Our thanks to the AKC for permission to use portions of their Glossary
Acetabulum - The concave lateral portion of the sacrum that articulates with the head of the femur. Anatomically important in evaluating hip dysplasia.
Achondroplasia - A form of genetic dwarfism specifically characterized by arrested development of the long bones. A defect in most breeds and a requisite in others (e.g., Dachshunds and Basset Hounds).
Albino - A relatively rare, genetically recessive condition resulting in white hair and pink eyes.
Almond eyes - An elongated eye shape, rather than rounded.
Amble - A relaxed, easy gait in which the legs on either side move almost, but not quite, as a pair. Often seen as the transition movement between the walk and other gaits.
American Kennel Club (AKC) - An organization, established under the laws of the State of New York, whose goals are to adopt and enforce uniform rules regulating and governing dog shows and field trials; to regulate the conduct of persons interested in exhibiting, running, breeding, registering, purchasing, and selling dogs; to detect, prevent, and punish frauds in connection therewith; to protect the interest of its members; to maintain and publish an official stud book and an official gazette; and generally to do everything to advance the study, breeding, exhibiting, running, and maintenance of the purity of purebred dogs.
Angulation - Angles created by bones meeting at their given joints.
Ankle - See hock.
Ankylosis - Abnormal immobility and fusion of a joint. Noted as cause of faulty tails in the German Shepherd dog standard.
Anterior - The front assembly of the body.
Apple head - A round-shaped skull.
Arm - The anatomical region between the shoulder and the elbow. Sometimes called the upper arm.
Articulation - Where two or more bones meet.
Back - The area of a dog's body extending from the withers to the croup.
Bad mouth - Crooked teeth; when the mouth is closed, upper and lower teeth do not line up according to the standard of the breed.
Balance - When all the parts of the dog, moving or standing, produce a harmonious image.
Bandy legs - Legs that bend outward.
Barrel - A rib region that is round in cross section.
Barrel hocks - Hocks that turn out, causing the feet to toe in. Also called spread hocks.
Bat ear - An ear that stands up, with a broad base, rounded at the top, with opening facing forward.
Bay The prolonged bark or voice of a hunting hound.
Beady - Eyes that are small, round, and glittering, imparting an expression foreign to the breed.
Beefy - Over-heavy development of the hindquarters.
Belly - The under surface of the abdomen.
Best in Show - At an All-Breed show, the only dog left undefeated at the end of all judging on that day.
Best of Breed - Dog selected by the judge as the best representative of a particular breed on that day.
Best of Opposite Sex - The best dog that is of the opposite sex to the Best of Breed winner.
Best of Variety - At an All-Breed show, the award that is given in lieu of Best of Breed for those breeds divided by varieties. At specialty shows, the Best of Variety winners are judged in the Best of Breed competition. There are nine breeds that are divided into varieties: Cockers, Beagles, Collies, Dachshunds, Bull Terriers, Manchester Terriers, Chihuahuas, English Toy Spaniels, and Poodles.
Best of Winners - The dog judged as best between the Winners Dog and Winners Bitch.
Bitch - A female dog.
Bite - The relative position of the upper and lower teeth when the jaws are closed. Bite positions include scissors, level, undershot, or overshot, depending on the breed.
Blanket - The color of the coat on the back and upper part of the sides, between the neck and the tail.
Blaze - A white stripe running up the center of the face usually between the eyes.
Blocky - Square or cube-like formation of the head.
Blooded - A dog of good breeding; pedigreed.
Blue Gray - Color definitions may vary by breed. Always check the breed standard for the definitive color description.
Bodied up - Mature, well-developed.
Body length - Distance from the prosternum (front portion of the breastbone) to the posterior portion of the pelvic girdle.
Bossy Over-development of the shoulder muscles.
Brace
(1) Two of the same breed presented together as a pair.
(2) Performance: To run dogs together in certain types of field events.
Break - Term used to describe changing of coat color from puppies to adult stages.
Breastbone - See sternum.
Breed - A domestic race of dogs (selected and maintained by man) with a common gene pool and characterized appearance and function.
Breed standard - A word picture describing how the perfect dog of a breed should look, move, and behave. The breed standard is owned by the parent club, with full use extended to the AKC.
Breeder - A person who breeds dogs. Under AKC rules, the breeder is the owner or the lessee of the dam on the date of mating that produced a litter.
Brick-shaped - Rectangular.
Brindle - A marking pattern used to describe many breeds, usually in conjunction with another color. Layering of black hairs in regions of lighter color (usually, fawn, brown, or gray) producing a tiger-striped pattern. Brindle is often used to describe Great Danes, Bulldogs, and Boxers. This color is not recognized by the AKC.
Brisket - Usually refers to the sternum, but in some standards it refers to the entire thorax.
Broken color - Self-color broken by white or another color. Color definitions may vary by breed. Always check the breed standard for the definitive color description.
Brood bitch - Female dog (bitch) used for breeding.
Brood bitch class - Class where a brood bitch is shown and judged with at least two of her offspring. Judging is based on the quality of the get, not the dam. (A club may permit more offspring to be shown. The upper limit must be stated in the Premium List.)
Brows - The ridges formed above the eyes by frontal bone contours.
Brushing - A gaiting fault, when parallel pasterns are so close that the legs brush in passing.
Bull neck - A heavy neck, well-muscled.
Burr - The inside of the ear; i.e., the irregular formation visible within the cup.
Butterfly - A partially unpigmented nose; i.e., dark, spotted with flesh color.
Buttocks - The rump or hips.
Button ear - A small, neat ear with the flap folding forward, covering the opening of the ear.
C.K.C. - Canadian Kennel Club
Camel back - An arched back.
Canadian Kennel Club - The recognized registry organization for purebred dogs in Canada.
Canid - A family (Canidae) of carnivorous animals including dogs, wolves, coyotes, foxes, and jackals.
Canine Eye Registry Foundation (CERF) - CERF maintains a registry of genetic eye diseases in dogs by cooperating with canine eye specialists, who certify that dogs are free of specific eye problems for one year from the date of the examination.
Canine Good Citizen (CGC) - Outreach program, put on by a club, which tests a dog's behavior.
Canines - The two upper and two lower large, conical, pointed teeth lateral to the incisors and anterior to the premolars.
Canter - A gait with three beats to each stride, two legs moving separately and two as a diagonal pair. Slower than the gallop and not as tiring.
Cap - Darkly shaded color pattern on the skull of some breeds.
Carpals - Bones of the wrist.
Castrate - To remove the testicles of a male dog.
Cat foot - Neat, round foot, with high-arched toes held closely together.
CERF - Canine Eye Registry Foundation.
Certificate - Document issued to individual (a) who has submitted a properly completed registration or dog transfer application or (b) whose dog has won a performance award.
Chain of title - The complete sequence of ownership of a dog, including the date of transfer from litter owner (L/O) or recorded owner (R/O) to the new owner (N/O).
Champion (Ch.) - A title conferred on a dog by the AKC as a result of defeating a specified number of dogs in specified competition at a series of AKC licensed or member dog shows.
Character - Expression, individuality, and general appearance and deportment as considered typical of a breed.
Cheeky - Cheeks prominently rounded; thick, protruding.
Chest - The part of the body or trunk that is enclosed by the ribs.
China eye - A clear or spotted blue, light blue, or whitish eye.
Chiseled - Clean-cut in head, as contrasted with bumpy or bulging outlines, particularly beneath the eyes.
Chops - Jowls or pendulous flesh of the lips and jaw.
Chorea - A nervous jerking caused by involuntary contractions of the muscles (may be caused by distemper and/or hepatitis).
Clipping - When pertaining to gait, the back foot striking the front foot.
Cloddy - Low, thickset, comparatively heavy.
Coarse - Lacking refinement.
Coat - The dog's hair covering. Most breeds have two coats: an outer coat and an undercoat.
Collar
(1) The markings around the neck, usually white.
(2) A leather, nylon, or chain neck band for restraining or leading a dog when the leash is attached.
Compact - Term used to describe the firmly joined union of various body parts. Also used to describe a short- to medium-length coat, very close lying, with a dense undercoat and giving a smooth outline.
Companion Animal Recovery (CAR) - A national database in which any companion animal with a form of positive identification, such as a microchip or tattoo, can be enrolled.
Condition - Health as shown by the coat, skin, general appearance, and behavior.
Conformation - The form and structure, make and shape; arrangement of the parts in conformance with breed standards.
Conformation show - Dog show where the dogs are judged on how closely they adhere to the breeds standard. Also known as All-Breed, Group, or Specialty shows.
Congenital - Present at birth; may have genetic or environmental causes.
Corky - Active, lively, alert.
Coupling - The part of the body between the ribs and the pelvis/hindquarters; the loin.
Coursing - The sport of chasing prey with Sighthounds.
Covering ground - The distance traveled by a dog with each stride as it gaits.
Cow-hocked - Hocks turning in, accompanied by toeing out of rear feet.
Crabbing Dog - moves with its body at an angle to the line of travel. Also called sidewinding.
Crank tail - A tail carried down and resembling a crank in shape.
Crate - Portable container used for shipping, transporting, or housing dogs. Also called cage or kennel.
Cream - Used to describe many breeds, this color is a lowly saturated, light-to-medium yellow. Often, it has just a little more color than white. Color definitions may vary by breed. Always check the breed standard for the definitive color description.
Crest - The upper, arched portion of the neck.
Cropping, Crop - The cutting or trimming of ear leather to encourage it to stand erect.
Crown - The top part of the head; the topskull.
Cryptorchid - The adult whose testicles are abnormally retained in the abdominal cavity. Bilateral cryptorchidism involves both sides; i.e., neither testicle has descended into the scrotum. Unilateral cryptorchidism (also called monorchid) involves one side only; i.e., one testicle is retained or hidden, and one is descended.
Dam - The female parent.
Date of mating - Date of sexual coupling of the dog and bitch.
Date of whelping - Date of birth.
Dentition - Forty-two adult teeth, including incisors, canines, premolars, and molars.
Depth of chest - An indication of the volume of space for heart and lungs, and commonly referenced to the elbow (i.e., above, at the level of, or below).
Dewclaw - An extra claw on the inside of the leg; a rudimentary fifth toe, removed on most breeds.
Diagonals - Right front and left rear legs constitute the right diagonal; left front and right rear legs constitute the left diagonal. In the trot, the diagonals move together.
Digit - Toe.
Divergent hocks - Hocks that turn out. Barrel hocks.
DNA - A unique genetic makeup. DNA testing is done to prove the actual parentage of an animal.
DNA test - A test to determine identity. The AKC has used this test to determine paternity. Permission must be obtained from the AKC Board for testing, and the testing must be conducted by an AKC-approved facility.
Dog - Male dog or term used to refer generically to all dogs, male or female.
Domed - Evenly rounded in topskull; curved, not flat.
Down in pastern - Weak or faulty pastern set at an incorrect angle.
Down-faced - The muzzle inclining downwards from the skull to the tip of the nose.
Drive - A solid thrusting of the hindquarters, denoting sound locomotion.
Drop ear - The ear leather folds over; not erect or prick ears.
Dry neck - The skin taut, neither loose nor wrinkled.
Dudley nose - Flesh-colored.
Ears - The auditory organ, consisting of three regions: inner ear, middle ear, and the most important pinna (or leather), which is supported by cartilage and which affects the expression of all breeds.
East-west front - Incorrect positioning that causes the feet to turn outwards.
Elbow - The posterior region of the articulation between the arm and forearm.
Elbows out - Turning out or off from the body; not held close.
Entire - A dog whose reproductive system is complete.
Entropion - A complex genetic condition that results in the turning in of the upper or lower eyelid, potentially resulting in corneal ulceration.
Even bite - Meeting of upper and lower incisors with no overlap. Also called level bite.
Ewe neck - A neck in which the topline is concave rather than convex.
Exercise pen, ex pen - A portable enclosure that allows dogs to exercise while at dog shows.
Expression - The general appearance of all the features of the head.
Eyeteeth - The upper canines.
Fangs - See canines.
Fawn - A brown, red-yellow with hue of medium brilliance. Color definitions may vary by breed. Always check the breed standard for the definitive color description.
Femur - Thigh bone. Extends from hip to stifle.
Fibula - One of the two bones of the leg (i.e., the lower thigh, second thigh, or lower leg).
Fiddle front - Forelegs out at elbows, pasterns close, and feet turned out. French front.
Filled-up face - Smooth facial contours, free of excessive muscular development.
Finished - Term used to describe when a dog has completed its title requirements.
Fixed
(1) See neuter.
(2) Surgical procedure that permanently changes the carriage of the tail or ears. Such a procedure renders a dog ineligible to compete in AKC Conformation events.
Flag – A long tail carried high. Feathering on the tail.
Flank – The side of the body between the last rib and the hip.
Flare - A blaze that widens as it approaches the topskull.
Flat-sided - Ribs insufficiently rounded as they approach the sternum or breastbone.
Flews - Upper lip pendulous, particularly at their inner corners.
Floating rib - The last (or 13th rib), which is unattached to the other ribs.
Flying ears - Any characteristic drop ears or semi-prick ears that stand or fly.
Flying trot - A fast gait in which all four feet are off the ground for a brief second during each half stride. Because of the long reach, the oncoming hind feet step beyond the imprint left by the front. Also called suspension trot.
Forearm - The portion of the forelimb between the arm and the wrist.
Foreface - The front portion of the skull that articulates with the cranium.
Forequarters - The combined front assembly from its uppermost component, the shoulder blade, down to the feet.
Foundation stock - The first generation of a particular breed registered with the AKC.
Foxy - Sharp expression; pointed nose with short foreface.
French choke, martingale - Examples of choke collars. See training collar.
French front - See fiddle front.
Frill - See apron.
Fringes - See feathering.
Frogface - Extending nose accompanied by a receding jaw, usually overshot.
Front - The forepart of the body as viewed head-on; i.e., forelegs, chest, brisket, and shoulder line.
Frontal bones - The anterior bones of the cranium forming the forehead.
Furrow A slight indentation of median line down the center of the skull to the stop.
Gait - The pattern of footsteps at various rates of speed, each pattern distinguished by a particular rhythm and footfall.
Gallop - Fastest of dog gaits; has a four-beat rhythm and often an extra period of suspension during which the body is propelled through the air with all four feet off the ground.
Gaskin - The lower or second thigh.
Gay tail - A tail carried above the horizontal level of the back.
Gazehound - See Sighthound.
Genealogy - Recorded family descent. Pedigree.
Gestation Period - The time between mating and birth (it averages 63 days).
Get - Offspring.
Goose neck - An elongated, tubular-shaped neck. Also called swan neck.
Goose rump - Too steep or sloping a croup.
Goose step - Accentuated lift of the forelimbs.
Hackles - Hairs on neck and back raised involuntarily in fright or anger.
Hackney action - A high lifting of the front feet accompanied by flexing of the wrist like that of a hackney horse.
Hare foot - Foot on which the two center digits are appreciably longer than the outside and inside toes of the foot, and the arching of the toes is less marked, making the foot appear longer overall.
Haunch bones - The hip bones.
Head - The front portion of the dog, including the muzzle and the cranium.
Head planes - Viewed in profile, the contours of the top portion of the skull from occiput to stop, and the foreface from stop to tip of the nose.
Heat
(1) Seasonal period of the female. Estrus, in season.
(2) Performance: A competitive running of dogs.
Heel - Command to a dog to keep close beside its handler.
Height - Vertical measurement from the withers to the ground; usually called shoulder height.
High standing - Tall and upstanding, with plenty of leg.
Hindquarters - Rear assembly of the dog (pelvis, thighs, hocks, and paws).
Hip Dysplasia - Abnormal formation of the hip joint.
Hock - The collection of bones of the hind leg forming the joint between the second thigh and the metatarsus; the dog's true heel.
Hocking out - Spread hocks.
Hocks well let down - Hock joints close to the ground.
Hucklebones - Top of the hipbones.
Humerus - The bone of the arm (i.e., the upper arm).
Hunting tests - Non-competitive field events for flushing breeds, retrieving breeds, and pointing breeds.
Identification - On-dog system whereby a dog may be identified to a record; i.e., microchip or tattoo.
In whelp - Pregnant.
Inbreeding - The mating of two closely related dogs of the same breed.
Incisors - The six upper and six lower front teeth between the canines. The point of contact forms the bite.
Interbreeding - The breeding together of dogs of different breeds.
Iris - The colored membrane surrounding the pupil of the eye.
Jowls - Flesh of the lips and jaws.
Keel - The rounded outline of the lower chest.
Kennel name - Registered or protected name used in a dog's registered name. Also called prefix.
Kink tail - A deformity of the caudal vertebrae producing a bent tail.
Knee - See stifle.
Knee joint - See stifle.
Kneecap - The stifle, with the bone known as the patella.
Knuckling over - Faulty structure of wrist joint allowing it to flex forward under the weight of the standing dog.
Lame - Irregularity or impairment of locomotion.
Lateral - Pertaining to the side.
Layback - The angle of the shoulder blade as compared with the vertical plane viewed from the side.
Layon - The angle of the shoulder blade as compared with the vertical plane viewed from the front.
Lead - A strap, cord, or chain attached to the collar or harness, or sometimes simply around the neck, for the purpose of restraining or leading the dog. Also called leash.
Leather - The flap of the ear; the outer ear supported by cartilage and surrounding tissue.
Level bite - When the front teeth (incisors) of the upper and lower jaws meet exactly edge to edge. Also called pincer bite, equal bite, or even bite.
Level gait - Dog moves without rise or fall of withers.
Line breeding - The practice of mating a dog to a member of an earlier generation of the dog's bloodline.
Lippy - Pendulous lips or lips that do not fit tightly.
Litter - The puppy or puppies of one whelping.
Loaded shoulders - Excessive development of the muscles associated with the shoulder blades.
Loin - The region of the body associated with the lumbar portions of the vertebrae column (i.e., behind the ribs and in front of the pelvic girdle).
Loose slung - Construction in which the attachment of the muscles at the shoulders is looser than desirable.
Lower thigh - See second thigh.
Lumbar vertebrae - The seven vertebrae of the loin region.
Lumbering - An awkward gait.
Lurcher - A crossbred hound.
Luxation - Dislocation of an anatomical structure.
Mandible - The bone of the lower jaw.
Mantle - Dark-shaded portion of the coat on shoulders, back, and sides.
Manubrium - The first sternabra of the chest.
Markings - Contrasting color or pattern in a dog's coat.
Mask - Dark shading on the foreface.
Mate - To breed a dog and bitch.
Measure out - Measured height at withers was determined to be outside the limits for that breed as set forth in the breed standard.
Medial - Toward the mid-line of the dog.
Median line - See furrow.
Metatarsus - Rear pastern.
Microchip - A rice-sized device encoded with a unique and unalterable number. The chip is implanted just under the skin in the scruff of the neck and is read by a scanner.
Milk teeth - First teeth. Also called baby teeth.
Mismark
(1) Coat or color.
(2) A dog that has coat coloration or markings not conforming to that which is acceptable for the breed.
Molars - The posterior teeth of the dental arcade, with two on each side in the upper jaw and three on each side in the lower jaw in an adult with correct dentition.
Molera - Incomplete, imperfect, or abnormal ossification of the skull.
Mongrel - See crossbred.
Monorchid - A dog that has one testicle retained or hidden in its abdominal cavity. See cryptorchid.
Mottled - Pattern of dark roundish blotches on a lighter background. Color definitions may vary by breed. Always check the breed standard for the definitive color description.
Move - To gait a dog in a pattern prescribed by the judge.
Muzzle
(1) The head in front of the eyes: nasal bone, nostrils, and jaws. Foreface.
(2) A strap or wire cage attached to the foreface to prevent the dog from biting or from picking up food.
Muzzle band - White marking around the muzzle.
Neck well set-on - Good neckline, merging gradually with withers, forming a pleasing transition into topline.
Neuter - To castrate or spay.
Nick - A breeding that produces desirable puppies.
Nose
(1) Organ of olfaction.
(2) The ability to detect by means of scent.
Oblique shoulders - Shoulders well laid back.
Obliquely placed eyes - Eyes with outer corners higher than their inner ones.
Occipital protuberance - A prominently raised occiput characteristic of some sporting and hound breeds.
Occiput - Dorsal, posterior point of the skull.
Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) - Organization, established in 1966, that developed and maintains a registry of hip dysplasia in dogs. Dogs with OFA numbers are rated and certified free of canine hip dysplasia. This rating applies for the life of the dog.
Out at the elbows - Elbows turning out from the body as opposed to being held close.
Out at the shoulders - With shoulder blades loosely attached to the body, leaving the shoulders jutting out in relief and increasing the breadth of the front.
Oval chest - Chest deeper than wide.
Overhang - A heavy or pronounced brow.
Overreaching - Fault in the trot caused by more angulation and drive from behind than in front so that the rear feet are forced to step to one side of the forefeet to avoid interfering or clipping.
Overshot - The incisors of the upper jaw projecting beyond the incisors of the lower jaw, thus resulting in a space between the respective inner and outer surfaces.
Pads - Tough, shock-absorbing projections on the underside of the feet. Soles.
Paper foot - A flat foot with thin pads.
Pedigree - The written record of a dog's genealogy of three generations or more.
Pelvis - Hip bones, each consisting of three fused bones: an anterior ilium, a ventral pubis, and a posterior ischium; combined with the sacrum forming the pelvic girdle.
Pen breeding - Unwitnessed mating that occurred because the sire and dam were confined to the same area.
Piebald - Covered with patches of two colors, especially black and white. Color definitions may vary by breed. Always check the breed standard for the definitive color description.
Pied - Patches of white and another color. Color definitions may vary by breed. Always check the breed standard for the definitive color description.
Pig eyes - Eyes set too close.
Pig jaw - See overshot.
Pigeon-breast - A narrow chest with a protruding breastbone.
Pigeon-toed - Toes pointing in toward the mid-line.
Pincer bite - See level bite.
Planes - See head planes.
Plume
(1) A long fringe of hair on the tail.
(2) Carrying the tail plume-like over the back.
Points
(1) Color on face, ears, legs, and tail when correlated; usually white, black, or tan.
(2) In events, credits toward championship status.
Posterior - The portion of the dog carried toward the rear during normal locomotion.
Prick ear - Ear carried erect, usually pointed at the tip.
Pump handle - Long tail, carried high.
Puppy - A dog under 12 months of age.
Put down
(1) To prepare a dog for the show ring.
(2) A dog unplaced in competition.
(3) To euthanatize a dog.
Racy - Tall, of comparatively slight build.
Radius - One of the two bones of the forearm.
Ragged - Muscles appear ragged rather than smooth.
Rangy - Tall, long in body, high on leg, light-framed; gangly.
Rat tail - The root thick and covered with soft curls; at the tip devoid of hair, or having the appearance of being clipped.
Reach of front - Length of forward stride taken by forelegs.
Rear pastern - The metatarsus; the region of the hindquarters between the hock and the foot.
Registered name - The name, selected by the customer, assigned to a dog at the time the Dog Registration Application is processed.
Registration certificate The document issued by the AKC to the owner of a dog when it is individually registered or transferred to a new owner.
Registration number - Unique number assigned to a dog when it is individually registered. Under the current registration system, this number is the litter number plus a slash mark (/) and a two-digit number.
Rib cage - The collection of paired ribs, cartilage, sternum, and associated tissue that define the thoracic region.
Ribbed up - Long ribs that angle back from the spinal column. A reference to a long rib cage.
Rolling gait - Swaying, ambling action of the hindquarters when moving.
Rose ear - A small drop ear that folds over and back so as to reveal the burr.
Rudder - The tail or stern.
Sacrum - The region of the vertebral column that consists of three fused vertebrae that articulate the pelvic girdle.
Saddle - Markings in the shape of a saddle over the back. Color definitions may vary by breed. Always check the breed standard for the definitive color description.
Saddle back - Overlong back, with a dip behind the withers.
Scissors bite - A bite in which the outer side of the lower incisors touches the inner side of the upper incisors.
Seal - This color appears black except that it has a red cast when viewed in the sun or bright light. Color definitions may vary by breed.
Second thigh - That part of the hindquarters from the stifle to the hock, corresponding to the human shin and calf. Lower thigh, including the tibia and fibula.
Semi-prick ears - Ears carried erect with just the tips leaning forward.
Septum - The line extending vertically between the nostrils.
Sighthound - A hound that runs or courses game by sight rather than scent.
Sire - The male parent.
Slew feet - Feet turned out.
Sloping shoulder - The shoulder blade set obliquely or laid back.
Spay - To remove a bitch's ovaries to prevent conception.
Speak - To bark.
Spectacles - Shadings or dark markings over or around the eyes or from eyes to ears.
Spike tail - Straight, short tail that tapers rapidly along its length.
Splashed - Irregularly patched, color on white or white on color.
Splayfoot - A flat foot with toes spreading. Open foot, open-toed.
Spring - See flush.
Stack (setup, pose) - The posing of a dog in a natural position.
Stance - Manner of standing.
Standard - See breed standard.
Sternum - Breastbone.
Stifle - The joint of the hind leg between the thigh and the second thigh. The dog's knee.
Stilted - The choppy, up-and-down gait of the straight-hocked dog.
Stop - The step up from muzzle to back skull; indentation between the eyes where the nasal bones and cranium meet.
Straight in pastern - Little or no bend at the wrist.
Straight shoulders - The shoulder blades rather straight up and down, as opposed to sloping or well laid back.
Straight-hocked - Lacking appreciable angulation at the hock joints.
Stud dog - A male dog used for breeding purposes.
Substance - Bone.
Swayback - Concave curvature of the vertebrae column between the withers and the hipbones.
Tattoo - A method of on-dog identification.
Testicles - The male gonads, which produce spermatoza. AKC regulations specify that a male that does not have two normal testicles normally located in the scrotum may not compete at any show and will be disqualified, except that a castrated male may be entered in obedience trials, tracking tests, field trials (except beagles), and as a stud dog in a stud dog class.
Thigh - The hindquarter from hip to stifle.
Thoracic vertebrae - The thirteen vertebrae of the chest with which thirteen pairs of ribs articulate.
Thumb marks - Black spots on the region of the pastern.
Tibia - One of the two bones of the leg (i.e., the lower thigh, second thigh, or lower leg).
Ticked - Small, isolated areas (smaller than spots) of black or colored hairs on a white background. Color definitions may vary by breed. Always check the breed standard for the definitive color description.
Tied at the elbows - See paddling.
Topline - The dog's outline from just behind the withers to the tail set.
Toy group - Group of dogs bred to be companions or lap dogs.
Trot - A rhythmic two-beat diagonal gait in which the feet at diagonal opposite ends of the body strike the ground together; i.e., right hind with left front and left hind with right front.
Trumpet - The slight depression or hollow on either side of the skull just behind the orbit or eye socket; the region comparable with the temple in man.
Tuck-up - Characterized by markedly shallower body depth at the loin. Small-waisted.
Tulip ear - An ear carried erect with edges curving in and forward.
Turn-up - An up-tilted foreface.
Type - Sum of qualities that distinguish dogs of one breed (breed type) or dogs from one kennel (kennel type) from others.
Ulna - One of the two bones of the forearm.
Undercoat - Dense, soft, short coat concealed by a longer top coat.
Underline - The combined contours of the brisket and the abdominal floor.
Undershot - The front teeth (incisors) of the lower jaw overlapping or projecting beyond the front teeth of the upper jaw when the mouth is closed.
Upper arm - The humerus or bone of the foreleg, between the shoulder blade and the forearm and associated tissues.
Vent - The anal opening.
Vertebral column - The bones of the central axis of the dog posterior to the skull, including cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral, and caudal vertebrae.
Walk - Gaiting pattern in which three legs are in support of the body at all times, each foot lifting from the ground one at a time in regular sequence.
Walleye - An eye with a whitish iris; a blue eye, fisheye, pearl eye.
Weedy - An insufficient amount of bone; light boned.
Well let down - Having short hocks; refers to short metatarsals.
Wheel back - A marked arch of the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae.
Whelp date - The date of birth of a litter.
Whelping - The act of birthing puppies.
Whip tail - Carried out stiffly straight and pointed.
Whiskers - Vibrissae or sensory organs (hairs) on the sides of the muzzle.
Wicket - Device used to measure the height of a dog at the withers.
Winners - An award given at dog shows to the best dog (Winners Dog) and best bitch (Winners Bitch) competing in regular classes.
Winners class - A regular class divided by sex, with each division open to dogs of the same sex that have won first prizes in either the Puppy, Twelve-to-Eighteen month, Novice, Bred-by-Exhibitor, American-Bred or Open classes.
Withers - Highest point of a dog's shoulders.
Xiphoid process - Cartilage process of the sternum.
Zygomatic arch - A bony ridge extending posteriorly (and laterally) from beneath the eye orbit.
Glossary
