These days, if we hear a reference made to “white Scottish Terriers,” it’s usually said by old timers who recall with fondness the  dogs that frequently appeared in the ads for James Buchanan Company’s Black and White Scotch Whiskey. There’s no such thing as a “white” Scottish Terrier, of course, though old timers shouldn’t be blamed for not knowing this if they weren’t “dog people,” and only had a black and white advertisement to go on. In reality, the dog that appeared with the black Scottie in those ads wasn’t even a Scottie, it was a West Highland White Terrier. This isn’t to say that there was never such a thing as a “white Scottish Terrier,” it just wasn’t the breed we know today as a Scottish Terrier.

In the 19th century, the Duke of Argyll’s estate in Scotland was called Dumbartonshire, but it was also known as Roseneath. Not surprisingly, the terriers the Duke developed became known as Roseneath Terriers, but because of their short stature, prick ears, and snow white color, locals also called them “White Scottish Terriers.” In fact, the name followed them into the show ring in the late 1800s. By 1904, they were known by the name we call them today: West Highland White Terriers.