Abdomen The belly or under surfa

Abdomen The belly or under surface between the chest and the hindquarters.

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).

Action A term used to describe component functions of locomotion (e.g., action of the hocks) or as a synonym for gait in some standards.

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 faster gaits.

Angulation Angles created by bones meeting at their given joints.

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.

Apron Longer hair below the neck on the chest; also called the frill.

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.

Bait The food or object that an exhibitor uses to get a dog's attention or to have it look alert in the ring. The term bait or baiting can also be used to describe the action of getting the dog's attention using food or an object.

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.

Beady Eyes that are small, round, and glittering, imparting an expression foreign to the breed.

Beard Thick, long hair growth on the underjaw.

Beefy Over-heavy development of the hindquarters.

Belly The under surface of the abdomen.

Belton A color pattern in English Setters (named after a village in England) of light or dark ticking or roaning. Colors include: blue belton (black and white), orange belton (orange and white), lemon belton (lemon and white), and liver belton (liver and white). Color definitions may vary by breed. Always check the breed standard for the definitive color description.

Best in 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.

Bitch A female canine.

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.

Blaze A white stripe running up the center of the face usually between the eyes.

Blocky Square or cube-like formation of the head.

Blue merle A color pattern of black blotches or streaks on a blue-gray background. Color definitions may vary by breed. Always check the breed standard for the definitive color description. See Merle.

Board To feed, house, and care for a dog for a fee.

Bobtail A dog born without a tail, or a dog with a tail docked very short. Often used as a name for the Old English Sheepdog.

Bodied up Mature, well-developed.

Body length Distance from the prosternum (front portion of the breastbone) to the posterior portion of the pelvic girdle.

Bone A type of connective tissue that forms the canine skeleton. Informally used to suggest a quantitative characteristic of limb bones in proportion to the overall size of the dog.

Bossy Over-development of the shoulder muscles.

Brace Two of the same breed presented together as a pair

Breeching Fringing of longish hair at the back borders of the thigh regions.

Breed A domestic race of dogs (selected and maintained by man) with a common gene pool and characterized appearance and function.

Breed standards The set of breed descriptions originally laid down by the various parent breed clubs and accepted officiallyby international bodies .

Breeding particulars Sire, dam, date of birth, sex, color, etc.

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. In Boxers, reverse brindle may occur; i.e., there is such a heavy concentration of black striping that the fawn background color barely, although clearly, shows through (appears black with fawn stripes). Color definitions may vary by breed. Always check the breed standard for the definitive color description.

Brisket Usually refers to the sternum, but in some standards it refers to the entire thorax.

Broker An individual or kennel that appears in the chain of title for a dog and whose business operations largely consist of buying and selling dogs.

Brood bitch Female dog (bitch) used for breeding.

Brush A bushy tail; a tail heavy with hair.

Brushing A gaiting fault, when parallel pasterns are so close that the legs brush in passing.

Buff Off-white to gold. Color definitions may vary by breed. Always check the breed standard for the definitive color description.

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.

Camel back An arched back.

Canid A family (Canidae) of carnivorous animals including dogs, wolves, coyotes, foxes, and jackals.

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.

Cape Long, thick hair covering the shoulders.

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.

Catalog Booklet sold at an event that contains information on individual dogs entered in the event.

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.

Chippendale front Forelegs out at the elbows, pasterns close, and feet turned out. Named after the Chippendale chair. Also called fiddle front.

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 or hepatitis).

Cinnamon Usually used to describe Chow Chows. Like the color or the spice of the same name, this color is a lightly saturated, yellowish brown. Color definitions may vary by breed. Always check the breed standard for the definitive color description.

Clip The method of trimming the coat in some breeds.

Clipping When pertaining to gait, the back foot striking the front foot.

Cloddy Low, thickset, comparatively heavy.

Close-coupled Comparatively short from the last rib to the commencement of the hindquarters; occasionally used to characterize a comparative shortness from withers to hipbones.

Closing date Month, day, year, and time after which no entry can be accepted for a particular event.

Coarse Lacking refinement.

Coat The dog's hair covering. Most breeds have two coats: an outer coat and an undercoat.

Cobby Compact, with a short body.

Collar The markings around the neck, usually white.

Compact Term used to describe the firmly joined union of various body parts.

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.

Congenital Present at birth; may have genetic or environmental causes.

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.

Crossbred A dog whose sire and dam are representatives of two different breeds.

Crossing over Unsound gaiting action that starts with twisting elbows and ends with crisscrossing and toeing out. Also called knitting and purling and weaving.

Croup The region of the pelvic girdle, formed by the sacrum and surrounding tissue.

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.

Culotte The longer hair on the back of the thighs.

Cushion Fullness or thickness of the upper lips. (Pekingnese)

Cynology The study of canines.

Dam The female parent.

Dapple A mottled or variegated coat color pattern. Single dapple is expressed as lighter color areas contrasting with the darker base color, which may be acceptable color. Looks like the merle effect in Shelties, Collies, etc., except that it is found in Dachshunds. Color definitions may vary by breed. Always check the breed standard for the definitive color description.

Date of whelping Date of birth.

Deadgrass Tan or dull straw color. Color definitions may vary by breed. Always check the breed standard for the definitive color description.

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

Dewlap Loose, pendulous skin under the throat and neck.

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.

Dish-faced A slight concaveness of foreface when viewed in profile.

Dishing Weaving.

Divergent hocks Hocks that turn out. Barrel hocks.

DNA A unique genetic makeup. DNA testing is done to prove the actual parentage and/or identity of an animal.

DNA test A test to determine identity and/or verify parentage.

Dock To shorten the tail by cutting.

Dog A male canine or term used to refer generically to all canines, male or female.

Domed Evenly rounded in topskull; curved, not flat.

Domino Reverse facial mask pattern on some breeds. Color definitions may vary by breed. Always check the breed standard for the definitive color description.

Dorsal The portion of the dog carried farthest from the substratum (i.e., away from the ground) during normal locomotion or side of the body furthest from the ground.

Double coat An outer coat resistant to weather and protective against brush and brambles, together with an undercoat of softer hair for warmth and waterproofing. A dog with this type of coat can also be referred to as a double coat.

Double handling The act of someone, other than the handler, getting a dog's attention in the ring to help the dog to show or look better.

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.

Drag A trail prepared by dragging along the ground a bag impregnated (usually) with animal scent.

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.

Dual champion A dog that has won both a conformation and a field trial championship.

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.

Expression The general appearance of all the features of the head.

Extension The reach (front) and drive (rear) that the dog exhibits during motion.

Eyeteeth The upper canines.

Fall Hair overhanging the face.

Fallow Pale cream to light fawn color; pale yellow; yellow-red. Color definitions may vary by breed. Always check the breed standard for the definitive color description.

Fancier A person especially interested and usually active in some phase of the sport of purebred dogs.

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.

Feathering Longer fringe of hair on ears, legs, tail, or body.

Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) Based in Belgium, FCI licenses international shows in its 72 member countries, including the well-known annual World Show. FCI maintains breed standards for all its 341 recognized breeds. It does not operate a registry but accepts pedigrees for show purposes from the registries of its member countries.

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.

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.

Foster mother A bitch used to nurse puppies not her own.

Foxy Sharp expression; pointed nose with short foreface.

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.

Furnishings The long hair on the extremities (including head and tail) of certain breeds.

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).

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.

Grizzle A mixture of black or red hairs with white hairs. Frequently, a bluish-gray or iron-gray color. Color definitions may vary by breed. Always check the breed standard for the definitive color description.

Groom To brush, comb, trim, or otherwise make a dog's coat neat.

Grooming area Space at a dog show that is designated for grooming dogs.

Guard hairs The longer, smoother, stiffer hairs that grow through and normally conceal the undercoat.

Gun dog A dog trained to find or pursue game.

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.

Hallmark A distinguishing characteristic.

Handler Person other than an the owner or co-owner, designated by the owner or co-owner of an entered dog to be the handler of, and the person responsible for, the dog at the event.

Hard-mouthed A dog that crushes or renders game unfit for consumption.

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.

Harlequin Patched or pied coloration, usually black or gray on white. Color definitions may vary by breed. Always check the breed standard for the definitive color description.

Harness A leather, nylon or cloth strap shaped around the shoulders and chest, with a ring at its top for the lead.

Haunch bones The hip bones.

Haw A third eyelid or membrane on the inside corner of the eye.

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.

Hound Group Group of dogs used for hunting game by scent or sight.

Hound-marked A coloration composed of white, tan, or black. The ground color, usually white, may be marked with tan and/or black patches on the head, back, legs, and tail. The extent and the exact location of such markings, however, differ in breeds and individual dogs. Color definitions may vary by breed. Always check the breed standard for the definitive color description.

Hucklebones Top of the hipbones.

Humerus The bone of the arm (i.e., the upper arm).

Identification On-dog system whereby a dog may be identified to a record (i.e., microchip, tattoo or DNA).

Imported semen Frozen semen that is imported from another country.

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.

Iris The colored membrane surrounding the pupil of the eye.

Isabella Usually used to describe Doberman Pinschers, this color is similar to fawn or light bay, but has more saturation and brilliance (similar to a bay-colored horse). Color definitions may vary by breed. Always check the breed standard for the definitive color description.

Jabot The apron of the Schipperke; the part situated between the front legs.

Jowls Flesh of the lips and jaws.

Keel The rounded outline of the lower chest.

Kennel Building or enclosure where dogs are kept.

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.

Landseer Newfoundlands that are white dogs with black markings, named in honor of Sir Edward Landseer, the 19th Century artist who used these dogs as models

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.

Lemon Used to describe pointers, this color is a brilliant, medium-saturated yellow. Color definitions may vary by breed. Always check the breed standard for the definitive color description.

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.

Liver Used to describe many breeds, this deep, reddish brown color includes various shades of chocolate brown, from light to very dark. Color definitions may vary by breed. Always check the breed standard for the definitive color description.

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.

Lure coursing Organized performance event for sighthounds which demonstrates those breeds' ability to perform their historical work by chasing an artificial lure over a course.

Luxation Dislocation of an anatomical structure.

Mahogany Used to describe several breeds, this color is a medium-saturated, dull, reddish brown. Color definitions may vary by breed. Always check the breed standard for the definitive color description.

Making a wheel Term given to the circling of the tail over the back.

Mandible The bone of the lower jaw.

Mane Long, thick hair on top and sides of neck.

Mantle Dark-shaded portion of the coat on shoulders, back, and sides.

Manubrium The first sternabra of the chest.

Marcel effect Regular continuous waves (specified in the American Water Spaniel standard).

Markings Contrasting color or pattern in a dog's coat.

Mask Dark shading on the foreface.

Mate To breed a dog and bitch.

Mating date See date of mating.

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.

Merle A marking pattern, used in conjunction with another color, to describe Shetland Sheepdogs, Collies, Great Danes, and Australian Shepherds. The color is characterized by a marbling effect of dark patches against a lighter background of the same color. Color definitions may vary by breed. Always check the breed standard for the definitive color description.

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.

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.

Moving close When the hocks turn in and pasterns drop straight to the ground and move parallel to one another, the dog is moving close in the rear.

Moving straight Term descriptive of balanced gaiting in which angle of inclination begins at the shoulder, or hip joint, and limbs remain relatively straight from these points to the pads of the feet, even as legs flex or extend in reaching or thrusting.

Multum in Parvo Latin phrase meaning much in little, quoted in the Pug standard.

Mustard Usually used to describe Dandie Dinmont Terriers, this color is like the color of the spice; i.e., a dull, highly saturated, brown-yellow. Color definitions may vary by breed. Always check the breed standard for the definitive color description.

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.

Otter tail Thick at the root, round, and tapering, with the hair parted or divided at the underside.

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.

Outcrossing The mating of unrelated individuals of the same breed.

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.

Pace A lateral gait that tends to promote a rolling motion of the body. The left foreleg and left hind leg advance in unison, then the right foreleg and right hind leg.

Padding A compensating action to offset constant concussion when a straight front is subjected to overdrive from the rear; the front feet flip upward in a split-second delaying action to coordinate the stride of the forelegs with the longer stride from behind.

Paddling A gaiting fault, so named for its similarity to the swing and dip of a canoeists paddle. Pinching in at the elbows and shoulder joints causes the front legs to swing forward on a stiff outward arc. Also called tied at the elbows.

Pads Tough, shock-absorbing projections on the underside of the feet. Soles.

Paper foot A flat foot devoid of arch to the toes.

Parent club The national organization designated by the AKC to represent a specific breed.

Parti-color Two or more definite, well-broken colors, one of which must be white. For example, black parti-color would be black and white. Color definitions may vary by breed. Always check the breed standard for the definitive color description.

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.

Penciling Black lines dividing the tan on the toes.

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.

Pile Dense undercoat of soft hair.

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.

Point The intense, stylized stance of the hunting dog, taken to indicate the presence and position of game.

Pointing breeds Term commonly applied to those sporting breeds that typically point birds.

Poke To carry the neck stretched forward in an abnormally low, ungainly position, usually when moving.

Police dog Any dog trained for police work.

Pompon A rounded tuft of hair left on the end of the tail when the coat is clipped.

Posterior The portion of the dog carried toward the rear during normal locomotion.

Pounding Gaiting fault resultant of a dog's stride being shorter in the front than in the rear; forefeet strike the ground hard before the rear stride is expended.

Prick ear Ear carried erect, usually pointed at the tip.

Professional handler A person who conditions, trains and exhibits dogs for a fee.

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) To euthanatize a dog.

Quality Refinement, fineness, a degree of excellence.

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.

Registration number Unique number assigned to a dog when it is individually registered.

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.

Ring tail Carried up and around almost in a circle.

Ringer A substitute for; a dog closely resembling another dog.

Roach back A convex curvature of the back involving thoracic and lumbar regions.

Roan Frequently a blue-gray or iron-gray, this color is the fine mixing of colored hairs with white hairs. For example, a blue roan is a coat comprised of black and white hairs. (Note: This is the same definition as the Belton color in English Setters.) Color definitions may vary by breed. Always check the breed standard for the definitive color description.

Rocking horse Both front and rear legs extended out from the body as on an old-fashioned rocking horse.

Rolling gait Swaying, ambling action of the hindquarters when moving.

Roman nose A nose whose bridge is so comparatively high as to form a slightly convex line from forehead to nose tip. Ram's nose.

Rose ear A small drop ear that folds over and back so as to reveal the burr.

Rounding Cutting or trimming the ends of the ear leather.

Ruby A rich, mahogany red (English Toy Spaniel). Color definitions may vary by breed. Always check the breed standard for the definitive color description.

Rudder The tail or stern.

Ruff Thick, longer hair growing around the neck.

Rust Used to describe several breeds, this color is a medium-brilliant reddish brown. Color definitions may vary by breed. Always check the breed standard for the definitive color description.

Saber tail Carried in a semicircle.

Sable Coat color produced by black-tipped hairs on a background of silver, gold, gray, fawn, or brown.

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.

Sandy Used to describe several breeds, this color is a dull, yellowish gray of medium saturation. Color definitions may vary by breed. Always check the breed standard for the definitive color description.

Scent The odor left by an animal or bird on the trail (ground-scent) or wafted through the air (air-borne scent).

Scissor bite A bite in which the outer side of the lower incisors touches the inner side of the upper incisors.

Screw tail A naturally short tail twisted in more or less spiral formation.

Seal Used to describe Boston Terriers, 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. Always check the breed standard for the definitive color description.

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.

Sedge Used to describe Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, this color is similar to deadgrass, but it is more accurately a lightening of the chocolate hue. Color definitions may vary by breed. Always check the breed standard for the definitive color description.

Seeing Eye Dog A dog trained as a guide dog for the blind.

Self color One color or whole color except for lighter shadings. Color definitions may vary by breed. Always check the breed standard for the definitive color description.

Semi-prick ears Ears carried erect with just the tips leaning forward.

Septum The line extending vertically between the nostrils.

Set up Posed as to make the most of the dog's appearance for the show ring.

Shelly A shallow, narrow body, lacking the correct amount of bone.

Short back See close coupled.

Sickle hocked Inability to straighten the hock joint on the back reach of the hind leg.

Sighthound A hound that runs or courses game by sight rather than scent.

Single tracking All footprints falling on a single line of travel. When a dog breaks into a trot, his body is supported by only two legs at a time, which move as alternating diagonal pairs. To achieve balance, his legs angle inward toward a center line beneath his body, and the greater the speed, the closer they come to tracking on a single line.

Sire The male parent.

Skeleton Descriptively divided into axial (skull, vertebrae column, chest) and appendicular (forequarters, hindquarters) portions or the hard framework of the body; the bones of the body collectively.

Slab-sided Flat ribs with too little spring from the spinal column.

Sled dogs Dogs worked, usually in teams, to pull sleds.

Slew feet Feet turned out.

Sloping shoulder The shoulder blade set obliquely or laid back.

Smooth coat Short hair, close lying.

Snatching hocks A gait fault indicated by a quick outward snatching of the hock as it passes the supporting leg and twists the rear pastern far in beneath the body. The action causes noticeable rocking in the rear quarters.

Snipy A pointed, weak muzzle, lacking breadth and depth.

Snow nose Nose normally solid black, but acquires pink streak in winter. Also called winter nose.

Soundness The state of mental and physical health when all organs and faculties are complete and functioning normally, each in its rightful relation to the other.

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.

Spread Width between the forelegs when accentuated.

Spread hocks Hocks pointing outward.

Spring of ribs Curvature of ribs for heart and lung capacity.

Square body A dog whose measurements from withers to ground equals that from forechest to rump.

Squirrel tail Carried up and curving more or less forward.

Stack The posing of a dog in a natural position, often done in the conformation show ring.

Stance Manner of standing.

Standard See breed standard.

Stand away coat See standoff coat.

Standoff coat A long or heavy coat that stands off from the body. Also called stand away coat.

Staring coat The hair dry, harsh, and sometimes curling at the tips.

Station Comparative height from the ground, as high-stationed, low-stationed.

Steep Used to denote incorrect angles of articulation. For example, a steep front describes a more upright shoulder placement than is preferred.

Sternum A row of eight bones that form the floor of the chest.

Steward Person who is responsible for the smooth running of a specific ring; for example, assembling the classes, distributing numbers, etc., thereby enabling the judge to concentrate on judging the dogs.

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 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.

Stud fee Payment made for the services of a stud dog.

Substance Bone.

Superciliary arches The ridge, projection, or prominence of the frontal bones of the skull over the eyes; the brow; supraorbital ridges.

Suspension trot See flying trot.

Swayback Concave curvature of the vertebrae column between the withers and the hipbones.

Symmetry Pleasing balance between all parts of the dog.

Tail-set How the base of the tail is set on the rump.

Tattoo A method of on-dog identification.

Tawny Used, along with white, to describe Ibizian Hounds, this color is the color of lions (sandy yellow). Also referred to as Lion Tawny. Color definitions may vary by breed. Always check the breed standard for the definitive color description.

Team Usually, four dogs exhibited by one handler.

Terrier front Straight front as found on fox terriers.

Terrier group A group of dogs used originally for hunting vermin.

Thigh The hindquarter from hip to stifle.

Thoracic vertebrae The thirteen vertebrae of the chest with which thirteen pairs of ribs articulate.

Throatiness An excess of loose skin under the throat.

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.

Topknot A tuft of longer hair on top of the head.

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.

Triangular eye The eye set in surrounding tissue of triangular shape; three-cornered eye.

Tricolor Three colors in the coat: white, black, and tan. Color definitions may vary by breed. Always check the breed standard for the definitive color description.

Trim To groom the coat by stripping, clipping or scissoring.

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.

Trousers Longish hair at the back of both upper and lower thighs.

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.

Truncated Cut off.

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.

Twisting hocks A gaiting fault in which the hock joints twist both ways as they flex or bear weight. Also called rubber hocks.

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.

Unentered dog Term used to describe dogs that are the show grounds but are not entered at the show.

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.

Webbed Connected by a membrane.

Webbed toes Toes connected by a skin membrane; important for water-retrieving dogs, providing help in swimming.

Weedy An insufficient amount of bone; light boned.

Well let down Having short hocks; refers to short metatarsals.

Wet neck Loose or superfluous skin; with dewlap.

Wheaten Pale yellow or fawn color. The color of wheat. Color definitions may vary by breed. Always check the breed standard for the definitive color description.

Wheel back A marked arch of the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae.

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.

Winging A gaiting fault where one or both front feet twist outward as the limbs swing forward.

Winter nose See snownose.

Wirehair A coat of hard, crisp, wiry texture.

Withers Highest point of a dog's shoulders.

Withholding Decision of a judge not to give an award or placement in a class at any point in the judging process.

Wolf sable Used to describe Pomeranians. Silver or gray with black tips (no tan, white, or cream anywhere). Color definitions may vary by breed. Always check the breed standard for the definitive color description.

Wrinkle Loose, folding skin on forehead and foreface.

Wry mouth Asymmetrical alignment of upper and lower jaws; cross bite.

Xiphoid process Cartilage process of the sternum.

Zygomatic arch A bony ridge extending posteriorly (and laterally) from beneath the eye orbit.

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