25,000 – 40,000 years ago Dogs are domesticated from the ancestors of modern wolves.
5,000–10,000 years ago Dogs are already specialised, with hunting dogs (similar to modern-day salukis), mastiffs, terriers, pack dogs and lap dogs.
420–1066 CE Early mediaeval dogs are bigger than Roman dogs at 60cm (23in) tall, but also less varied. Most dogs have a role: guarding, herding, hunting, fighting or sitting on laps.
476 CE to approx. 1450 Mediaeval hounds are specialised: wolfhounds, deerhounds, foxhounds, etc. (not necessarily related to modern dogs).
Mid-16th to mid-19th century The turnspit dog is used in kitchens to run in a wheel and turn a spit to roast meat. The invention of the mechanical roasting jack eventually leads to the end of this breed.
1800s Free-roaming dogs are an issue in…