The 1700s
The 1700s
1700sOld English Sheepdog
1700sScottish Terrier
1700sOld Irish water dogs
1700sKing Charles Spaniel
1700sBlack and Tan Terrier
1700sPointer
1700sNorth Country Beagle
1700sEnglish Setter
1700sDandie Dinmont Terrier
1700sOld Welsh Grey Sheepdog
1700sGreyhound
1700sOld fell terriers
1700sClumber Spaniel
1700sCur
1700sOld English White Terrier
1700sNative Irish terriers
1700sEnglish Water Spaniel
Working roots
Long before dogs curled up by the fire, they worked for a living. Across Britain, breeds were shaped by the jobs they were needed to do, and you can still see those jobs written into their bodies and behaviour today.
A dog's looks are rarely an accident. The Collie's tireless energy, the terrier's boldness, the sighthound's lean frame: each was honed for a purpose over many generations. Understanding that working past is the key to understanding why breeds behave the way they do, a thread that runs right through the pack.
- Herding breeds like the Border Collie were bred to gather and move livestock across the hills.
- Terriers were developed to hunt vermin, going to ground after rats, mice and foxes.
- Sighthounds such as the Greyhound and Whippet were built for speed and the chase.
- Guarding and droving breeds protected homes and moved cattle to market.
Did you know?
The word 'terrier' comes from the Latin 'terra', meaning earth, after their habit of digging into burrows to flush out prey.
Did you know?
Turnspit dogs were bred to run inside a wheel that turned meat roasting over the kitchen fire.
Did you know?
Drovers' dogs walked cattle and sheep hundreds of miles to market, then often found their own way home.
Did you know?
Water dogs hauled fishing nets and lines for coastal fishermen, their thick coats built to shrug off the cold.