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A Plus Pet Goods - Glossary of dog terms Category: Animals and Nature > Glossary of dog terms Date & country: 12/11/2010, USA Words: 897

Cobby
Compact, with a short body.

Cocker Spaniel
A dog of a breed originally developed in England, having long drooping ears and a variously colored silky coat.

Colitis
Inflammation of the colon.

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.

Collie
A medium-to-large dog of a breed originating in Scotland as a sheepdog, having a long narrow muzzle and either a long thick straight coat or a short hard flat coat, depending on the variety.

Colostrum
The milk secreted by the mother during the first few days following birth that provides the puppies with immunity to some diseases.

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(sm) (CAR)
A national database in which any companion animal with a form of positive identification, such as a microchip or tattoo, can be enrolled.

Companion Dog (CD)
A title conferred on a dog by the AKC as a result of having won certain minimum scores in Novice classes at a specified number of AKC-licensed or -member obedience trials.

Companion Dog Excellent (CDX)
A title conferred on a dog by the AKC as a result of having won certain minimum scores in Open classes at a specified number of AKC-licensed or -member obedience trials.

Concaveation
Milk production in a spayed female dog in response to the suckling of a puppy.

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.

Copper
Usually used with white to describe Siberian Huskies. Like the color of the metal of the same name, this color is a bright, brownish red. Color definitions may vary by breed. Always check the breed standard for the definitive color description.

Corded
A type of coat as seen on the Komondor and Pulli breeds that grows in long cord-like strings.

Corky
Active, lively, alert.

Coronavirus
Disease characterized by vomiting, diarrhea and dehydration.

Couple
Two hounds.

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.

Crossbred
A dog whose sire and dam are representatives of two different breeds. A crossbred dog cannot be registered by the AKC.

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.

Cruelty
Conscious action or inaction that may endanger life or cause serious health consequences to animals.

Cry
The baying or music of the hounds.

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.

Cur
See Crossbred

Curled Tail
A tail which is tightly curled and held close to the back.

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

Cynology
The study of canines.

Cyst
An abnormal membranous sac containing a gaseous, liquid, or semisolid substance.

Cystitis
Inflammation of the urinary bladder.

Dachshund
A small dog of a breed developed in Germany for hunting badgers and having a long body, a usually shorthaired brown or black and brown coat, drooping ears, and very short legs.

Dalmatian
A dog of a breed believed to have originated in Dalmatia, having a short, smooth white coat covered with black or dark brown spots.

Dam
The female parent.

Dander
Small scales from the skin, hair, or feathers of an animal, often causing an allergic reaction in sensitive individuals.

Dandie Dinmont Terrier
A breed of small terrier with long wiry coat and drooping ears.

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.

Deep-Chested
Term describing the rib cage structure of dogs like German Shepherds, Great Danes and Irish Setters. Deep-chested dogs have a greater tendency to develop stomach dilatation, also referred to as bloat.

Dehydration
Excessive loss of water from the body or from an organ or body part, as from illness or fluid deprivation.

Demodex
A mite that causes mange.

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).

Dermatitis
Inflammation of the skin.

Dewclaw
An extra claw on the inside of the leg; a rudimentary fifth toe, removed on most breeds.

Dewlap
Loose, pendulous skin under the throat and neck.

DHLPP
Vaccine to immunize a dog against distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parainfluenza and parvovirus

Diabetes
A disease in which the body is unable to utilize blood glucose because inadequate amounts of insulin are produced by the pancreas.

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.

Diehard
Nickname of the Scottish Terrier.

Digit
Toe.

Dilute
Washed out color. Color definitions may vary by breed. Always check the breed standard for the definitive color description.

Dingo
A wild dog (Canis dingo) of Australia, having a reddish-brown or yellowish-brown coat.

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

Dishing
Weaving.

Distemper
An infectious viral disease occurring in dogs, characterized by loss of appetite, a catarrhal discharge from the eyes and nose, vomiting, fever, lethargy, partial paralysis caused by destruction of myelinated nerve tissue, and sometimes death. Also called canine distemper.

Distemper Teeth
Teeth discolored or pitted as a result of distemper or other disease or deficiency.

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. Results must be processed by an AKC-approved facility to be accepted by AKC.

Doberman Pinscher
A medium large breed of dog of German origin with a glossy black and tan coat; used as a watchdog.

Dock
To clip short or cut off an animal's tail.

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

Dog Fancy
Term describing the group of people interested in and active in the promotion of purebred dogs.

Dog Show
Also known as a conformation show, a show in which dogs are judged on how closely they adhere to the breeds standard.

Dogue de Bordeaux
Also called the French Mastiff and the Bordeaux Bulldog, a short, stocky mastiff with a large, heavy, broad and wrinkled head.

Domed Skull
Evenly rounded in topskull; curved, not flat.

Domesticated
A term used to describe an animal that has been tamed or reclaimed from a wild state.

Dominant
exerting forcefulness or having dominance in a social hierarchy.

Doming
As seen in Cocker Spaniels, the rounded portion of the head in between the ears.

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 Dapple
Varying amounts of white coloring occurring over the body in addition to the dapple pattern. Color definitions may vary by breed. Always check the breed standard for the definitive color description.

Down Hairs
A term referring to the shortest hair on the dog, which is usually found next to the skin beneath the top coat and is soft and downy in texture.

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.; Ear in which the leather is folded over to some degree.

Dropper
A bird dog cross.

Dry Neck
The skin taut, neither loose nor wrinkled.

Dudley Nose
Flesh-colored.

Dutch Shepherd Dog
A large breed of dog similar to the German Shepherd Dog and originating from the Netherlands.

Ear Mites
Microscopic insects that survive by feeding on the lining of the ear canal.

Ears
The auditory organ, consisting of three regions

Earthdog Events
Non competitive tests that gauge the trained and natural abilities of Dachshunds and small terriers to follow game to ground.

East-West Front
Incorrect positioning that causes the feet to turn outwards.