The West Highland White Terrier originated from Scotland and was used for hunting fox, vermin and otter. The exact history of the breed is widely debated. Some believe that a request from King James I for a "little white earth dog" prompted an effort to produce a breed with a white coat. Others think that the death of Colonel Malcolm Poltalloch's dog started the effort. When Colonel Poltalloch's dark-coated terrier died, he swore from that point on only to own white dogs.
In more recent times, the West Highland White Terrier was known as the Roseneath Terrier due to the Duke of Argyll's interest in the breed. The breed was finally recognized under the name Roseneath Terrier by the American Kennel Club in 1908, only to have its name changed the following year to the West Highland White Terrier.
