So today we are going to learn about the beautiful Great Dane. Now you might be wondering what cartoon character was a Great Dane. Whoever guesses the cartoon character gets a scooby snack. Okay, I guess that was a pretty obvious hint. Of course we are going to talk about the famous Scooby-Doo for today’s Wild Fact. There is no need to be a scaredy-cat as I promise today’s fact will informative and entertaining.
Believe it or not the Great Dane, which is also known as the German Mastiff, is one of the worlds tallest breeds of dog. The current record holder stood at 109 cm (43″) from paw to shoulder and an even more impressive, 220 cm (7.2′) from head to tail. That is one tall dog! I don’t think Scooby was that tall but I bet the record holder didn’t have opposible thumbs and could talk like Scooby could.
The Great Dane is a short haired breed with floppy triangular ears and a very powerful and perfectly balanced body. Although, you would never have guessed they were powerful and perfectly balanced by watching Scooby and Shaggy running away from the scary ghost. This actually makes a lot of sense since the cartoonist who created Scooby asked a breeder what the perfect traits of a Great Dane were and then gave our beloved cartoon friend the exact opposite traits.
Although these dogs are powerful and very large in stature they have quite the amicable demeanor and are often referred to as a “Gentle Giant”. Like any animal, if they are feeling threatened then they may attack but for the most part they are accepting of humans and other animals. This is why it is important to always have a couple of scooby snacks on hand.
Due to their large size, Great Danes have a slower metabolism than most other dogs. As a result they have less energy and eat less per pound when compared to other, smaller dogs. Their large stature may also cause some health problems such as gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV) which is often triggered when these beautiful dogs drink too much water too quickly. Hopefully these dogs know to keep their mouths closed while swimming!
Great Dane Fast Fact – Ever wonder where Scooby-Doo got his name from? Have you ever heard of a song called “Strangers in the Night” by some unknown singer by the name of Frank Sinatra? Well at the end of that song he sings:
“Do dody doby do
do doo de la
da da da da ya yaya….”
That my friends is how this beloved character got his name.
Although, I chose Scooby-Doo to represent the Great Dane, I could have also picked Marmaduke who is another Great Dane cartoon character.
Only two more cartoon animals left! Hopefully you will get to see your favourite by the end of the week. Have a great day! Oh, and here is the opening theme to Scooby-Doo just to bring back some memories.
