jˌʊɹɹəpˈiən bɹˈiːdɚz pˈeɪd lˈɪɾəl ɐtˈɛnʃən tə ðə dˈɑːɡz ɐpˈɪɹəns ʌntˈɪl ðə lˈeɪt sˈɪkstiːnθ sˈɛntʃɚɹi, wˌɛn pˈiːpəl ɪn ˌæɹɪstˈɑːkɹəsi bɪɡˈæn kˈiːpɪŋ ðˌɛm æz pˈɛts.
European breeders paid little attention to the dog's appearance until the late 16th century, when people in aristocracy began keeping them as pets.