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How old are (pet) dog breeds?
 Christoph Jung1*, Daniela Pörtl2

Pet Behaviour Science | 2019, Vol.7, 29 – 37
DOI: 10.21071/pbs.v0i7.11494

Christoph Jung1*, Daniela Pörtl2

1.Petwatch 

2. Psychiatric department, Saale-

Unstrut Klinikum, teaching hospital 

Leipzig and Jena Universities, 

Naumburg

Review

* Email: 

jung@petwatch.de

 Germany Keywords: 

dog; evolution; breed; 

coevolution; human-dog-

bonding

HIGHLIGHTS

• Dog  breeds  and  even  pet  dog  breeds  have  a
long history

• Most  of  today's  pet  dog  breeds  were  derived
from working breeds

• Dog breeds may be understood as a reflection
of human culture

• We  should  understand  dog  breeds  as
continuously evolving populations in changing

ecologies

• Understanding the history of breeds is  crucial
for  a  better  understanding  of  dogs’ behavior

and to improve human-dog-bonding

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Abstract

Dogs are our Pets. Everybody knows dog breeds, at least we are familiar with common breads. A dog is 

often understood only as a specimen of a breed or a mongrel of several breeds. Some scholars argue that dog 

breeds would be created as an artificial product starting 150 years ago in the Victorian era. The original dog 

would be an uniform dog type called “village dog”, hanging around human settlements while scavenging 

human waste and faeces. Our review of the literature suggests, that there is limited data and evidence 

relevant to the evolution and history of dog breeds and dog breeding in general to support this theory. In 

our article we will examine further data and present additional evidence. We found many records in history, 

archaeology and genetics pointing out that dog breeds have a long history likely starting in prehistoric times 

or at least in antiquity. Dog breeds are not static. We should understand dog breeds as steadily evolving 

populations in changing ecologies - like each other species. Dogs’ ecological positions were defined 

primarily by humans. We are able to identify and clearly differentiate dogs according to their breeds; each 

breed is fitting to its special niches. We are using dogs’ different traits for thousands of years. Dogs always 

have and continue to have their jobs related to hunting-, herding-, sledding-partners or as pets. 

Consequently, dogs have been moulded to fit to each job and accordingly. In the long run, dogs evolved 

through their changing jobs and according to continually evolving human civilisation. Breeds have not been 

simply created. Breeds did not derive artificially during some decades in the Victorian era. Victorian dog 

breeding culture only switched the focus from the behaviour to the appearance and that mainly with regard 

to fashion dogs. Even standardized modern purebred dogs on the official shows are continuously changing 

their traits and appearance following human fashions. Dog breeds may be understood as a reflection of 

human culture. Understanding the history of dog breeds is helpful for a better understanding of our dogs, 

the human-dog bonding and ourselves.

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Introduction

Over 350 dog breeds are described all over the world.

They  are  recognized  by  at  least  one  of  the  big

international  Kennel  Clubs.  People  love  mongrels  or

their special breed. Pet Dog breeding has become a big

business for over 100 years. However, we do not really

know  very much  about the origin  and  history of  dog

breeding and dog breeds. 

Some scholars spread the idea that dog breeds would

be  a  relative  new  phenomenon  in  the  evolution  and

history of dogs and humankind. They declare, that the

era  of  dog  breeding  at  first  started  in  the  Victorian

Britain, 150 to 200 years ago (Coppinger and Coppinger

2003, 2016; Lord et al. 2013; Hekman 2018) as simply an

invention of this era (Worboys et al. 2018). They argue

that  village  dogs  would  have  been  the  original  dogs,

not  living  together  with  people  but  only  nearby

humans,  scavenging  on  human  waste.  Today's  breeds

would have been shaped due to artificial selection from

village  dogs  imposed  by  fanciers  during  the  last  less

than 200 years. 

Our  aim  is  to  shed  a  light  on  the  history  of  dog

breeding  and  consequently  human  history  and

evolution as well. Dogs are surely the first non-human

animals  living  with  us  for  at  least  15.000  years

(Thalmann et al. 2013; Botigué et al. 2017). We think it is

important to study the evolution  of dogs  as  a part  of

our  own  evolution  and  human  culture.  The  question

we would like to address and analyse: is it the nature of

dogs hanging around human settlements as scavengers

like most scholars and media argue? Alternatively, was

the  relationship  between  dogs  and  humans  a

partnership?  Were  dogs  and  humans  living  and

“working” together already in ancient times (Brewer et

al.  2001;  Pörtl  and  Jung  2017;  Jung  and  Pörtl  2018;

Germonpré et al. 2018)? 

If so, dog breeds  must have  evolved a long time
ago.  We  recognize  that  dog  breeds  evolved  as  a
manifestation of optimized traits  for their diverse
jobs  catering  to  humans,  including  hunting-,
herding-, guarding-, sledding-partners or simply as
pets.  Assigned  tasks  and  jobs  were,  however,
changing. Dogs and people have shaped each other
and  impacted  on  each  other  permanently  during

their evolution and history. From the Chihuahua to
the  Great  Dane,  dogs  have  been  separated  in
breeds to fit to their different jobs. Thus, they are
quite  different  in  appearance  and  behaviour.
Nevertheless,  all  dogs  belong  to  exactly  one
species  (Canis  familiaris)  or  sub-species  (Canis
lupus  familiaris).  Belonging  to  one  species  only
the  plant  species  cabbage  shows  so  extensive
different shapes like dogs do. Can this be the fast
result of diversification during only the last 150 to
200 years based on an uniform “original” dog type
called  village  dog?  Can  it  be  an  artificial  event?
We  find  thousands  of  titles  describing  single  pet
dog  breeds  and  their  history  in  our  book  stores.
Quite all are written by breeders or fanciers of the
described.  Recent  breed  monographs  trend  to
idealize  their  special  breed,  often  appearing  like
tales for marketing purposes. They are not suitable
for an answer nor as a source of science.

Methods

We  adopted  a  broad  multi-disciplinary  approach

including  archaeology,  paleo  genetics,  genetics  and

history.  We  investigated  studies  and  ancient literature

beginning  with  Xenophon  and  Aristotle  and  ending

with  a  lot  of  dog  books  from  the  Victorian  era.

Interestingly  Charles  Darwin  himself  provides  many

hints and evidence for better understanding the nature

and the history of dog breeds.

Results

We  found  evidence  towards  the  existence  of  a  first

prehistoric  dog  breeds  specializing  in  polar  bear

hunting  and  also  other  breeds  specializing  in  dog

sledding.  This  research  encompasses  a  time  period  of

9000 years (Pitulko and Kasparov 2017). Ten fossilized

dogs  and  a  wooden  sled  were  found  on  Zhokhov

Island in the far north of Siberia. The dogs surely could

be  separated  in  two  types,  seven  appeared  like  a

today’s  Siberian  husky,  and  three  like  a  today’s

Greenland  dog.  The  authors  assume,  that  “it  can  be

hypothesized  that  sled dog  teams  might  have  been

used in Siberia as early as 15,000 years ago.” Since the

beginning  of  the  Neolithic  period  we  found  growing

evidence for dogs as specialized  working partners for

hunting, herding, sledding, guarding in many regions

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(Guagnin et al. 2018; Perri 2016; Jung 2011a). We know

cave  paintings  and  rock  art  from  Northern-Africa  or

the  Arabian  Peninsula  9  to  10,000  years  ago  showing

man and dog hunting or herding together (Guagnin et

al. 2018; Coulson and Campbell 2001; Holl 2004). 

We  have  evidence  for  the  development  of  specialized

breeds  at  least  starting  during  the  first  great

civilizations  like  Egypt,  Mesopotamia  and  Greece

(Brewer  et  al.  2001).  The  ancient  Egyptians  had  been

dog-lovers and bred at least ten documented breeds. It

is remarkably that these breeds stood over all dynasties

quite constantly, which means over 3,000 years (Brewer

et al. 2001; Janssen and Janssen 1999). About 2,350 years

before  present  (bp),  the  great  Greek  philosopher  and

scientist  Aristotle,  named  the  founder  of  Zoology,

described seven dog breeds among them the Maltese as

a pet dog breed. Aristotle gave hints how to feed and

how  to  breed.  "Of  dogs  there  are  several  breeds.  Of

these  the  Laconian  hound  of  either  sex  is  fit  for

breeding  purposes  when  eight  months  old."(Aristotle

2011, part 20). Already 100 years before, another Greek,

Xenophon,  had  published  his  book  titled

“Cynegeticus”  about  hunting  with  dogs  (Xenophon

2017). We can understand this book as the first written

collection  of  breed-standards  with  detailed  dog

breeding  instructions.  That  means  intentional  dog

breeding in ancestry. 

“Cave  Canem”  –  it  was  common  practice  in  ancient

Rome  indicating  that  dogs  guarded  house  and  yard.

That is not the typical job for a stray or village dog. The

Greek  geographer  Strabo  describes  2,200  years  bp

sophisticated  dogs  from  the  British  isles:  "Britain

produces hunting dogs with keen senses. The Celts use

these as their domestic dogs for war purposes." (Strabo

2016)  The  Roman  geographer  Oppianus  deepens  this

report  and  describes  the  British  dogs  as  extremely

strong and courageous fighters who could take on bulls

(Oppianus 2012). The Germanic peoples compiled one

article  in  their  law,  one  from  22  articles,  specially

dedicated to dogs (Lex Baiuvariorum 2016). Their law

described eleven dog breeds. A good "Leiti-hund" (like

today’s  Bloodhound)  had  the legally  based  value  of a

horse. 

In  1868  Charles  Darwin  summarized  the  recent

evolution  of  dog  breeding:  "As  several  breeds  of  the

dog have been slightly but sensibly modified within so

short a period as the last one or two centuries, by the

selection  of  the  best  individuals,  modified  in  many

cases  by  crosses  with  other  breeds;  and  as  we  shall

hereafter see that the breeding of dogs was attended to

in  ancient  times,  as  it  still  is  by  savages,  we  may

conclude  that  we  have  in  selection,  even  if  only

occasionally practiced, a potent means of modification."

(Darwin 1868, p. 43)

Intentional  breeding  is  well  documented  from  the

Middle  Age  to  the  Victorian  era  mainly  concerning

hunting  and  companion  dogs  (Russell  2018).  It  was  a

privilege  of  aristocracy  to  breed  hunting  dogs.  In  the

Middle  Age,  around  1387,  the  French  Count  Gaston

Fébus  wrote  a  book  about  hunting  in  which  the

different types of hunting dogs, their use, their training,

ailments  and  care  are  described  in  detail  (Klemettilä

2015).   Royals, aristocrats,  and large landowners were

competing  for  the  best-specialized  hunting  dogs  for

each  hunting  tasks.  Thus,  the  great  majority  of  dog

breeds  were  -  and  still  are  -  sophisticated  breeds,

specialized  in  one  hunting  profession,  for  example

Greyhounds for hounding game, Beagles or Foxhounds

as pack hounds for fox hunts, Pointers to find and point

out the den of birds and hares, Dachshunds for hunting

the  badger  out  of  his  hole.  The  aristocratic  breeding

farms  (in  Germany  called  "Jägerhöfe")  were  working

very professionally with standards, pedigrees and stud

books.  Lord Orford, was  the Founder of the first ever

Coursing Club, Swaffham Coursing Society in 1776. He

was  respected  as  a  very  systematically  working

greyhound  breeder,  well  documented  -  not  only  -  by

Charles Darwin (Darwin 1860; Russell 2018).

Not only hunting dogs have been bred intentionally for

hundreds and thousands of years. Interestingly, several

pet  dog  breeds  have  a  long  and  well  documented

breeding  history.  The  Maltese  dog  is  recognised  since

Aristotle. The pug or the Blenheim spaniel were several

times  cited  by  Comte  de  Buffon  (2009)  and  Charles

Darwin  (Darwin  1860,  1868).  Konrad  Gessner  (1551)

and John Caius (1570) described 21 British dog breeds

in “De Canibus Britannicis“ (Gessner 2008; Caius 2018).

Comte  de  Buffon  (2009),  the  great  French  naturalist,

mentioned 30 races in his “Histoire naturelle” (1753 to

1767).  Georges  Cuvier,  called  the  Founder  of  modern

Zoology,  mentioned  in  1817  breeds  like  Bulldog,

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Greyhound,  Pug,  Spaniel,  Barbet,  Terriers,  Pointer,

Great Dane (Cuvier 2012). 

In  1846  William  Youatt  described  31  breeds,  varieties

and  crosses  (Youatt  2015).  He  noted  basic  breeding

instructions  and  wrote  “It  is  probable  that  all  dogs

sprang  from  one  common  source,  but  climate,  food,

and  cross-breeding  caused  variations  of  form,  which

suggested  particular  uses;  and  these  being  either

designedly  or  accidentally  perpetuated,  the  various

breeds  of dogs  thus  arose.”  John  Henry  Walsh,  called

“Stonehenge”, described 66 dog breeds (36 hunting, 15

pet)  and  six  cross-breeds  (Walsh  2009).  The  Austrian

Zoologists  Leopold  Fitzinger  (2017)  described  134

breeds and its varieties (among them 35 hound and 35

hunting breeds) and furthermore crosses of them in his

report  for  the  Imperial  Austrian  Academia  in  1867.

H.D.  Richardson  (2018)  described  86  dog  breeds  very

comprehensively along with illustrations; among them

six  pet  dog  breeds  and  furthermore  nine  mongrels

among  them  the  Bull-terrier;  the  latter  became  an

official breed in 1936 (AKC). He also decribed basic dog

breeding instructions (1857). Both, Charles Darwin and

Richardson were documenting in detail and over seven

generations  the  attempts  to  improve  the  braveness  of

Greyhounds  by  crossbreeding them  with Bulldogs.  In

1859,  Stonehenge  mentioned  that  a  Greyhound

pedigree  should  record  20  generations  (Walsh  2009).

The  dog  breeds,  Charles  Darwin  and  others  were

describing  explicitly  and  verbatim  addressed  as

“breeds”  or  “races”,  had  never  been  "land  races"  or

"village dogs". 

Dog breeds were accurately described long before the

Kennel Club was established in 1873. Darwin and the

naturalists  of  the  mid  19th  century  strictly

differentiated  between  mongrels  and  breed  dogs  and

were  discussing  the  effects  of  crossbreeding.  This

denotes the existence of breeds. Consequently, we may

hypothesize  that  intentional  dog  breeding  has  a  very

long  tradition  in  human  civilization,  and  did  not

suddenly  start  with  modern  dog  breeding

organizations.  Nevertheless,  the  Victorian  era  set  a

caesura in the history of dog breeding. Corresponding

to  basic  changes  in  economy  (Industrial  Revolution),

society (Urbanization) and further changes pertinent to

human  lifestyle,  for  example,  hunting  practices,  the

tasks for dogs changed accordingly. 

Still,  hunting  dogs  have  always  had  the  broadest

diversity  pertinent  to  dog  breeds;  until  to  date  the

majority of dog breeds belongs to this group. About 60

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Figure 1. 140 years Pug evolution 

under the same standard



percent  of  the  recognized  breeds  by  the  Fédération

Cynologique  Internationale  (FCI)  are  hunting  dogs.

Among them we are aware of 35 pointing dog breeds

and 65 scent dog breeds. In the 19th century, huntsmen

started hunting alone with modern guns. They needed

a single all-purpose gun dog. Mostly ancient pointers,

retrievers, and spaniels have been modified to fit to the

new requirements. Later on some new dog breeds have

been  created  by  cross-breeding  to  produce  a  modern

all-purpose  police  and  working  dog  like  the

Dobermann  pinscher  or  the  German  Shepard.  The

ancient  companion  dog  breeds  like  Maltese,  Pug,

Blenheim  Spaniel  experienced  a  boom  now  being

available  not  only  for  aristocratic  ladies  but  also  for

urban  citizens.  Thus,  in  the  end  of  the  19th  century,

breeders  began  to  establish  "new"  breeds  stemming

from varieties of the original breeds. This, to boost their

business especially concerning Bichons like the Maltese

(aka Bolognaise, Havanese, Coton de Tuléar, Löwchen)

or  small  terriers  like  the  Scottish  Terrier  (aka  West

Highland White, Skye, Cairn Terrier). 

In  Victorian  Britain,  many  breeds  had  lost  their  “old

jobs”  for  several  reasons.  Some had  gone  extinct.  The

"Turnspit", a Dachshund-like but very strong dog, was

designed  and  intentionally  bred  to  run  on  a  wheel,

called the turnspit wheel, to turn meat over the fire, to

power  spinning  wheels,  pumps  and  bellows  over

hundreds of years. His Nickname was "the Underdog".

He has become unemployed because of steam engines

and  electric  motors.  After  hundreds  of  years  he  has

gone  extinct  very  fast.  In  North  America,  the  same

destiny befell other dog breeds as well. The indigenous

Coast Salish peoples (BC, Canada) had a special woolly

dog.  His  hair  became  yarn  for  particularly  valuable

blankets.  Labor-intensive  dog-hair  weaving

disappeared quickly after the introduction of machine

made  blankets  by  trading  companies.  Consequently,

the  woolly-dogs  were  reportedly  extinct  by  the  third

quarter of the 19th century (Barsh et al. 2002).

The  prohibition  of  dogfights  with  the  “Cruelty  to

Animals Act 1835“ was - fortunately - the destruction of

the last Bulldog jobs in the United Kingdom. Decades

earlier, dog fighting had gone out of fashion. Bulldogs

had  a  very  high  reputation  because  of  their  courage

and  braveness,  and  was  addressed  as  the  British

national  dog.  For  that  reason,  urban  gentlemen  were

looking  for  a  bulldog  as  companion  dog.  Clever

entrepreneurs quickly recognized their opportunity. At

least  since  1825  breeders  like  Ben  White  and  Bill

George operated puppy mills to satisfy the big demand

for  the  new  pet  Bulldog  (Farman  2010).  The  Bulldog

was  the  first  breed  that  had  been  converted  from  a

working dog to a pet dog. Later on, in 1873, it should

become  the  very  first  breed  of  the  Victorian  era

officially recognized by the recently established Kennel

Club. We all know what deep modifications this exactly

“standardized” breed had to suffer through, taking not

only our modern breeding system. We all know what a

modest  future  the  new  system  has  provided  for  the

Bulldog  (Jung  2011b).  The  Bulldog  has  been  the  very

first,  but  not  the  only  dog  breed  switching  from  a

working to a companion or pet dog. Starting with the

Bulldog  in  the  1820th  over  more  than  150  years  until

today about 60 dog breeds basically changed their role

that  way.  The  Victorian  era  marks  the  dawn  of

companion  and  pet  dog  breeding  as  a  business.

However,  that  are  less  than  one-third  of  totally

recognized breeds by the AKC, the KC or the FCI. Until

today, business people keep on trying to place working

dog  breeds  as  pet  dogs  to  conquer  a  new  profitable

market. Even breeds like livestock guarding dogs, e.g.

Kangals  or  Ovcharkas  or  high-end  working  dogs  like

Border  Collies  have  been  offered  as  pet  dogs.  Thus,

many  breeds  have  been  splitted  in  a  working  and  a

show line to cover both markets. However, the majority

of  modern  dog  breeds  still  represent  ancient  working

breeds, mostly used for hunting purposes. 

The  Victorian  era  was  an  era  of  standardization  that

began with the standardization of thread sizes to boost

production  and  trade.  Official  stud  books  for  horses

were  starting  in  the  dawn  of  the  19th  century.  British

horses  had  been  exported  worldwide.  Some  decades

later British breed dogs followed up. Thus, dog breeds

have  been  standardized  and  uniformed  as  well.  The

spread of railroads enabled dogs from distant regions

to mate, homogenizing their appearance on a national

scale  (Russell  2018).  This  new  breeding  industry

needed  regulation  and  quality  standards  to  improve

business  worldwide.  Fanciers  demanded  breed

standards  for  the  preservation  of  the  old  working

breeds, which  had lost their original jobs.  The Kennel

Club  (KC)  was  founded  on  4  April  1873.  Gradually,

new guidelines were set. They are officially valid until

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today:

• Registration  for  each  dog  for  unique
identification

• Stud Books, closed or with appendix registries;
Stud  Books  provide  a  record  of  results  for  all

Championship Dog Shows

• Pedigree  for  each  dog  (certificate  for  "pure
bred")

• Written Standards to establish a detailed image
of  the  ideal  appearance  of  each  breed.  "Breed

standards  still  reflect  the  reasons  why  the

breed came into being" (The Kennel Club 2018)

• Championship  Dog  Shows  in  which  (mainly
companion-  not  hunting/working-)  dogs  are

rated for how well their appearance  conforms

to a standard

• Rating on the shows by independent judges

• Breeding  Clubs  for  each  breed  joined  to  the
Kennel Club

That is the theory. Standardization in the 19th century

did  not  lead  to  unification  in  dog  breeding  and  each

breed has steadily changed its appearance more or less

depending on fashions. Even the classification as breed

sometimes  seems  to  be  arbitrary.  As  an  example,  192

dog  breeds  are  officially  recognized  by  the  American

Kennel  Club,  220  recognized  by  the  KC  and  not  less

than  345 recognized  by  the  FCI  on  a  so-called

"definitive  basis"  (2018).  From  192  to  345  officially

recognized  breeds,  that is  quite a  difference  - and  we

mentioned only the three biggest international Kennel

Clubs.  That  gives  us  another  hint  that  the  Victorian

breeding  culture  does  not  fit  to  the  functional,

zoological  and  historical  view  on  dog  breeds  nor  to

evolution nor to ecology (Figure 1).  

In particular,  the principle  of  purebred breeding does

not fit into reality and has never done so. In theory, we

have  closed  stud  books.  Even  officially,  we  see  open

stud  books  or  stud  books  with  appendix  registries.

Unofficially  it  is  normal  to  fresh  up  the  blood  of  a

kennel  from  time  to  time  by  inter-breeding  with

phenotypically  similar  specimen  or  those  from  other

kennel clubs. In particular, after the Second World War,

most  companion  and  pet  dog  breeds  had  lost  their

breeding  potential.  There  was  a  genetic  bottleneck.

Thus,  most  stud  books  have  been  opened  for  many

years. The real purebred dog is an idealized image and

in  some  cases  simply  a  breeders  marketing  tale.  For

dogs’ fitness  that  are  good  news.  However,  modern

puppy  mills  are  breeding  their  own  way  to  gain

maximal  profit.  The  rules  of  Kennel  Clubs  do  not

matter. In Germany, two out of three breeding puppies

are  produced  in  such  farms  without  any  control.

Especially young fanciers, buying their pups online, are

not interested in basic breeding standards (Packer et al.

2017). 

Nevertheless,  we  can  clearly  identify  a  dog  breed  by

appearance,  behaviour  and  its  genetic  fingerprint

(vonHoldt et al. 2010; Parker et al. 2017). Given such a

variety in appearance and behaviour, it is unlikely that

several  and  well  described  dog  types  would  have

derived  from  uniform  village  dogs  in  just  a  few

decades and until the official initiation of dog breeding

in  1873  with  dozens  of  modern  breed  standards  to

follow.  Dogs  seem  to  live  with  human  as  specialized

breeds  since  ancient  times.  We  have  found  evidence

that  dog  breeds  and  intentional  dog  breeding  have

been a very deep-rooted part of human culture – This

evidence  dates  back  for  about  200  years.  In  his

pioneering  work  (1860,  1868,  1874)  Charles  Darwin

does  not  leave  room  for  any  doubt  that  dogs  are

separated  in  breeds  and  that  these  breeds  have  an

ancient  even  “wild”  origin.  He  described  many  dog

breeds with an in each and classified them according to

their different and clearly distinct behaviour including

what  he  called  “domestic  instincts”,  e.g.  pointers,

retrievers,  shepherds  (1860,  p.  213).  Darwin  assumed

that „of  another  breed for another  purpose;  when  we

compare  dog  breeds,  each  breed  seems  to  serve  a

purpose for humans in very different ways.” (1860, p.

34)  and  “No  instance  is  on  record  of  such  dogs  as

bloodhounds,  spaniels,  true  greyhounds  having  been

kept by savages: they are the product of long-continued

civilization.”  Darwin  dedicates  a  separate  chapter

related  to  the  question  of  “Differences  between  the

several Breeds of the Dog.” (1868, p. 33)

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The Victorian era has set a caesura for numerous dog

breeds.  The  focus  was  transferred  from  appearance

towards  of  behaviour  and  fitness.  The  novel  focus

focused  on  “dog  fashion”  instead  of  dogs  fitting  to

provide  certain jobs.  Consequently, dog entrepreneurs

introduced  several  policies  pertinent  to  pedigree  dog

breeding,  including  dog  shows.  The  Victorian  era

primarily provided a framework for pet dog breeding

as  an  upcoming  international  business  -  not  more.

Quite  all  dog  breeds  have  reliable  roots  in  ancient

times.  Many  –  but  not  the  majority  –  of  dog  breeds

have  been  switched  over  a  time  window  from  1825

(Bulldog)  until  today  (e.g.  Australian  shepherd)  from

working to pet dogs. 

Regulations taking place  in  Victorian Britain were the

beginning  of  nationwide  dog  breeding  policies,  in

particular for dog shows (Russell 2018). Nevertheless, it

was not the dawn of the supported breeds. Fashion dog

breeding guidelines just adopted ancient dog breeding

practices  to  the  new  requirements  in  modern  human

society and economy, their new ecological niche. Only a

few new breeds have been created until now. It is likely,

that  most  breeds  have  been  modified  and  every  so

often  gave  rise  to  several  “new”  breeds.  That  is  the

nature of breeds – not only concerning dogs. Breeds are

made  for  and  by  humankind.  All  breeds  -  horses,

sheep,  grains,  cabbages  or  dogs  -  are  designed  for

special purposes in special environments, climates and

ecologies. Purposes and ecologies are steadily evolving;

thus  breeds  steadily  adapted  to  new  requirements.

While some dog breeds adapted, some breeds became

extinct  (Turnspit,  Woolly  Dog),  some  were  modified

(Bulldog), some were created new (German shepherd),

some  were  reinvented  (Hovaward)  and  some  were

recreated (Irish wolfhound). Given the above, we have

evidence for highly heritable and functionally relevant

breed  differences  in  dog  behaviour  (McLean  et  al.

2019). For example, The Victorian era of dog breeding

simply  introduced  new  policies  to  adapt  classical

intentional dog breeding to modern business purposes.

Nevertheless, even and in particular, under the policies

of the Victorian breeding culture like official standards,

show-judges  and  stud  books,  dog  breeds  have  been

modified  steadily.  If  we  look only  at what  has been

bred  entirely  under  the  rules  of  the  British  Kennel

Club, we have to realize that many pet dog breeds have

changed  their  appearance  and  their  behaviour

dramatically e.g. pug, bulldog, basset hound,  German

shepard and are still changing until now (Fig. 1). 

Conclusion and Discussion

We present evidence related to dog breeds, their origin

and evolution long before the Victorian era began. We

also present data pertinent to intentional dog breeding

dating back for at least 2,400 years (Brewer et al. 2001).

Dog breeds evolved and were later purposefully bred

to perform and optimally various tasks as ordered by

man.  Hunting,  guarding,  sledding  and  herding  are

thought  to  be  the  earliest  dog  jobs.  Even  to  serve

simply as a pet is an ancient purpose. The separation in

breeds or races is a need and a fundamental mark for

the  dog  as  a  human  working  companion  and  partner

(Jung and Pörtl 2018). Humans desired and thus bred a

specialist for each job even for the job as pet. Cultures

and  technologies  developed,  as  a  consequence  jobs

carried  out  by  working  dogs  did  so  as  well.  We  may

understand  dog  breeds  as  a  reflection  of  human

cultural  evolution  and  history.  Possibly,  we  may

address  it  as  a  form  of  coevolution  (Russel  2018;

Schleidt and Shalter 2003, 2018). Darwin referred to this

process as “coadaptation” (1860, p. 31). However, dog

breeds are not and have never been set in stone (Russel

2018). In particular the so called pure bred dogs under

the  kennel  clubs  like  KC,  AKC  and  FCI  are  changing

their  appearance  steadily  and  sometimes

fundamentally  especially  in  the  last  decades.

Comparing the official show champions and the “Best

of  Breed”  winners  from  1970,  1990  and  2010  the

differences  are  astonishing.  If  the  traits  of  a  breed

change, it does not mean that it is a new breed now.

Humankind  has  formed  every  breed  for  its  own

purposes.  This  dates  back  to  prehistoric  times  –

including  plants  or  animals.  Formerly,  we  have  had

dozens  of  clearly  different  tomato  breeds  for  taste,

climate,  usage.  Therefore,  we  did  not  need  the

European Union  bureaucracy  with its  standardization

and  tomato  specifications  filling  pages.  Nevertheless,

today  only  very  few  and  selected  new  EU  tomato

breeds are officially recognized in Europe. The same is

valid  for  dogs.  Not  kennel  clubs  invented  breeds  but

breeds  “invented  and  shaped”  clubs.  Dogs  as  breeds

have not been invented in Victorian Britain. Breeds did

not derive during decades from village dogs. Victorian

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breeding  simply  standardized  dog  breeds  by

appearance. Even dog breed standardization was much

older  and  was  not  invented  at  that  time  (Xenophon

2017; Klemettilä 2015). Only the criteria, the scope and

the methods were and have changed.

In  former  times  -  and  regarding  working  dogs  until

today - primarily traits, behaviour and fitness were the

leading features of each breed. In ancient times, breed

standards had not been set up by

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