Ruh Roh! September 13th is Scooby Doo Day! The lovable animated canine detective made his first appearance on this day, way back in 1968, and has been charming us—and solving mysteries—ever since. Read on as a local Washington DC vet shines the spotlight on this lovable American icon.

Background

Scooby has changed quite a bit over the years. He was originally called Too Much, which definitely doesn’t have the same ring to it. Although creator Fred Silverman credits Frank Sinatra’s ‘Doo be doo’ vocals for inspiring the name, it’s also worth noting that Skooby Doo was also slang for ‘clue’ in Cockney. The name also appeared in a song from cartoon band the Archies!

Family

We’re not entirely sure how Scooby got adopted by aspiring detective and eternal hippie Shaggy—whose real name is actually Norville Rogers—but we do know that he’s managed to keep in touch with his family. There’s of course Scrappy Doo, who joined his famous uncle as a co-star on The Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo Show and Puppy Hour. Scooby’s cousins, Scooby-Dee and Scooby-Dum, have also made cameo appearances on TV.

Stats

Scooby may be as fond as naps and snacks as any other dog, but he certainly works hard. The pup has appeared in over 310 shows and films. That number includes cameo appearances on several shows and movies. Many stars have appeared on Scooby Doo, Where Are You?, including Don Knotts, Phyllis Diller, and The Harlem Globetrotters, to name a few.

Breed

We all know that Scooby Doo is one of a kind, but have you ever wondered what breed he is? Turns out the iconic pup is a Great Dane … if not a perfect specimen. In fact, designer Iwao Takamoto contacted a Great Dane breeder to get a detailed description of what a perfect Great Dane would look like. He then drew a pup with the exact opposite traits.

Skills

Like many real-life dogs, Scooby’s best feature isn’t his cute face, but his heart. Scooby is charming, clumsy, and easily scared, but he will always go the extra mile for his human buddies. He’s also very fond of snacks! Also on the animated pup’s resume? He’s great at charades and is pretty good at following clues. Those are definitely traits to celebrate! Do you have questions about caring for a Great Dane? Contact us, your local Washington DC animal clinic, today!