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Snowy: Which breed of dog is he?

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jock123
Moderator
#21 · Posted: 15 Mar 2007 23:28
indigoxstar
How can he be a West Highland terrier, then, if they originate from Scotland?
I don't think that makes it impossible - we had a Norwegian elk-hound when I lived in Scotland, and he was born just outside Aberdeen; plenty of people have Alsatians who don't live in Alsace (or German shepherds who don't live in Germany, if you prefer).
A breed of dog may originate from a particular place, but individual dogs can be from anywhere.
Anyway, welcome to the forums!
Tintin Quiz
Member
#22 · Posted: 16 Mar 2007 05:23
A large white miniature schanuzer might be about the right shape. Snowy always seemed to me to have legs way too long for a Westie.

white miniature schanuzer: 12 to 15 inches (see Rice's miniature schnauzers and Snowy Pine)

westie: 11 inches at the withers

Of course, you'd have to trim him right.
indigoxstar
Member
#23 · Posted: 16 Mar 2007 19:55
Yes, I think he looks most like a mini white schanuzer.

And thanks, jock123.
Mark Falconer
Member
#24 · Posted: 15 Jun 2007 03:36
I read Snowy was a wire-haired fox terrier, which confused me, because I had always assumed he was a mongrel - he's referred to as such at least three times in the books.
tintin_in_arcata
Member
#25 · Posted: 16 Jun 2007 01:01
Mark Falconer:
I had always assumed he was a mongrel

I agree - I'd think Snowy is a bit of a mix too.
tuhatkauno
Member
#26 · Posted: 18 Jun 2007 06:41
Robbie
I have a white minature schnauzer and everyone we meet comments on how he is so like Snowy in Tintin

Hello robbie and all tintinologists

I have too, not white but black and white, look at the one down there

http://www.tunturisusi.com/koiralinkit/kaapiosnauts.html

I can tell you the character and the behaviour of a minature schnauzer are exactly like Milou's.

He's dead scared of bugs.
He can howl/cry/yelp like Milou.
He's very curious and can occasionally be very brave (when he should run away).
He's a food thief (specialised on Karelian pies)
But my Jupi is not as clever as Milou, actually he is rather stupid (positively expressed).
Smidgeroo
Member
#27 · Posted: 21 Jun 2007 06:26
I hate to dig up an old thread, but regardless of Snowy's peculiar traits/behaviors, the Tintin.com site literally states that «Snowy is an exceptionally white wire-hair fox terrier».

The discrepancies, then, are in Hergé's perception and portrayal of the breed being accurate or not. He IS that breed, it's set in stone.

Whether he acts, looks, or sounds the part is another matter entirely. However, many other breeds do exhibit similar characteristics and would surely be suitable (and less expensive and easier to find!) replacement.

Clear as mud? Good. :)
Balthazar
Moderator
#28 · Posted: 21 Jun 2007 10:04
Smidgeroo
The Tintin.com site literally states that «Snowy is an exceptionally white wire-hair fox terrier»... He IS that breed, it's set in stone.

Just because the Tintin.com site asserts something, it doesn't mean it's set in stone. The only thing which would set this matter in stone would be if Hergé himself had said that Snowy is an exceptionally white wire-hair fox terrier. If he did, fair enough, end of argument. But I don't think I've ever read a quote from Hergé that established Snowy's breed. (If I'm wrong, and he did, I'm sure someone on this forum will be able to correct me!)

Personally, my guess would be that when Hergé created Milou at the start of the Soviets story, he just made up a simply-drawn small white dog, to accompany his simply-drawn master, without worrying too much about what specific breed the dog was, if any. In common nearly all of the characters in Tintin, Snowy's parental origins are not part of the story.

If Tintin.com have some note or quote by Hergé which establishes that he always saw Snowy as a fox terrier, then I'm talking rubbish.

But if they don't, then surely all Tintin.com are doing is making their assertion about Snowy's breed retrospectively, based on their best comparitive evidence and guesswork - a perfectly valid thing to do, but only the same as the rest of us are doing, and no more authorative!
Ranko
Member
#29 · Posted: 22 Jun 2007 01:25
Balthazar

Hold fire on the talking rubbish quote :-) You make a good point. I'm sure throughout the books Snowy is referred to by various characters as simply "a small white dog" with no reference to a breed whatsoever.

I had some more to add, but I've completely lost my train of thought... I'll stop, say goodnight, and see you all in a few hours.
BlackIsland
Member
#30 · Posted: 25 Jun 2007 04:59
A fox terrier is always what I have seen Snowy refered to.

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