 |

Dog Show Speak
Activities
Medical Terms
Terms in Breed Standards
Grooming Tools
Dog Show Speak
Angulation: the angle at which bones meet joints
Bait: to use treats to get a dog's attention or to get him to look alert; the food or object used as bait
Canine Good Citizen (CGC): a title and certificate that is awarded to dogs passing minimum standards for good behavior; a program that tests behavior
Exhibitor: a person, not always the owner, who shows a dog and cares for him during competition; handler; agent
Fancier: a person who has a strong interest in dogs and may be involved in some way with pedigreed dogs
Gait: a rhythmic way of walking using a particular sequence of footsteps at various speeds
Handler: see exhibitor
Junior/junior handler: handler under 18 years old
Junior showmanship: classes offered that judge young people on their handling skills, rather than on their dogs
Match show: a noncompetitive informal dog show
Pedigree: a registry of a dog's lineage going back three or more generations
Points: a score used to determine championships
Ringsiding: delivering a dog to a professional handler prior to entering the show ring; the handler's only responsibility is showing the dog in the ring, not grooming or training
Soundness: the mental and physical health of a dog
Stack: to pose a dog to create a desirable look for a judge or photographer
Standard: the established model of a breed that is universally accepted
Tack box: a box for carrying grooming equipment
Water hole: a special bowl designed to keep ears and whiskers dry while a dog drinks
Wheels: a dolly used to transport crates, grooming tables, and other equipment at shows
Activities
Agility: a competition in which dogs coached by their handlers run a course that includes jumps, tunnels, weave poles, and other obstacles; the goal is to finish the course in the shortest time with the fewest faults
Canine disc: a competition or performance in which a handler throws a Frisbee or other disc for a dog to chase and catch
Carting: a sport in which a dog is hitched by harness to a cart and pulls a handler riding in the cart
Conformation: a dog show that judges dogs on how closely they fit the breed standard; the coat, body structure, temperament, and gait, are judged
Drafting: a sport in which a dog is hitched by harness to a loaded cart or wagon and pulls the heavy load as far as he can; carting, weight pulling, and sledding are all drafting sports
Earthdog trial: a simulated hunt that tests the skills of small terriers and dachshunds who follow and corner prey underground
Flyball: a relay race in which teams of four dogs each race over four hurdles to a flyball box, catch a ball, then return the four hurdles
Freestyle: a choreographed dance routine set to music performed by both dog and handler
Herding trial: a competition that tests a dog's herding skills, which include his ability to respond to his handler and think on his own
Hunting field trial: an organized competition that tests the skills of hunting dogs against one another; includes flushing, retrieving, and trailing
Hunting test: a test in which individual dogs' hunting skills are evaluated against a standard
Lure coursing: a race run by sighthounds chasing an artificial lure around a large field
Obedience trial: an event in which a dog's training and handler's control of the dog is judged; dogs must be able to follow commands and be skilled at scent discrimination and directed jumping
Schutzhund: a test of a dog's skills in three areas: obedience, tracking, and protection
Skijoring: cross-country skiing with a dog; one to three dogs pull a handler on skis
Sledding: a race in which a handler operates a sled that is being pulled by from 2 to 24 dogs; races are run in heats and may span several days
Therapy: a treatment in which dogs act as catalysts for people suffering with illness or injury or struggling with learning or emotional problems
Tracking: a competition that tests a dog's ability to follow an aged scent trail for a specified distance over varying terrain
Weight pull: a competition that tests a dog's strength by having him pull a cart with a heavy load as far as he can; the dog who pulls the heaviest load the farthest wins the competition
Medical Terms
Abscess: an infected, pus-filled pocket beneath the skin
Acquired: caused by environmental factors, not inherited
Acute: occurring intensely and suddenly
Alopecia: loss of hair
Alter: spay or castrate
Anaphylactic shock: life threatening allergic response
Anemia: reduced number of red blood cells
Anorexia: loss of appetite
Bacteria: single-celled organisms that cause disease by secreting toxins that affect cells or by invading cells and reproducing inside them
Cherry eye: swelling of the gland behind a dog's third eyelid that causes both the gland and the eyelid to protrude; the gland is pink and appears round
Chronic: lasting over a long period of time
Congenital: present at birth
Conjunctivitis: inflammation of the membrane covering the inner surface of the eyelids; commonly called pinkeye
Coprophagia: eating feces
Crop: amputation of part of the ears so they stand erect
Cryptorchid: a condition of testicles that have not descended into the scrotum
Cyst: sac or pocket of fluid or soft matter
Cewclaw: a vestigial digit that does not reach the ground and is found on the foot
Dock: amputation or partial amputation of the tail
Ectropian: rolling outward of the eyelids
Elizabethan collar: cone-shaped collar used to prevent dogs from reaching wounds to chew or lick
Entropian: rolling inward of the eyelids
Estrus: period when female accepts mating
Euthanasia: painless termination of life
Genetic: having to do with characteristics inherited through the genes
Heat: term for estrus period
Hip dysplasia: inherited condition in which tissue develops abnormally and the hip joint does not fit together tightly
Hot spot: an inflamed, bald area on skin caused by rubbing, scratching licking, or biting; also called pyotraumatic dermatitis
Incontinence: uncontrolled leaking of urine; most common in older female dogs
Kennel cough: contagious bronchial disease caused by viruses and bacteria; it is characterized by a dry, raspy cough
Keratoconjunctivitis sicca: eye condition caused by a lack of tears; dry eyes
Lick granuloma: damaged tissue sores resulting from excessive licking
Melena: black, tarry stool caused by bleeding
Monorchid: an individual who has only one testicle descended into the scrotum
Neuter: to alter
Obese: a dog who is extremely overweight
Parasite: an organism that feeds off of a host; includes fleas, ticks, mites, and worms
Pica: a craving to eat nonfood substances
Spay: removal of ovaries and uterus to prevent reproduction
Titer: blood test that measures the concentration of an antibody to a disease
Tumor: abnormal new tissue growth with no function; it can be malignant or benign
|
 |

Ulcer: a small, painful soar in the stomach or intestinal lining
Vaccine: a preparation that triggers protective immune responses against a disease when introduced into the body
Virus: a small, infectious microorganism that reproduces within living cells
Whelp: to give birth to puppies
Zoonosis: a condition that can be passed from one species to another; rabies is an example of a zoonotic disease
Terms in Breed Standards
Almond eye: a narrow eye shaped like an almond
Apple head: a round skull
Bad mouth: a mouth with crooked teeth; incorrect bit
Bandy leg: an outward-bending leg; bowleg
Barrel hock: a hock (ankle) that turns out, causing the foot to toe in; divergent hock; spread hock
Bat ear: a forward-facing erect ear that is broad at the base and rounded on top
Bee-sting tail: the relatively short, straight, and pointed tail of a pointer
Beefy: overdeveloped hindquarters
Bird of prey eyes: usually harsh-looking light yellowish eyes
Blocky: a cube-shaped head
Bobtail: a dog with no tail or a short docked tail, especially Old English sheepdog
Bodied-up: well developed and mature
Bossy: over-developed shoulder muscles
Brick-shaped: rectangular
Broken coat: wirehaired
Broken-down ear: a deformed ear that lacks correct carriage
Brush coat: a coat that is short, straight, and stiff
Brush: a thick and bushy tail
Bull neck: a thick and powerful neck
Burr: inside of ear
Butterfly: a dark nose that has areas without pigment
Button ear: a small ear with the flap folded forward to cover the ear opening
Cat food: a foot that is neat and round and has closed-set arched toes
Cheeky: prominent round cheeks
Chippendale front: forelegs that turn out at the elbows, are close at the pasterns (area of foot above toes) and have feet that turn out; fiddle front
China eye: a clear blue or light blue eye
Chiseled: having a smooth, clean-cut head
Close-coupled: having a short loin
Coarse: unrefined
Cobby: stocky
Compact: short-bodied
Corkscrew tail: a spiral tail
Corky: lively and alert
Cow hocks: hocks (ankles) that are turned inward
Crank tail: a tail carried low and shaped like a crank
Dish-faced: having a slightly concave foreface
Divergent hock: a hock (ankle) that turns out, causing the feet to toe in; barrel hock; spread hock
Domed: a skull that is evenly curved on top
Down-faced: having a muzzle that slopes downward
Drop ear: an ear that folds over and hangs down
Dry: a skull or neck with tight, smooth skin
Dudley nose: a flesh-colored nose
Ewe neck: a neck with a concave topline
Filbert ear: an ear shaped like a filbert, or hazelnut
Filled-up face: a smooth face that isn't excessively muscular
Flag tail: a long tail carried vertically; a tail with feathering
Flat-sided: having ribs that are too flat
Fluffy: a long coat with exaggerated feathering
Foxy: a sharp face with a pointy nose
Frog face: a face with a receding, often overshot jaw
Gay tail: a tail carried higher than the back
Goose neck: a long neck; swan neck
Hare foot: a long, narrow foot
Haw eyes: eyes with the third eyelid, or nicitating membrane visible
Lippy: having loosely hanging lips
Loaded shoulders: shoulders with overdeveloped muscles
Loose slung: having muscles that are attached at the shoulders too loosely
Making a wheel: a tail that is circling over the back
Oblique shoulders: sloping shoulders
Oblique eyes: eyes that slant upward from inner corner to outer corner
Otter tail: a round, tapered tail that is thick and strong and that has parted on its underside
Oval chest: a chest that is deeper than it is wide
Overhang: a prominent brow
Paper foot: a flat foot with a thin pad
Pig eyes: small eyes set close together
Pigeon breast: a narrow chest with a projecting breastbone
Pigeon-toed: having turned-in toes
Plume: fringy long hair on a tail
Prick ears: stiff, erect, and pointy ears
Pump handle: long tail that is carried high
Racy: tall and lean
Rangy: tall, long, slim, and lanky
Rat tail: a tail that has a thick base with soft curls and a hairless tip
Ring tail: a tail that forms a circle
Rose ear: a small drop ear that exposes part of the inside of the ear
Saber tail: a tail curved in a semicircle
Screw tail: a twisted naturally short tail
Semiprick ear: an erect ear with a tip that drops forward
Skully: a skull that is thick and coarse
Slab-sided: having flat ribs
Snipy: a weak, pointed muzzle
Snow nose: a black nose that gets a pink streak in winter; winter nose
Snowshoe feet: feet that are slightly webbed
Spike tail: a short, straight, tapering tail
Squirrel tail: a tail carried up and curving forward over the back
Throatiness: a throat with excessive skin
Tulip ear: wide, erect ear that curves forward
Tuck-up: narrow at the loin
Turn-up: a foreface that turns up
Varminty: having an intense, bright expression
Walleye: a whitish or light blue eye
Whip tail: a pointed tail carried straight and stiffly
Grooming Tools
Clippers: electric clippers for cutting and shaving
Combination brush: a slicker brush on one side for removing dead hair, and a bristle brush on the other side for everyday brushing
Cream rinse or conditioner: adds body and reduces static electricity following shampoo
Dog shampoo: shampoos that are specially formulated for dogs and come in a variety of types, including medicated, tearless, flea control, bluing, texturizing, and moisturizing
Double-sided comb: stainless steel comb with wide teeth on one end and finer teeth on the other used for general grooming, removing undercoat, and flea control
Ear-cleaning solution: mineral oil or a commercial ear cleaner used to clean and reduce odor and excess moisture in ears; commercial ear cleaners come in liquid, cream, and powder form; the powder cleaner is also used to help grip and remove hair from ears
|
 |

Eye drops: specially formulated drops or mineral oil that protect eyes during bathing
Flea comb: fine-toothed comb for catching fleas and removing undercoat
Grooming glove or mitt: a glove with rubber nubs for shining and controlling shedding, especially useful in single-coated dogs
Grooming rake: a comblike device used to pull out undercoat and remove mats and tangles; a rake has one to three rows of wide teeth and a long handle for easy gripping; it is especially useful for dogs with double coats
Grooming table: a waist-high table that dogs on most grooming tables
Hair drier: for drying and/or fluffing after bathing; groomers can use a hand-held standard drier or a drier designed for dogs; dog driers come in hand-held varieties and canister styles with short legs; hose attachments direct air flow
Mat splitter: a tool with razor-sharp teeth used to cut through mats
Nail clippers: clippers used to cut dog toenails; they come in guillotine, scissors, pliers, and power types
Natural or rubber bristle brush: a brush with long bristles used for shining and smoothing the coat
Nonskid rubber mat: a rubber mat placed in the bottom of a sink or a tub to keep a dog from slipping when being bathed
Pin brush: a brush with round tips on the bristles to avoid skin abrasions; it is popularly used for long-haired dogs
Pumice stone: a porous stone that is brushed across the coat; it collects dead undercoat and smoothes and shines the outer coat
Rubber curry brush: an oval brush with small, flexible rubber teeth that massages skin, speeds up shedding, and adds shine
Shears or scissors: scissors used for trimming and thinning the coat and for cutting out mats
Shedding blade: a saw-toothed device used to thin heavy shedding coats
Slicker brush: a brush with closely clustered wire or rubber bristles; it removes dead hair to reduce shedding and is useful for removing mats
Stripping tool or knife: a knife-shaped tool with a handle and a toothed blade use to pluck dead hair from wire-haired dogs
Styptic pencil/powder: contracts the blood vessels to stop a clipped nail from bleeding
Toothbrush or finger brush: a standard-sized toothbrush or a brush made to fit over a finger, which is used to clean canine teeth
Toothpaste (canine): toothpaste that is safe for dogs to swallow and made in flavors they enjoy
Tweezers or ear forceps: used to remove hair from ears; ear forceps are stainless steel devices resembling scissors in appearance that grip hair for pulling
Heat: term for estrus period
Hip dysplasia: inherited condition in which tissue develops abnormally and the hip joint does not fit together tightly
Hot spot: an inflamed, bald area on skin caused by rubbing, scratching licking, or biting; also called pyotraumatic dermatitis
Incontinence: uncontrolled leaking of urine; most common in older female dogs
Kennel cough: contagious bronchial disease caused by viruses and bacteria; it is characterized by a dry, raspy cough
Keratoconjunctivitis sicca: eye condition caused by a lack of tears; dry eyes
Lick granuloma: damaged tissue sores resulting from excessive licking
Melena: black, tarry stool caused by bleeding
Monorchid: an individual who has only one testicle descended into the scrotum
Neuter: to alter
Obese: a dog who is extremely overweight
Parasite: an organism that feeds off of a host; includes fleas, ticks, mites, and worms
Pica: a craving to eat nonfood substances
Spay: removal of ovaries and uterus to prevent reproduction
Titer: blood test that measures the concentration of an antibody to a disease
Tumor: abnormal new tissue growth with no function; it can be malignant or benign
Ulcer: a small, painful soar in the stomach or intestinal lining
Vaccine: a preparation that triggers protective immune responses against a disease when introduced into the body
Virus: a small, infectious microorganism that reproduces within living cells
Whelp: to give birth to puppies
Zoonosis: a condition that can be passed from one species to another; rabies is an example of a zoonotic disease
Terms in Breed Standards
Almond eye: a narrow eye shaped like an almond
Apple head: a round skull
Bad mouth: a mouth with crooked teeth; incorrect bit
Bandy leg: an outward-bending leg; bowleg
Barrel hock: a hock (ankle) that turns out, causing the foot to toe in; divergent hock; spread hock
Bat ear: a forward-facing erect ear that is broad at the base and rounded on top
Bee-sting tail: the relatively short, straight, and pointed tail of a pointer
Beefy: overdeveloped hindquarters
Bird of prey eyes: usually harsh-looking light yellowish eyes
Blocky: a cube-shaped head
Bobtail: a dog with no tail or a short docked tail, especially Old English sheepdog
Bodied-up: well developed and mature
Bossy: over-developed shoulder muscles
Brick-shaped: rectangular
Broken coat: wirehaired
Broken-down ear: a deformed ear that lacks correct carriage
Brush coat: a coat that is short, straight, and stiff
Brush: a thick and bushy tail
Bull neck: a thick and powerful neck
Burr: inside of ear
Butterfly: a dark nose that has areas without pigment
Button ear: a small ear with the flap folded forward to cover the ear opening
Cat food: a foot that is neat and round and has closed-set arched toes
Cheeky: prominent round cheeks
Chippendale front: forelegs that turn out at the elbows, are close at the pasterns (area of foot above toes) and have feet that turn out; fiddle front
China eye: a clear blue or light blue eye
Chiseled: having a smooth, clean-cut head
Close-coupled: having a short loin
Coarse: unrefined
Cobby: stocky
Compact: short-bodied
Corkscrew tail: a spiral tail
Corky: lively and alert
Cow hocks: hocks (ankles) that are turned inward
Crank tail: a tail carried low and shaped like a crank
Dish-faced: having a slightly concave foreface
Divergent hock: a hock (ankle) that turns out, causing the feet to toe in; barrel hock; spread hock
Domed: a skull that is evenly curved on top
Down-faced: having a muzzle that slopes downward
Drop ear: an ear that folds over and hangs down
Dry: a skull or neck with tight, smooth skin
Dudley nose: a flesh-colored nose
Ewe neck: a neck with a concave topline
Filbert ear: an ear shaped like a filbert, or hazelnut
Filled-up face: a smooth face that isn't excessively muscular
Flag tail: a long tail carried vertically; a tail with feathering
Flat-sided: having ribs that are too flat
Fluffy: a long coat with exaggerated feathering
Foxy: a sharp face with a pointy nose
|
 |