I have lately come across a so-called "Classification of British Dogges", compiled in the sixteenth century by someone called Dr Cains. They had mongrels in those days, too, but they described them as Rascall Dogges; there were Harriars and Tarriers, while what must have been Cockers were called, most fittingly, Spaniels Gentle or Comforters.
A breed that is not easy to distinguish from the rest "went by the name of `Mooners' - socalled", wrote Dr Cains, "because he doth nothing else but watch and ward, wasting the wearisome night season without slumbering or sleeping, but bawing and mawing at the moon - a quality in mine opinion, strange to consider."
"The Housekeeper Dogge" is quite a different affair, being "black-coloured and greatmouthed, and barking bigly that so he may terrifie the theefe both by day and night; for in the night his black skinne doth make him able to seize the theefe before he is discerned."
The Irish Times, May 23rd, 1940.