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| Starlight Westies History |
| Representatives of early Westies from the original Scottish stock |
| Westies are descended from Cairn Terriers, who occasionally whelped white puppies naturally, and Scottish Terriers; who also occasionally produced white offspring. White offspring from other British Terriers such as the Bedlington Terrier and Dandie Dinmont Terrier were occasionally introduced to the bloodline for desired characteristics, but this practice generally stopped in the 1850s. |
| Col. Malcom's Sonny and Sarah were typical of the Westie during the early days of the breed's development. |
Some sources credit Colonel Edward Donald Malcolm and his kin of Poltalloch, in the Argyll region of
Western Scotland as an originator of this breed in the 1800s. Other sources credit the 8th Duke of Argyll
(Chieftan of Clan Campbell) as an originator of the breed. However, there may have been some
cooperation between the two gentlemen. It may have taken as long as a hundred years of selective
breeding to produce all the desired qualities. Their white coat made them highly visible when hunting
on the Scottish moors and easily distinguished them from their game.
Western Scotland as an originator of this breed in the 1800s. Other sources credit the 8th Duke of Argyll
(Chieftan of Clan Campbell) as an originator of the breed. However, there may have been some
cooperation between the two gentlemen. It may have taken as long as a hundred years of selective
breeding to produce all the desired qualities. Their white coat made them highly visible when hunting
on the Scottish moors and easily distinguished them from their game.
Photo taken in 1909 in the first decade of the breed on the Wolvey Kennel
| Originally the breed was known as Poltalloch Terriers (after the name of Malcolm's home), although they were also known as Roseneath Terriers (after the name of Argyll's home), White Roseneath Terriers, and at the end of the 19th century, briefly as a white variety of the Scottish Terrier. |
A group of the Poltalloch dogs of Col. Malcolm. From these dogs derive most of
the West Highland White Terriers in the world today.
the West Highland White Terriers in the world today.
| The famous drawing by Sir Edwin Landseer (1830), showing a West Highland White Terrier along with other sporting dogs |
| Source: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Highland_White_Terrier) |
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| Copyright 2014, Starlight Westies, All Rights Reserved |
England. The name was chosen for the rugged character of the dogs and the area of their club of the
American Kennel Club.
American Kennel Club.
