The character of Snowy evolved through the course of the Tintin series. In the early albums he takes an interest in mechanics and geography in Tintin in the Congo, he makes biblical references.В As a dog, he also sniffs, tracks, chases, and bites. His verbal responses to various situations include jokes, expressions of fright, and pleas to Tintin to exercise caution. In the debut album Tintin in the Land of the Soviets, Snowy is a source ofВ comic relief.В Throughout the first eight stories Snowy is the series' co-star, able to understand human language, and communicates with speech bubbles. Throughout the series, Snowy is Tintin'sВ sidekickВ and companion on journeys.В Along with Tintin he is the only character to appear in all of theВ comic albums. Snowy's part then slowly changed into a more light-hearted role of comic relief, examples being how he chases the cat at Marlinspike Hall (until they become friendly at the end of The Calculus Affair) and drinks the Captain's whiskey. Before Haddock's first appearance Snowy was the chief source of cynicism and alternate viewpoints. Snowy's character has evolved over the course of The Adventures of Tintin series, particularly after the introduction of Captain Haddock's character in The Crab with the Golden Claws. 'Milou' seems to be intended as a masculine form of 'Malou', since Snowy is referred to as male through the entire series. Snowy's original French name, Milou, is notably similar to the nickname of HergГ©'s first girlfriend, 'Malou' (a contraction of the name Marie-Louise). Originally Snowy was the sole source of dry and cynical commentary of HergГ©'s work, to try and balance out Tintin's more positive and optimistic outlook. In Marlinspike Hall, Snowy at first had a tense relationship with the resident cat, until befriending it over time.

He also demonstrated arachnophobia, a fear of spiders. Attacked from all sides by boa, buffalo, goat, condor, crab, crocodile, gorilla, eel, hedgehog, cow, parrots and other wild beasts, Snowy seems far removed from its congeners. His relationships with other animals are equally as difficult. However, he maintains much more friendly relationships with children such as the Crown Prince of Gaipajama, Zorrino and Lobsang. On many occasions, the opponents of Tintin try to eliminate Snowy, often trying to chloroform him, but to no avail. Snowy has little contact with people other than Tintin and his friends.

Snowy has a taste for alcohol, especially the whisky 'Loch Lomond.' He does not disdain either rum or champagne. He is also fond of all kinds of meats and sausages, especially chicken. However, he takes this to the extreme, which is to say to the greediness which will impose difficult choices in certain situations. He also knows when there is unseen danger and tries to alert Tintin. Often, he urges against dangerous situations where his master will get involved, but he is always there to come to the rescue.

In this sense, he has a keen flair and a great intuition. Snowy has a good general knowledge and always answers to his master. Over the adventures he shows more homebody.

He is sometimes faced with problems of moral order, racked between duty and his old demons (including alcohol and bones). He is rather boastful, mocking, quite likely, superstitious and very sensitive. Although Snowy is a dog, he has a surprisingly lively and alert character, thinks and feels, but communicates by speaking with people in Tintin in America. From the very beginning, Snowy is the inseparable companion of Tintin and follows him everywhere, against all odds, through many ups and downs faced by his master.

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