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Belton
In English setters, a coat pattern of white hairs mixed with
colored hairs.
Benched
show
A show that allows participating dogs to be viewed on assigned
benches when not competing.
Blaze
A white patch or stripe down the center of a dog's face,
usually extending from forehead to nose.
Breed
standards
Standardized descriptions defining a breed's ideal
characteristics. Used as guidelines by breeders and by dog
show judges.
Brindle
A coat pattern that features streaks or flecks of darker and
lighter colors, creating loosely formed stripes. Common in
many breeds and mixes.
Button
ears
Ears with flaps that fold forward so that their tips lie close
to the skull and cover the ear openings. Characteristic among
certain breeds such as pugs and Manchester terriers.
Cropping
The practice of surgically removing portions of a dog's ears
to make them stand erect. Illegal in some countries.
Crossbreed
The offspring of two different breeds of purebred dog.
Culotte
Long hair that grows on a dog's thighs.
Dewclaw
A digit, sometimes called the fifth claw, located high on the
inner side of a dog's front and hind paws.
Dewlap
Loose, pendulous skin that hangs under a dog's neck.
Characteristic among certain breeds such as mastiffs and
bloodhounds.
Docking
The practice of surgically removing part of a dog's tail.
Customary according to American breed standards for most
spaniels and terriers. Illegal in some countries.
Double
coat
A weather-resistant coat that has both a soft, insulating
undercoat and a coarse, protective outercoat. Characteristic
among certain breeds such as Newfoundlands and Great Pyrenees.
Estrous
The female reproductive cycle.
Estrus
The phase of the female reproductive cycle when the dog is
fertile (commonly called "heat").
Euthanasia
The use of deliberate medical means, usually lethal injection,
to cause death. Used to avoid suffering in sick and aging
pets, and to limit population of dogs in shelters.
Feathering
Fringes of hair on a dog's ears, tail, legs, and body.
Characteristic among retrievers and spaniels.
Grizzle
A fine mixture of gray or red hairs with white hairs. Common
in various terriers.
Harlequin
A coat pattern of white with black or gray patches.
Heat
See Estrus.
Heatstroke
A condition induced by prolonged exposure to heat that causes
extremely high body temperature and dehydration. Can result in
collapse, shock, and, in some cases, death.
Lure
coursing
An organized sport in which sight hounds chase an artificial
lure.
Marking
Canine method of attracting a mate or staking out territory by
urinating to deposit scent. See also Pheromones.
Mastiff
A type of dog characterized by a massive, muscular body and a
powerful head and jaw.
Merle
A coat pattern characterized by blotches of dark hair against
a background of lighter hair.
Mixed
breed
A dog with one or both parent's of mixed ancestry (nonpurebred).See
also Purebred.
Molossian
An ancient breed of massive and powerful guard and war dog,
forebear of today's mastiff.
Neuter
To render incapable of breeding by surgically removing
reproductive organs--the testes in males, the ovaries and
uterus in females ("spaying").
Nictitating
membrane
A thin protective membrane located at the inner corner of the
eye, beneath the lower eyelid. Also called the "third
eyelid."
Obedience
training
The process by which a dog is taught to follow commands and
behave obediently.
Outercoat
A dog's protective coat of coarse primary hairs. Also called
the "topcoat."
Particolor
A coat pattern featuring white with patches of color.
Pedigree
The record of a dog's ancestry. In purebred dogs, a
certificate of unmixed breeding.
Pet
clip
A simple grooming style for dogs that do not compete in shows.
See also Show coat.
Pheromones
Hormone-like chemical substances (found in a dog's urine) with
associated odors that trigger social and sexual responses in
dogs. See also Marking.
Pile
A dense undercoat of soft, fine fur.
Plume
A spray of soft, feathery hair on a dog's tail.
Prick
ears
Erect, pointed ears.
Primary
hairs
Strong, coarse hairs, also called "guard hairs,"
that make up a dog's protective outercoat.
Purebred
A dog of unmixed ancestry--that is, with both parents of the
same breed. See also Mixed breed.
Quarantine
A period of isolation imposed on animals brought to or from
foreign countries in order to prevent the spread of disease or
pests.
Roan
A coat pattern in which the base color (often red) is mixed
with white hairs and looks lightened or mottled.
Rose
ears
Small, creased ears that fold back to reveal the ear opening.
Secondary
hairs
The soft, fine hairs that surround the primary hairs and make
up a dog's dense, insulating undercoat.
Service
dog
A dog specially trained to assist a person that is physically
or mentally challenged.
Show
coat
An elaborate style of grooming a show dog's coat in accordance
with its particular breed standard.See also Pet clip.
Socialization
The process of acclimating a puppy to the company of humans
and other animals.
Spay
See Neuter.
Spitz-type
dog
A dog with features characteristic of the Northern breed
category, such as prick ears, a double coat, a bushy tail, and
a powerful body.
Third
eyelid
See Nictitating membrane.
Ticking
A coat pattern characterized by specks of black or another
color against a lighter background.
Topcoat
See Outercoat
Undercoat
The underlying layer of soft, smooth secondary hair that
insulates a dog's coat.
Vocalization
A dog's method of communicating through vocal sounds such as
barking, growling, howling, and whining.
Whelping
Giving birth.
Wirehaired
A coat in which an abundance of coarse primary hairs gives it
a "wiry" look and texture.
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Glossary
