Why Netflix’s New Scooby Doo Puppy Is Confusing Fans

InnovationGamingWhy Netflix’s New Scooby Doo Puppy Is Confusing FansByPaul Tassi,Senior Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. News and opinion about video games, television, movies and the internet.Follow AuthorJun 09, 2026, 09:31am EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.Scooby DooNetflixWell, I never thought I’d see this amount of controversy over a cute puppy, but this is the internet, and here, we argue about everything. We are talking about the Netflix live-action adaptation of Scooby Doo, which, as we now know, also includes a live-action dog. That’s a departure from previous live-action films, which featured a CGI Scoob closely resembling his cartoon version.Many on social media are sharing the newly released picture, lamenting the fact that Netflix has been so unfaithful to the source material that they’ve actually changed the breed of Scooby Doo from a Great Dane to what looks like some sort of brown lab.That isn’t true, the dog seen above is a Great Dane puppy (I mean, look at those paws), but people are being thrown off by the big floppy ears. Great Danes are generally known for their upright, pointy ears, including, of course, Scooby Doo himself.Great Dane or German Mastiff Dog (old standard breed with cut ears)gettyThe problem is that in real life, these ears are shaped through a procedure called “ear cropping.” This is done when a significant portion of a Great Dane’s floppy ear flaps (the pinnae) is cut away. Then, the remaining tissue is braced so when it heals, it’s standing upright.MORE FOR YOUAges ago, back when Great Danes were hunting dogs, this was a procedure supposedly done to keep them from getting their ears pulled and shredded by say, wild boars. Now, of course, no one is sending their Great Danes to attack wild boars, but the procedure remains to create the “classic” look. The procedure is even banned in some count...