Breed standards for domestic animals, including horses, dogs, cattle and sheep breeds, have been around since the mid 1800's. Standards initially came about as a list of traits which separated one breed from another. The earliest standards were based on existing animals believed to be exemplary for their breed--the standards were written based on the appearance of existing animals of that strain or breed, NOT on some preconceived ideal of what that breed should look like. 

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In the time the first dog breed standards were written, dogs were working animals. Of the 12 breeds shown at the first dog shows in England and the first 12 dogs recognized as "breeds" by the English Kennel Club,