 The person most closely associated with developing the modern breed of West Highland White Terrier is Edward Donald Malcolm , 16th Laird of Poltalloch . Malcolm owned terriers used to work game ; the story told is that a reddish @-@ brown terrier was mistaken for a fox and shot . Following this , Malcolm decided to develop a white terrier breed , which became known as the " Poltalloch Terrier " . The first generation of Poltallochs had sandy @-@ coloured coats , and had already developed prick ears , which is a trait seen later in the modern breed . It is unknown if the Poltalloch Terriers and Pittenweem Terriers were interbred . In 1903 , Malcolm declared that he did not want to be known as the creator of the breed and insisted that his breed of white terriers be renamed . The term " West Highland White Terrier " first appears in Otters and Otter Hunting by L.C.R. Cameron , published in 1908 . 
