Scooby Doo is a Great Dane, one of the biggest dog breeds. The character was designed by Iwao Takamoto, an animator at Hanna-Barbera Productions, who studied the breed when developing the character, but took plenty of liberties for the fictional series. Although Scooby Doo has some unique qualities for a dog, such as finger-like front paws, he shares many traits with Great Danes, including being loyal, protective, having a big appetite, and being good with kids.