Top 10 White Dog Breeds: Canines as White as Snow

Say hello to the handsome Samoyed! By the way, the right way to pronounce his name is “sam-a-YED.” Surprised? So are we at first! He also goes by some other real tongue-twisters such as Samoiedsakya, Nemetskaya Laika, and Bjelkier. But because of his trademark grin, he is always referred to as “Smiling Sammy.”

As the name hints, Samoyeds used to pull sleds, herd deer, and hunt game alongside the Samoyed natives of the Northwestern Siberian tundra.

That is why 19th century English and Norwegian explorers chose Samoyeds to accompany them during their expeditions to the North and South Poles. Queen Alexandra of Denmark was also their avid fan back then.

Moreover, the Samoyed is among the 14 ancient canines possessing the genetic footprint closest to wolves. These poof balls are pack animals by nature. Hence, they don’t do well alone. If you leave him at home for a long time, you might no longer have a house to come home to because he is quite destructive when anxious, sad, or bored.

Their calm temperament makes them an excellent choice for first-time pet parents or families with children.

And as you might guess, never give grooming the brush off. Smiling Sammy’s thick and luxuriously soft snow-white coat needs frequent brushing to stay gorgeous.

On the bright side, you don’t always need to bathe your pooch, and he doesn’t stink much, too.

The Great Pyrenees is a gentle giant possessing beauty and power.

This good boy hailed from the Pyrenean Mountains of Europe around the year 3 000 BC.

He is called Le Chien de Montagne des Pyrenees or Le Chien des Pyrenees in his native land, which translates to “the Pyrenees Mountain Dog.”

For thousands of years, the Great Pyrenees protects farmers and livestock, while predators roam about each night. When he isn’t working, he lazes in front of his owners’ humble dwellings during the day. However, there is more to him than just a peasant’s dog.

French writings dating back to 1407 tell of their merits as the “Great Dogs of the Mountains” who guarded the Château fort de Lourdes. Besides, the Great Pyrenees is the official Royal Dog of France since 1675.

With that in mind, the breed quickly gained popularity among the French nobility during the Renaissance.

His mountain heritage makes him an excellent hiking companion, but he isn’t the right candidate for off-leash walks.

In 1928, Dr. Martinez set out to develop a vigorous and robust canine capable of hunting wild boars and pumas without breeding out the desirable traits of a pet.

He envisioned a paradox, and yet, his vision came true. Introducing the Dogo Argentino.

The Dogo Argentino features a strong muscular build and a smooth white coat. He elicits an impression of power and energy.

After all, he is the result of crossbreeding the now extinct Cordoba fighting dog with nine other canines: the Irish Wolfhound, Spanish Mastiff, Great Dane, Dogue de Bordeaux, Pyrenean Mastiff, Boxer, English Pointer, Old English Bulldog, and Bull Terrier.

The American Kennel Club describes him as a friendly, cheerful, and humble pooch who craves attention! Although he is capable of bringing deer for dinner, the Dogo Argentino has a soft spot for butt scratches and tummy rubs galore. Not everyone can do that to him, of course.

Furthermore, his high prey drive also makes him a threat to smaller pets. A confident and resolute Alpha is what this dog needs. Otherwise, he will willingly take the role of major-domo.

Nope, this isn’t an albino German Shepherd. This is the Berger Blanc Suisse, which translates to “White Swiss Shepherd.”

He is a new breed developed in Switzerland. Natives like to call him the Snowy Shepherd.

The Berger Blanc Suisse traces its roots to the GSD breeding program in Germany in the 1800s. That time, breeders considered white-coated German Shepherds as defective. Dog fanciers have also excluded them from joining clubs and competitions.

Nevertheless, some breeders in the 1970s dedicated a breeding program for these white-coated German Shepherds and attempted to distinguish them as a separate breed.

The Berger Blanc Suisse has an uncanny resemblance to its predecessor. Ask him to jump in a pool of melted chocolate, and he might come out looking like a German Shepherd.

However, these two breeds are polar opposites when it comes to their personality.

This fluff ball here may look like a miniature Samoyed, but he is a separate breed that comes in three size varieties: toy, miniature, and standard.

German immigrants brought these walking cotton balls in American shores in the 19th century.

Back then, these cuties were known as the white German Spitz.

Their name was later changed to American Eskimo Dog due to the anti-German sentiment during World War I and World War II. But as you can see, their name is a misnomer because the breed has nothing to do with Eskimo culture.

These fluffy balls of fire would charm audiences by dancing to music and perform tricks under the circus big top. The most popular among them is Pierre from Barnum and Bailey Circus. The little performer was the first pooch ever to walk the tightrope.

Despite the fascinating history of these white wonder dogs, they have only received full recognition from the American Kennel Club in 1995.

Despite the name, the Japanese Spitz isn’t native to Japan.

The four-legged nimbus is the result of crossbreeding various Spitz-type canines to produce a smaller and more manageable pet. The first dogs of the breed were descendants of the white German Spitz dogs, which dog fanciers imported from China and Siberia.

Although he debuted at a dog show in Tokyo in 1921, it wasn’t until 1945 when the final breed standard was published.

In April 2019, the American Kennel Club finally added the Japanese Spitz as its newest member. But because of his uncanny resemblance to the American Eskimo Dog, Samoyed, and Pomeranian, the AKC has instead admitted him to their Foundation Stock Service, which is an optional registration service.

The Japanese Spitz has a consistent and robust following.

This little comedian is always eager to please his family. He is game for adventures, car rides, beach outings, and whatnot.

Alert and courageous, he makes a good watchdog, too.

This walking cotton candy hails from Tenerife, the largest of the Canary Islands. In the 1300s, Italian sailors who flocked to the Tenerife Island discovered this poof ball and brought a few of them back to mainland Europe.

From there, the curly lap dogs wormed their way to the hearts of Italian and French nobility. Even King Henry III and King Francis I loved the Bichon Frise.

Back then, this cutie pie was known as Barbichon Tenerife, which translates to “lapdog of Tenerife.” The moniker was later changed to Bichon Frise. Frise means “curly,” as a reference to the pooch’s locks. For starters, the right way to pronounce it is “bee-SHON free-zay.”

Thankfully, these bright little dogs know how to bounce back.

The charismatic Bichons kicked-start their career in entertainment alongside Gypsies. From then on, they have proved to everyone how much of a gem they are!

Although these cotton candies no longer dwell in the royal courts, they still need a lot of primping to keep their fur fluffy and pristine.

Experts say this breed has existed over 2 800 years, but the exact origins of the Maltese are murky at best.

Perhaps, he comes from its namesake, which is the Mediterranean island of Malta.

After all, a knight of Malta once wrote about a breed of dogs with long silky hair, which was in demand in Rome back in 1804. This charming pooch did make its way to Rome, and there, he earned the moniker the Roman ladies’ dog.

Romans particularly liked the silky white coat of the Maltese because, for them, it evokes an air of divinity.

The Maltese sports a profuse, silky white hair that is more like human hair than doggie fur.

The Maltese’s mission in life is to love and be loved in return. He just loves to cuddle right up to his fur-mama and fur-papa anytime.

Before the tartar vest and fancy getup, the Westies of old diligently worked in mines, farms, and barns as rat exterminators in Northwestern Scotland.

The tiny workaholics would squeeze into crevices and scare foxes and rabbits out of their burrows.

The West Highland White Terrier is the result of selective breeding between Cairn and Scottish terriers.

In 1908, the American Kennel Club accepted the breed as the Roseneath Terrier, but the name was later changed a year later.

As you can already tell, Westies are quite a handful to train, but patience and training will bear good fruit!

Westies are more likely to befriend a mugger, but since he is a loudmouth, he’ll let you know.

The Havanese hails from the capital city of Cuba, Havana. He is the only pooch considered native to Cuba. Unfortunately, the breed fell on hard times during the Cuban Revolution in 1959.

Cubans seek refuge in the United States, and eleven of these fluff balls tagged along. Twenty years later, the Havanese Club of America was established, and the breed was admitted to the American Kennel Club’s Toy Group in 1999.

Also known as the Havana Silk Dog, this pooch flaunts a silky hypoallergenic coat.

But rather than the standard white, these pooches can also be cream, champagne, and chocolate coat. Despite his thick coat, the Havanese has a good tolerance for heat.

This sweet lapdog is a member of the Bichon breeds in the Mediterranean, and just like his well-traveled cousins, he made his way around the world, winning many a heart!