According to J.A. Peters in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (1969), the earliest classification of dog breeds and types in the English language was published in 1486 and was allegedly based on one made some seventy or eighty years earlier. This classification included gaze-hounds, scent-hunters, bull-baiting animals, giant dogs (Mastiffs) and toys.
These types of dogs had clearly taken a long time to evolve and had been developed for a variety of purposes. The forerunner of the modern Saluki probably goes back to around 7000 B.C. and originated in the Mediterranean region. Some other among the sitehounds were developed from around 3000-4000 B.C. to chase game and, like the Saluki, came from the same general region.
Other hound types that use scent rather than sight to hunt are more recent. They developed in different places, with the Bloodhound probably the earliest of these. Elkhound ancestors were Viking dogs. The forerunners of the Rhodesian Ridgeback were native dogs of the South African veldt.
Ancient fighting or war dogs were probably the ancestors of the giant breeds like the English Mastiff and from these developed other large breeds like the Great Dane and Saint Bernard, possibly from Roman times. Functional breeds like terriers were of largely unknown ancestry but used for killing rats as well as "unearthing" other animals like fox and badger. They developed as small active animals and only in relatively modern times have they evolved (in some cases) into "exhibiting" animals, some with overlarge heads and rather lengthy bodies no longer suitable for their original tasks.
Many working breeds developed as herding dogs though sheep work has led to the development of two kinds of dog. Genuine herders like the Border Collie and the Kelpie developed in locations where predators were of minimal importance. In contrast, in central Europe livestock protection types were larger than herders. They were usually, though not inevitably, white and were produced to protect flocks against predators such as the wolf. Today, in many ot the western United States, predation, mainly from coyotes but also bears, mountain lions, bobcats and foxes can account for lamb losses approaching one million per year. Livestock protection breeds such as the Maremma, Anatolian Shepherd, Kuvasz and Great Pyrenees have been and are being successfully used to reduce these lamb losses.
Some breeds developed as tiny pets or child substitutes. The Chihuahua comes from dogs that lived in the ancient Mayan territories (now modern Mexico), the Pekingese from China and the Spitz types from ancient Arctic/Viking animals.
Many breeds now known as gun dog (Pointers, Setters, Spaniels and Retrievers) were formed in the early 1900s and show some more modern derivations into so-called distinct breeds while some European versions of the Pointer probably have hound ancestry.
Even before kennel clubs were established, specific breeds were known to exist and were classified into particular groups or categories. Modern classifications by kennel clubs vary according to club but usually comprise Gun Dogs, Hounds, Working, Terriers, Toys and so-called Utility or Non-Sporting. This classification used by the English Kennel Club is not always favored elsewhere (North America, for instance) where Working group is subdivided into two categories comprising pastoral (known as Herding) and guard and draft (known as Working) types. The Herding group comprises all sheep/cattle herding breeds while Working covers all other working types. A similar classification exists with the Federation Cynologique Internationale (FCI) which is the body governing most of the world outside the United Kingdom and North America. In this case the Working group is further subdivided to separate Mastiff types.