Meiken Cheese, also called Cheese the wise dog or Cheese the super watchdog, is a staple character in the Anpanman franchise. He resides in a doghouse at Uncle Jam's bakery and features in nearly every episode. Anpanman first encountered Cheese as a lost, crying puppy during his initial patrol in the forest and rescued him. Batako-san named him "Cheese" upon his arrival at the bakery, though his life before this rescue is unknown.

Cheese is a small, light brown dog with distinctive short rabbit-shaped ears and a dark brown tail tip. Earlier manga and picture books depicted his ears in a darker brown than his body. Initially moving mostly on four legs, he later adopted walking primarily on two legs while maintaining typical canine sitting postures. He sleeps in an outdoor, loaf-shaped doghouse equipped with his own bowls.

Despite communicating only through barks understood by familiar characters due to his status as a "wise dog," Cheese demonstrates remarkable intelligence. He comprehends human language and performs tasks effectively. He assists in the bakery, frequently drives the Anpanman-go vehicle, and uses his exceptional hearing to be the first to detect SOS signals. His powerful sense of smell allows him to track individuals.

Cheese provides comic relief through over-dramatic and silly antics. He possesses a large appetite, eating with gusto. Although occasionally lazy about chores, he displays bravery by charging into danger to aid Anpanman and often carries or throws Anpanman's replacement head. He shares a close bond with Butterko and sometimes Melonpanna.

Character development included brief experimentation with sporadic speech and "woof" before settling on nonverbal communication. He maintains a relationship with his girlfriend, Rare Cheese. His consistent role across all media is as Anpanman's loyal companion and bakery helper.