One of the most famous fictional dogs of all time, Scooby-Doo has been a part of many different television shows, movies, and comic books. This canine detective and his group, Mystery Inc., have helped solve a number of mysteries over the years.
Scooby-Doo is without a doubt the most well-known dog on the planet. Everyone has their own favorite episode and owns a different edition of Scooby-Doo’s Mystery Incorporated magazine. But did you know that Scooby was actually a Great Dane?
In this article, we will take a look at how the famous Great Dane Scooby Doo was created and how he varies from the real breed.
About the Great Dane Scooby Doo
There is a reason for Scooby Doo being a Great Dane. Scooby-Doo was the perfect companion for those meddling kids because great Danes were thought to chase away ghosts and evil spirits. Although that may not be the intention of those cartoonists while they were developing characters, Scooby’s breed was hotly debated during the show’s inception.
Other famous cartoon dogs like Marmaduke, the Great Dane detective, and Jetson’s dog Astro were all Great Danes that won millions of hearts over the world.
How Was Scooby Doo Created?
When designing Scooby-Doo, artist IwaoTakamoto, one of the creators of the original series, had met a lady who was a Great Dane breeder at the time at Hanna-Barbera. This lady shared her breeding experience and the signature traits of Great Danes. According to Iwao Takamoto, Scooby’s rough features were purposely designed to look like a Great Dane. The creator then proceeded to make a cartoon character that had a mix of Great Dane features and his own imagination. The Scooby Doo turned out to be a semi-Great Dane with a humpback, bowed legs, and an oversized chin.
What Is the Difference Between Scooby Doo and Actual Great Dane?
Although the Scooby Doo is actually the Great Dane breed, there are some stark differences between the cartoon and the real version. Scooby Doo was not as refined or muscled as the average Great Dane. Being less fearful, Scooby-Doo’s timidity stands in sharp contrast with the real Great Dane personality.
But like a regular Great Dane, Scooby carries skinny legs and a long, sturdy torso.
Great Dane Scooby Doo Color
As many of you might have already noticed, Scooby Doo is covered in a brown coat from head to toe. There are also some black spots on the body that enhances Scooby Doo’s upper frame.
How Old Is Great Dane Scooby Doo?
To calculate the age of Scooby Doo, we need to go back to the first time the series aired on television which was on September 13, 1969. But the truth is, this date has nothing to do with Scooby Doo’s age as the dog is a fictional character. Even if you want to measure the age from that date, then you’re looking at 50 years of TV history.
Scooby-Doo has been around for a while now, and yet there’s no sign of age on him. Great Danes also aren’t known to live very long, so that comparison doesn’t make a lot of sense.
Other Iconic Great Danes
Great Danes have been showcased and loved by many important people throughout history. If you visit the Governor’s office in Pennsylvania, you’ll see a portrait of William Penn with his Great Dane. He was the founder of the territory of Pennsylvania. In 1967, Pennsylvania named the Great Dane as the official state dog. Penn was very enthusiastic about the attributes of this dog that made them so fond of the breed. He pointed out that all of these characteristics are admirable and good traits for any dog to have. It appeared as though he was fully convinced of Great Danes being the best dogs on the planet.
Not to forget, the Great Dane became the national dog of Germany in 1876. It’s quite obvious that Great Danes are seen as noble and worthy creatures all over the world.
Conclusion
Great Dane Scooby Doo has been around for almost 50 years and the dog is still loved by many. This fictional cartoon character is famous for his timid personality and his never-ending love and support for his mystery-solving companions.
Thank you for reading the article.
To explore more, here are some articles on the Great Dane that you might be interested in.
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