, Shaggy Rogers. The five form the membership of Mystery Incorporated, a research society that travels worldwide in the Mystery Machine, a brightly-colored van. Together with Scooby-Doo, the four work to solve mysteries that involve supernatural creatures and ghosts.
Since the original series was received well and succeeded immensely, spin-offs and reboots have kept the cartoon alive. Many generations of viewers enjoy the cartoon, and most recently, they have been awed by SCOOB! SCOOB! is the latest computer-animated adventure film, which features the characters we have all come to love from the Scooby-Doo Franchise.
In the article, we are out to solve the mystery of the kind of dog Scooby-Doo is. This read will set the records straight and give you all the information you need.
Scooby-Doo Against The Typical Great Dane
All the features that the Scooby dog has are the opposite of what we know about the Great Dane. If you look at the finer details – as we will do in this section – you will realize that dog is not really a Great Dane.
Takamoto insisted on making the dog big and clumsy to give it a more comical character. Now, let us look at a side-by-side comparison of the Great Dane and Scooby-Doo.
One Of Two: Physicality
The AKC – the American Kennel Club – has it that the Great Danes are the ultimate pictures of balance and elegance. These dogs have a regal appearance coupled up with a great size. Also, they have smooth, well-formed brawny bodies – overt signs of the dog’s strength and dignity. To add, many people refer to the Great Danes as the Apollo of Dogs because of their grace. This breed consists of well-balanced dogs that are nowhere near clumsy and reckless.
On the flip side, Scooby-Doo is the classic example of a misshapen Great Dane. Its frame is not refined, and neither is its body type. Takamoto made the legs of Scooby bow instead of straight. Also, he made Scooby’s feet a little too big and then sloped his hindquarters. Again, his jaw is receded and not firm. The brown coat that Scooby wears is not typical of the Great Dane.
The coat of the Apollo of Dogs comes in different patterns and colors. However, the well-known pattern is the white-and-black patchwork pattern. Scooby is brown, and his coat bears a couple of black spots. Also, and unlike Great Danes, Scooby does not have a melanistic mask. This masking or mask is just a pattern of the dog’s coat, making the dog look like it is wearing a mask. This kind of oppositeness continues to brew arguments about the breed identity of Scooby-Doo.
Two Of Two: Emotionality
By nature, Scooby-Doo is a chicken heart. This is perhaps the reason why many people do not see it as a Great Dane – Danes are tough and remain unshaken most of the time. The dog breed does not show any signs of fear. The Great Danes are naturally dependable dogs and great guardians.
Is Scooby Really A Great Dane?
If you look at the physicality and emotionality comparisons above, the cartoon dog differs from the live dog. We can say that Scooby is the Great Dane of an alternate universe. Although Scooby-Doo is a cartoon – in fiction and in animation – many people consider Scooby-Doo a peculiar breed of the Great Dane. This is because he defies all the Great Dane conventions.
Although arguable, his anti-Great Dane features and mannerisms are the ones that make him likable. He might not have been an iconic figure if he was the typical Great Dane. Whether you think that Scooby is of the breed or not, you will agree that he will continue to be an essential cultural character.
Scooby-Doo Height
While there is no exact value, one would estimate that the pseudo-Great Dane is about 3.3 feet (at the withers). If the dog stood on its hind legs, it would be about 7 feet tall – a towering figure.
Scooby-Doo Age
Reports and implications from the ‘Scooby Doo’ live-action movie show that the dog is seven years old. To put this to perspective, Scooby is about 50 human years.
As soon as Scooby-Doo appears on the screen, he is definitely an adult dog. If the dog were alive, he would have passed on a long time ago. This is because the Great Dane does not live for long; its lifespan is between 6 and 12 years.
Because the dog is a fictitious and animated character, his age is limitless. His popularity will outlive many people as they had done since 1969 when the character was introduced to the world.
Information About Scrappy-Doo
This is yet another creation in the Scooby-Doo franchise. Scrappy-Doo is the nephew of Scooby-Doo and the child of Ruby Doo. The Great Dane puppy is a creation of Hanna-Barbera Productions, and he came to life in 1979.
Bonus Section: In And Around The Great Dane
Now that the mystery of Scooby-Doo is solved, it is time to look at the Apollo of Dogs, the Great Dane. This dog has an immense stature and heart and is generally a gentle giant. The Great Danes were bred for guarding and hunting with the German nobles before they found new roles as service dogs, family guardians, and beloved companions.
Facts About The Great Dane (Tabulation)
The Great Dane is a huge dog which is available in various color combination. It can reach heights of up to 36 inches and still maintain its warm personality.
| About The Great Dane | ||
| Trait Or Variable | Specifics | |
| Breed Group | Working | |
| Height | Males: 30 to 32 inches | Females: 28 to 30 inches |
| Weight | Males: 140 to 175 pounds | Females: 110 to 140 pounds |
| Lifespan | Between 7 to 10 years; lucky ones can get to 12 | |
| Coat | Glossily short | |
| Color(s) | Black and white (harlequin and mantle variations)White, blue, black, merle, brindle, and fawn |
The History Of The Great Dane (From Guards To Giants Of Gentleness
The lineage of the Great Dane breeds reaches as far back as 3000 B.C. This hypothesis is formed from the historic images discovered at ancient Mesopotamian and Egyptian sites giving depictions of dogs that looked that the Greta Dane. A specific bit of information is that in Germany and at least 400 years ago, the Great Dane came into being. Its ancestor is the giant-sized, mighty Mastiff Dog – this explains why the Great Dane is known for its safe-guarding inclinations. Today’s breed is quite docile and cannot be compared to the Great Danes of 400 years ago – those were ferocious. The breed bore the name Deutsche Dogge, and it guarded the German nobles together with their property and hunted for wild boars.
One Georges-Louis Leclerc, a French naturalist, spotted the Dane when he traveled in Denmark in the 18th Century (the 1700s). At that moment, he gave it a name – a French variant of the Great Dane, the Grande Danois. When the 18th Century was coming to an end, the Great Danes had emerged in a good number of countries in Europe, including England, France, and Denmark. Importation of the dog from Europe to America began in the mid-1800s (the 19th Century). In 1887, the AKC – the American Kennel Club – recognized the Great Dane officially. In 1889, breed enthusiasts formed the GDCA – the Great Dane Club of America.
Since then, the dog breed has grown into one of the most sort-after breeds. According to the AKC, the Great Dane is number 16 of all the registered breeds, which are about 193. The aggressive trait showcased by the 17th Century (400 years ago) has been bred out. However, the dogs have impressive guarding instincts, making them one of the best family-friendly watchdogs. If the Greta Danes are not hunting, they are spending time being excellent service dogs – they help improve the quality of people’s lives. As captured in the first half of this article, the breed has fame in Scooby-Doo, which is a cartoon sleuth bearing characteristics opposite to those of the typical Great Dane. Marmaduke is another Great Dane dog captured in a comic strip.
Since the Great Dane is incredibly popular, more people want to buy it. In their ‘want,’ these prospective pets have asked about the price of this dog. If you get to talk to a breeder, you can get a Great Dane for anything between $800 and $2000, but the price may go lower or higher.
The Great Dane proves challenging to many pet parents, and not everyone is ready to care for it. They require a high food bill, and for this reason, many of them are left in animal shelters. For anyone open to older-dog adoption, there are good Great Dane rescues – places of high reputation – that have dogs that need a good, warm home.
Specifics Of The Great Dane: An Outlook
As mentioned severally, the Great Dane is known as the Apollo of Dogs and the Gentle Giant. If you know about mythical Greek and Roman gods, you know that Apollo was taken as a very prominent deity. The dog is sturdy, robust, and well-formed, and he bears a deeply muscular chest with an excellently developed fore-chest (you can see this from the profile at the legs’ base). On that compactly rigid body sits a muscularly long neck.
Averagely speaking, the Great Danes’ height is between 30 and 32 inches (males) and 28 to 30 inches (females). However, those limits do not mean that the dog cannot grow taller. Actually, a Great Dane by the name Zeus went into the Guinness Book of World Records for being the tallest dog (44 inches). When a Great Dane stands on its hind legs, it can easily tower over its human parents. As captured in the table, a male’s weight can be between 140 and 175 pounds and that of a female between 110 and 140 pounds.
The one way to single out a Great Dane – apart from their threatening and formidable size – is by looking at its head. Apart from being rectangular and long, it is clearly defined. As compared to that of the female, the male’s head is a little bit pronounced. The eyelids – which are shaped like almonds – cover the dark-colored, deep-set eyes, and to complete the eye-set, well-developed brows frame everything. The ears of the Great Dane are of medium size and have a particular thickness. They are also folded close to the dog’s cheeks.
Although they have mammoth sizes, the dogs of this breed as not as clumsy as Scooby Dog. As a matter of fact, the dog’s gait is powerful, elegant, and smooth. Also, the strong, muscular, and long legs rest at a perfect angle. The smooth and thin tail falls straight when the Great Dane is resting and takes a slight curve when it is alert.
The Great Dane’s coat is thick, and it will appear to you as having particular glossiness. There is an excellent variation of the colors of the Great Dane, and the table that follows captures it all:
| Great Dane Dog | Color Of Coat |
| Black Great Dane | Black, glossy |
| Grey Great DaneBlue Great Dane | Steel-grey |
| Merle Great Dane | Pale-to dark grey baseDark splotches |
| Brindle Great Dane | Golden-colored coatBlack cross stripes |
| Black-and-White Great Dane | Harlequin – White base, black patchesORMantle – black and white, black blanketing over the dog’s body |
The Temperament Of The Apollo Of Dogs
Although the Great Dane has an imposing appearance, it is quite a friendly dog. Their personalities are spirited and dependable, and they are pleasant, easy-going, and mild-mannered dogs. They love spending time with people and do not do well if they are left alone. Even though they have great sizes, these dogs love sitting on laps and playing. If you’re wondering whether the Gentle Giant is excellent with children, just know that they are wonderful family pets.
While the Great Dane adores its own family members, it may be suspicious of strangers and neighborhood kids. Some Great Danes will be friendly and skittish with everyone. However, the nervous and fearful kind may act aggressively toward other people and dogs. If the Great Dane is well-bred and socializes early, it will throw itself to people devotedly.
Great Dane Health: 4 Watch-Out-For Issues
As mentioned elsewhere in this read, the Great Dane does not live for very long – up to 10 years, averagely. During that time, some genetic conditions can burden the breed. If you have information about the health issues, you can go for early treatment. This will help you avoid unnecessary suffering and overwhelming vet bills. If you wish to minimize the risk of dealing with genetic diseases, get a Great Dane pup who has built a good reputation for itself.
Bloat
For Great Danes, bloat is one of the most life-threatening conditions. It also goes by the name gastric torsion. This disease gives a lot of pain to the Great Dane; the stomach starts twisting and making the blood supply cut off. This is an emergency and urgent condition that can end the life of the dog very quickly. Thus, it requires that you get the dog to a vet for immediate treatment.
To know if you are dealing with bloat, the Great Dane will retch or vomit, look weak, have an enlarged stomach and pale gums. The dog will need to be hospitalized immediately for surgery. To prevent a later attack, the Great Dane can go through a surgery known as gastropexy. This will tack the stomach and can be done together with the neuter or spay surgery (if you wish your dog to be fixed).
Problems Of the ACL, Or The Anterior Cruciate Ligament
Of the four knee ligaments, one of them is the ACL. In Great Danes, it tears and causes lameness in the hind limb. That builds up into osteoarthritis. Although the exact causes of the tears are unknown, items like obesity, ligament laxity, genetics, and conformation have come up.
When the ACL of the Great Dane gets torn, the joint at the knee area becomes unstable. This makes the dog lose mobility and feel a lot of pain. To avoid the tear from building up to osteoarthritis, it is recommended that you go for surgery.
Hip Dysplasia
This is a condition that explicitly affects the Great Dane’s hip joint. It then predisposes the dogs that have been affected to joint problems and early onset arthritis. When the condition is detected earlier, the dog may get successful surgical treatment. To avoid this joint issue, contact your Great Dane puppy from a breeder who can show you licensing or certification from PennHIP or OFA, the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals. The papers will mean that the dogs they have are free of hip dysplasia. On top of that, ensure that your puppy is trim. Do not engage them in excessive exercise; wait until they are between 1½ and two years.
Heart Disease
Of the many animal heart conditions, two are reported in Great Danes: tricuspid valve dysplasia and DCM (dilated cardiomyopathy). As a result of these conditions, the symptoms that manifest include pale gums, weakness, coughing, and fainting.
Getting your pup from a breeder of repute is an excellent thing to do – they will give you a certification to show that the little Great Danes are free of cardiac-related conditions. If you are looking at adopting, ensure you get the medical history of the pup.
Great Dane Care
Generally speaking, caring for the dog consists of proper nutrition, exercise, and human attention.
Grooming The Giant
One frequently asked question is whether the Great Danes shed, and yes, they do. However, they only shed minimally. Generally speaking, you only need to get a soft bristle brush to care for your Great Dane’s coat.
Excellent Nutritional Provision
To guarantee good health and more years for the Great Dane, you need to provide it with a balanced diet. With pups, you need to avoid feeding them too much to prevent joint and bone problems.
You should know that the nutritional requirements (phosphorus and calcium needs) of the Great Dane change depending on age. So, get a dog food formulated for puppies and large-breed dogs. One of them is the Royal Canin brand, which gives food to take care of the specific needs of the Gentle Giants.
Exercising The Dog
A Great Dane that has matured needs about 45 minutes of exercise every day. Puppies and young dogs need about an hour and a half of moderate, low-impact physical engagement. With the young ones, you can try playing fetch, brisk walking, or running.
Another type of exercise you can consider is chewing. The Great Dane should get safe and toughened things to work out its jaws.
I’m Christopher Benjamin, a dedicated Animal Nutritionist at Ethos Veterinary Health with a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science from Michigan State University. My lifelong passion for animals led me to establish AnimalsData.Com. Here, I share expert advice, educational resources, and inspiring stories to empower fellow pet lovers worldwide. Join our community as we celebrate the beauty and diversity of our beloved animal companions!
