Their robust build made them ideal for the brutal sport of bullbaiting, in which a pack of dogs would face off against a pinned bull.
After bulldogs were banned from legal dog fighting in the 1800s, they were utilized in underground bouts.
The English hunters of the 1500s used both large hounds for chasing down deer and smaller hounds for pursuing down rabbits.
American beagle was developed to hunt rabbits, but the English chose a larger type for fox hunting.
The origins of the Yorkshire terrier may be traced back to the 1800s in the counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire, both of which are located in England.
To rid buildings like textile factories and coal mines of rodents, early Yorkies were put to work.
Oversized canines called "springers" were employed to "spring" birds and other wildlife out of cover so that hunters could capture them.
England finally recognized the English springer spaniel in 1902. The modern version of this breed is just as great a hunter as before.
Born alongside larger springer spaniels, early English cocker spaniels shared their litters with other breeds.
The diminutive species got its name because of its penchant for pursuing woodcock.
The original home of Airedale terriers was the Northern English valley of the same name.
Large terriers were raised in the 1800s by industrial and mill workers to be intelligent, hardy, and brave hunters.