Home Dog Breeds # What Kind of Dog Is Scooby-Doo? The Woof & Beyond Team Updated January 19, 2021 1 min read ![](https://www.woofandbeyond.com/static/d273e6bb1b0a448b03a19cfe1a1e14a5/5e493/image.jpg) **Scooby-Doo is a male [Great Dane](https://dogtime.com/dog-breeds/great-dane), although not a typical one. His creator, Iwao Takamoto, purposely broke many of the rules that make a prize-winning Great Dane for comedic purposes.** [In a 2006 interview](https://hanna-barbera.fandom.com/wiki/Scooby-Doo_(series)), Iwao Takamoto said the following: > “The Great Dane was supposed to be the biggest dog around … and there was a woman [at the studio] who actually bred and reared Great Danes. So, she came over and spent a solid hour describing all of the positive things that make a prize-winning Great Dane. And I selected about five things, I think, and went in the opposite direction. For instance, a good, strong straight back, so I sloped his back. A strong chin, so I under-swung his chin … and I think straight hind legs she mentioned. So I bowed them …” ## What kind of Dog is Scrappy-Doo? **Scooby-Doo’s nephew, Scrappy-Doo, is a male Great Dane as well.** Initially, when the Hanna-Barbera Studio was creating the series, they had two ideas for Scooby-Doo. One was a small courageous dog, and the other a big cowardly one. They then concluded that the latter was more comedic - and used that to create Scooby-Doo. A few years later, they introduced Scrappy-Doo as the small and courageous dog they hadn’t used for Scooby-Doo. ![A great dane, which Scooby-Doo is based on. Credit to Erin Campbell Smith @ Flickr. Licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0.](https://www.woofandbeyond.com/static/c5ed2467637afc4e0f123b858ae626ee/d7ad1/great_dane.jpg) A great dane, which Scooby-Doo is based on. Credit to Erin Campbell Smith @ Flickr. Licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0. > Image used: “scooby_doo_pic 4” by spadge6868 @ Flickr. Licensed under CC BY 2.0. Famous Dog Breeds Previous What Kind of Dog Is Snoopy? Next What Kind of Dog Is Doge? People also ask What Kind of Dog Is Doge? What Kind of Dog Is Snoopy? What Kind of Dogs Were Lady and Tramp? The TRUTH About Goofy's Confusing Identity: Is He a Dog or a Cow? Top 16 Teddy Bear Dog Breeds You Will Adore Why Do French Bulldogs Fart so Much? ## The breed this guide names Measurements, lifespan and the breeds each one looks most like. - [![](https://www.woofandbeyond.com/breeds/great-dane.webp)Great Dane](https://www.woofandbeyond.com/breed/great-dane/) ## Other questions about dog breeds The ones people read straight after this. Dog Breeds ### [What Kind of Dog Is Doge?](https://www.woofandbeyond.com/what-kind-of-dog-is-doge/) Doge, the famous meme dog, is a female Shiba Inu . Her name is Kabosu, and she’s from Japan. In… January 19, 2021 1 min read Dog Breeds ### [What Kind of Dog Is Snoopy?](https://www.woofandbeyond.com/what-kind-of-dog-is-snoopy/) Snoopy from the famous Peanuts comic strip is a beagle . Snoopy was actually not intended to be a… January 19, 2021 1 min read Dog Breeds ### [What Kind of Dogs Were Lady and Tramp?](https://www.woofandbeyond.com/what-kind-of-dogs-were-lady-and-tramp/) Lady Lady is an American Cocker Spaniel . Lady’s breed is often confused with a Cavalier King… January 19, 2021 1 min read Dog Breeds ### [The TRUTH About Goofy's Confusing Identity: Is He a Dog or a Cow?](https://www.woofandbeyond.com/is-goofy-a-dog/) There has been some controversy around the web about what Goofy really is. Some claim he’s a dog… January 27, 2021 2 min read Dog Breeds ### [Top 16 Teddy Bear Dog Breeds You Will Adore](https://www.woofandbeyond.com/teddy-bear-dog/) You are probably here to look at some of the cutest dog breeds ever. Before presenting the dog… December 16, 2020 2 min read Dog Breeds ### [Why Do French Bulldogs Fart so Much?](https://www.woofandbeyond.com/why-do-french-bulldogs-fart-so-much/) There is so much to love about the French bulldog, from their wrinkly faces to their clown-like… August 9, 2021 5 min read