Meiken Cheese is a small, light brown dog distinguished by rabbit-shaped ears, darker in the manga and picture books than his body, and a dark brown tail tip. He resides in a loaf-shaped doghouse at Uncle Jam's bakery, equipped with dedicated food and water bowls.

Rescued as a lost, crying puppy in the forest during Anpanman's inaugural patrol, Cheese joined the bakery after Anpanman shared part of his own head to ease the puppy's hunger. Batako-san subsequently named him "Cheese."

Cheese possesses high intelligence, comprehending human speech and performing tasks equivalent to other characters, though he communicates exclusively through barks. Early concepts briefly included him speaking words followed by "woof," but this was abandoned. His personality mixes comic relief and bravery: he is often over-dramatic, silly, and possesses a large appetite, yet readily charges into danger to aid Anpanman, frequently carrying or throwing Anpanman's replacement heads during crises. Despite assisting with bakery chores, he occasionally shows laziness in avoiding tasks.

His abilities feature exceptional hearing and scent tracking, allowing him to detect SOS signals early and locate individuals by following trails. While he initially moved mostly on four legs, he now frequently walks upright on two, though he retains typical canine postures for sitting and sleeping.

Cheese shares a close friendship with Butterko and maintains a bond with Melonpanna, alongside a romantic relationship with Rare Cheese. Within the bakery, he is regarded as a "wise dog," with the residents emphasizing that mutual understanding stems from attentive listening and emotional connection.