Glossary
Index
Health
Temperament
Coat
Canine Categories
Others
Grooming
Body
Muzzle : The “snout” part of the dog, or the area that is composed of the upper and lower jaw. (Top of Page)
Stop : The indentation that divides the muzzle from the rest of the face. Some breeds like the Bull Terrier may not possess a stop. (Top of Page)
Occiput : The highest point of the skull, which is at the back of the head and is a distinct feature in some dogs such as the Rhodesian Ridgeback. (Top of Page)
Flew : A dog’s lips. (Top of Page)
Crest : The area on a dog that starts at the nape of the neck (the area where the neck joins the base of the skull) and ends at the top of the shoulders. (Top of Page)
Withers : The topmost point of a dog’s shoulders, which marks the highest point along their back. (Top of Page)
Flank : An area on the side of the dog between the end of the rib cage and the start of the rear leg. (Top of Page)
Heterochromia: A harmless genetic trait that results in a dog that has eyes that are each a different color. This trait is more common in some dogs than others. (Top of Page)
Examples of dogs that commonly have heterochromia : Siberian huskies, American foxhounds, and Australian Shepherds.
Toy : The smallest size of dog, sometimes with larger counterparts. (Top of Page)
Temperament
Velcro Dog : A dog that grows incredibly attached to a single owner, and may follow that person everywhere. (Top of Page)
Training
People-Pleasing : A quality that describes dogs that are usually subservient and always eager to please their owners. People pleasing dogs are known to be easier to train, especially in activities or tricks that require more effort or thought. These dogs often have a natural instinct to place their owners on a “pedestal” so to speak. Sheep herding dogs, such as the Rough Coated Collie, or the Border Collie are usually people-pleasing. (Top of Page)
Independent : Independent dogs are dogs that may or may not be people pleasing, but are not as subservient as dogs that are not considered to be independent. An independent dog has a “mind of its own” and may sometimes possess a “what’s in it for me” attitude towards training. Though they are not necessarily “worshipful” like their people-pleasing counterparts, these dogs often have a “team mate” sort of mentality whereby they naturally view their owners more as equals than masters, and may sometimes disagree with you or question your judgement. Terrier-type dogs are infamous for being independent thinkers. (Top of Page)
Stubborn : Dogs that are described as “stubborn” are usually very difficult to train. Although they may understand what you want, stubborn dogs are unlikely to learn or obey commands quickly. Even when trained, these dogs may frequently try to test the rules of the house and may engage in dominance struggles. Stubborn dogs require more experience to raise and train than people-pleasing dogs. These dogs may be described as “habitual line steppers”. They take into consideration just how far you are willing to go to enforce obedience and may take a stand against commands. It is not unusual for a stubborn dog to perform a trick once or twice, and then refuse to continue. Stubborn dogs may also have a “I don’t have to do it because you can’t catch me” mentality when trained off-leash. (Top of Page)
Health
Hip Dysplasia : Hip Dysplasia is the medical term for a condition in which the hip socket doesn’t completely cover the ball portion of the upper thighbone, thereby allowing the hip joint to become partially or totally dislocated. This condition may worsen over time, and can cause crippling lameness and painful arthritis. Though it is a genetic trait, environmental factors can help discourage the onset of hip dysplasia; never allow a dog that is predisposed to develop hip dysplasia to become overweight. (Top of Page)
Benign Familial Juvenile Epilepsy (BFJE) : A genetic disease that affects the Lagotto Romagnolo breed, in which dogs between 5 and 9 weeks of age develop seizures. However, the clinical signs of this disease will resolve around 4 months of age. Dogs that are affected by BFJE may also develop ataxia. (Top of Page)
Lagotto Storage Disease : This is a genetic disease that affects the Lagotto Romagnolo. It is a very severe, lethal neurodegenerative disease that is auto-recessive. (Top of Page)
Bloat : This life threatening, relatively common condition is also known as gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV) complex, this condition occurs when the stomach of a dog fills with air. The condition is most common in dogs that have a deep and narrow chest and older dogs. There are a few breeds that are more likely to contract it. Bloat is a medical emergency! Without treatment, dogs may die within a couple of hours from this condition. This condition can cause death if not addressed by a veterinarian, so you should take your vet to the vet as soon as possible if you suspect your dog may have it.
Symptoms of bloat include :
- Distended abdomen (the stomach area)
- Retching (as if to vomit)
- Excessive salivation or drooling
- Restlessness
Also know that an affected dog will whine or indicate pain if you press on their belly. If your dog is burping, or passing gass, it is likely that they will be fine, but it is still important to contact your veterinarian IMMEDIATELY!
Preventing Bloat :
While you can never be 100% sure, there are some ways you can try to prevent bloat from happening. The most important way to prevent bloat is to keep your dog a healthy weight. Dogs that are overly excited are more likely to develop bloat, so train your dog to be calm when presented with food, and feed your dog in a safe and non-competitive atmosphere. Feeding your dog twice a day, rather than once, will also reduce their risk of getting bloat.
Pro-Tip!
Dogs appear to develop bloat more readily if they eat too fast. To avoid this, and give your dog an entertaining activity that will challenge their eyes, nose, and brain, try scattering dry dog food over your kitchen floor for a fun scavenger hunt! (Top of Page)
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Subvalvular Aortic Stenosis : This is a rare disease which causes inflammation of the sin and affects the glands of young and middle-aged dogs. Some dogs are more commonly affected, such as : Poodles, Akitas, Vizslas, Shih Tzus, and Samoyeds. The disease causes a somewhat “moth-eaten” pattern of hair loss which starts in the head and neck.
This condition is a heart defect which affects the left ventricle of the heart and restricts blood flow. Symptoms may not be apparent in mild cases, but in moderate to severe cases, affected dogs may experience weakness, difficulty breathing, fainting, and in extreme cases – sudden death. (Top of Page)
Addison’s disease : Also known as hypoadrenocorticism, this condition is a disorder in which the adrenal glands fail to produce hormones. This condition is relatively uncommon in dogs, and with proper treatment, affected dogs can be expected to live a normal life. (Top of Page)
Von Willebrand’s disease : A blood-clotting disorder that results in excessive bleeding from even minor wounds. Symptoms of the disease include : nosebleeds, black or bright red blood in the feces, bloody urine, bleeding from the gums, excessive bleeding from the vagina. Dogs may also exhibit skin bruising, prolonged bleeding after surgery or trauma, and anemia as a result of prolonged bleeding. Some dogs are more likely to be affected, including : German shepherds, Doberman Pinschers, Standard Poodles, Shetland Sheepdogs, and Golden Retrievers. Though there is no routine treatment for the disease, mild to moderately affected dogs can be expected to live normal lives, where as severely affected dogs may occasionally require blood transfusions. (Top of Page)
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) : This disease affects some breeds of dogs, and rarely, some cats as well. PRA actually refers to a group of degenerative eye disorders that can cause blindness in both eyes. The surface of an affected dog’s eye becomes cloudy, gray, and may take on a “greenish shine”. The best way to prevent this disease is to purchase your dog from a reputable breeder who has paperwork proving that the parents have been screened for the gene that causes PRA. Unfortuantely, for PRA, there is no cure or treatment currently available, and although this isn’t a painful disease for dogs, it always ends in blindness. (Top of Page)
Coat
Tear Stains : Tear stains are dark marks that stain the fur under a dog’s eyes. Tear stains are common in toy and small dog breeds, as well as in dogs that suffer from allergies. Remove tearstains by gently wiping the area with a warm, damp paper towel. (Top of Page)
Undercoat : An undercoat is a layer of a dogs coat that can be found in dogs that have what is called a “double coat”. A dog’s undercoat is downy-soft to the touch, and serves to keep them warm. Undercoats shed! However, hypoallergenic dogs that also possess an undercoat usually have top coats that catch and contain the fur that has been shed, so with regular brushing, they don’t usually bother those that suffer from dog allergies. (Top of Page)
Hypoallergenic : A word used to describe something that is less likely to invoke an allergic response. Hypoallergenic dogs are dogs whose coats are either low shedding, or no shedding, and which produce less dander. Dog saliva is known to cause allergies, so dogs that drool less are also considered to be hypoallergenic. (Top of Page)
Dander : Loose flakes of dried skin that shed from an animal. Dander is often attached to loose strands of fur that are being shed. Different breeds of dogs produce different levels of dander, and dogs that are hypoallergenic usually produce less. (Top of Page)
Colors
Merle : A coat color that occurs in some dogs, resulting in a mottled patches of color that cover the dog’s coat. A merle coat is similar to that of a brindle coat, in that they are both multi-colored, however the brindle pattern is more similar to that of a tiger. Dogs that have the merle gene may have blue or heterochromatic eyes (where each eye is a different color). (Top of Page)
Brindle : A coat color in dogs that results in a pattern of color that is somewhat similar to that of a tiger. (Top of Page)
Roan (coat color) : A coat color found in horses, cattle, and dogs – it is a coat which presents an even mixture of white hairs and colored hairs. (Top of Page)
Grouping
AKC : The American Kennel Club, a kennel club that registers purebred dogs and promotes American dog events such as the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.http://www.akc.org/ (Top of Page)
CKC : The Canadian Kennel Club, a kennel club that registers purebred dogs and promotes Canadian dog events. https://ckcusa.com/ (Top of Page)
UKC : The United Kennel Club is the second oldest kennel club in the United States, it registers purebred dogs in all 50 states as well as many foreign countries. https://www.ukcdogs.com/ (Top of Page)
FCI : Fédération Cynologique Internationale, or the World Canine Organization, is the largest international federation of kennel clubs. It was founded in 1911 by Germany, Austria, Belgium, France, and the Netherlands. 84 different countries are members of the FCI, which oversees breed clubs, coordinates efforts, and recognizes pedigrees and judges internationally. http://www.fci.be/en/ (Top of Page)
EKC : The European Kennel Club, whose mission is to “provide an opportunity for dogs from all registries to compete against each other in conformation and in a variety of working disciplines” (from europeankennelclub.eu) http://www.europeankennelclub.eu/index.html (Top of Page)
Companion : A dog that is bred to be a pet, rather than a working animal. Many toy breeds are bred to be companion dogs. Companion dogs often require more human interaction, are less tolerant of extreme temperatures and therefore not adaptable to outdoor living, and are known to suffer separation anxiety if left alone for too long. These dogs usually need less exercise than working breeds.
Examples of companion dogs are : Bichon Frise, Lhasa Apso, Lowchen, Toy Poodle, and the Xoloitzcuintli. (Top of Page)
Guard : Dogs that are bred to protect people, animals, or territory. Some guard dogs are livestock protectors, where as others may have other working purposes.
Examples of guard dogs are : Akita, Bullmastiff, Doberman Pinscher, German Shepherd, Giant Shnauzer, and the Puli. (Top of Page)
Hunting : Dogs that are bred for a variety of purposes to help hunters succeed on hunting trips. These purposes include locating prey or pointing at prey that is hiding, flushing birds from tall grass, retrieving injured prey, luring prey into shooting range, and chasing or catching prey. (Top of Page)
Gun Dog : Gun dogs are hunting dogs that were developed to aid hunters in finding and retrieving game such as birds. Gun dogs are divided into three categories depending on the purpose they fulfill. These categories are: retrievers, flushing dogs, and pointing dogs. (Top of Page)
Bird Dog : A gun dog that is bred to hunt or retrieve birds. This broad category includes most hunting dogs including spaniels, pointers, setters, and retrievers, but does not usually include hounds or terriers. Bird dogs usually do not track ground scents so they are more likely to hold their head high to either locate prey by sight, or catch the scent of a prey on the air.
Examples : The Boykin Spaniel, Brittany, Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Clumber Spaniel, Cocker Spaniel, Curly-Coated Retriever, and the English Cocker Spaniel. (Top of Page)
Spaniel : A spaniel is a type of gun dog that were originally bred to flush game out of denser brush, but soon were bred and used as water and land working breeds. Spaniels are distinguished by their long, silky coats, and drooping ears.
Examples : American Cocker Spaniel, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Papillon, and the Blue Picardy Spaniel. (Top of Page)
Retriever : Retrievers are a type of gun dog that are bred to retrieve game, usually waterfowl. Due to their instincts, retrievers are usually very people-pleasing dogs that are weather resistant and make great outdoor pets provided they get plenty of attention from their owners.
Examples : Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Curly Coated Retriever, Flat-Coated Retriever, Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever, Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, Standard Poodle, Wirehaired Vizsla, and many dogs that are also part of the Spaniel gun dog category. (Top of Page)
Setter : A setter is a type of hunting dog that systematically and methodically tracks down prey and then freezes when prey is located, rather than giving chase. Usually, setters are used to track down birds. Once a setter has indicated the location of a flock of birds, they are usually sent to flush the birds out for the hunter to shoot.
Examples: English Setter, French Spaniel, Gordon Setter, Irish Setter (also called a red setter), Irish Red and White Setter. (Top of Page)
Pointer : The pointer is a type of gun dog that assists hunters by locating prey, and sometimes flushing game. These dogs get their name from their strong instinct to freeze and point their muzzle at prey – often with a lifted foot and a straight tail. Many setter and spaniel type dogs are also pointers.
Examples : Wirehaired Pointing Griffon, English Pointer, German Longhaired Pointer, German Shorthaired Pointer, German Wirehaired Pointer, Old Danish Pointer, Portuguese Pointer, Slovak Rough-haired Pointer. (Top of Page)
Dog Sports
Flyball : A dog sport that is unusual in that it features teams of dogs rather than individuals. Dogs race down a straight path that is lined with jumps to retrieve a tennis ball. Upon their return, the next dog is released. The team whose dogs finished first wins. (Top of Page)
Dock Jumping : A sport in which dogs compete by jumping off of a dock to fetch an object. The dog that jumps the farthest win. (Top of Page)
Agility : A sport in which dogs are commanded to complete a set of obstacles in a certain order. Faults and disqualifications are given to dogs that make mistakes. Dogs that complete the course with the faster time without being disqualified win. (Top of Page)
Conformation/Showing : A conformation event is a dog show in which well bred, purebred dogs whose breed is recognized by a kennel club compete. The dog that adheres to it’s breed standard the best, wins. (Top of Page)
Lure Coursing : Lure coursing is a dog race in which does chase a mechanically operated lure that moves in a way that simulates chasing prey. he fastest dog wins. (Top of Page)
Disc Dog : A sport in which dogs and their frisbee-throwing humans compete. Dogs are challenged to do a series of different frisbee catches that test their speed, coordination, and agility. Points are awarded for different throws, and the dog that achieves the most points wins. (Top of Page)
Other
Puppy Mill : A factory-like establishment that breeds dogs in inhumane conditions without regard to the health of the parents or lineage, or the actual dogs themselves. (Top of Page)