Brief History of Medieval to Victorian era
Many breeds emerged from specific occupations and regional needs. For example, the Old English Sheepdog was bred for herding cattle and sheep,
with its shaggy coat and rolling gait suited to rural life (moaph.org). The Shetland Sheepdog developed in the Shetland Islands to protect sheep from
predators and keep them away from crops in areas without fencing (moaph.org). The Bullmastiff, the only true guardian breed created in Britain in
recent centuries, was developed in the Victorian era from mastiffs and English bulldogs to deter poachers (moaph.org).