Term | Descrip. |
Belton | In English Setters, a coat pattern of white hairs mixed with colored hairs. |
Bat ears | Erect ears, broad at base & round at tip. |
Blaze | A white patch or stripe down the center of a dog's face, usually extending from forehead to nose. |
Blue | Coat color with a bluish or smoky cast. |
Blue merle | Blue & gray mixed with black; marbled. |
Brindle | Black stripes on a lighter color coat; black hairs mixed with other colors |
Button ears | Ears with flaps that fold forward so that their tips lie close to the skull & cover the ear opening. |
Cropped ears | Ears trimmed in puppyhood to stand erect & pointed. |
Crossbreed | The offspring of two different breeds of purebred dogs. |
Cobby | Compact in body build. |
Culotte | Long hair that grows on a dog's thighs. |
Dapple | Mottled markings different colors, no one predominating. |
Dewclaw | A digit, sometimes called the fifth claw; located high on the inner side of a dog's front & hind paws. |
Dewlap | Loose, pendulous skin that hangs under a dog's neck as in bloodhounds. |
Docked tail | Shortened by cutting the tail in puppyhood. |
Dome | Convexity of skull. |
Double coat | A weather-resistant coat that has both a soft, insulating undercoat, & a coarse protective outercoat. |
Dropped ears | Ears hanging flat & close to the cheek. |
Feathering | Long silky fringe of hair on legs, ears, tail, or body. |
Furnishings | Thick, fringed, or long portions of the coat, esp. on legs,face, & ears. |
Grizzle | Bluish gray color; mixture of black & white hair. |
Harlequin | A coat pattern of white with black or gray patches. |
Height | Vertical measurement from shoulders to ground. |
Hound color | White, tan, & black |
Mane | Thick hair around the neck & throat. |
Mask | Dark marking on muzzle, can extend over eyes. |
Mastiff | A type of dog characterized by a massive, muscular body & a powerful head & jaw. |
Merle | A coat pattern characterized by blotches of dark hair against a background of lighter hair. |
Mixed breed | A dog with one or both parents of mixed ancestry (nonpurebred). |
Muzzle | Part of head from eyes to nose; foreface. |
Outercoat | A dog's protective coat of coarse primary hairs. a.k.a. a "topcoat |
Pads | Soles of paws. |
Parti-color | Two or more clear & distinct colors in a coat. |
Pile | A dense undercoat of soft, fine fur. |
Plume | A tail with profuse hair. |
Prick ears | Erect, pointed ears. |
Primary hairs | Strong, coarse hairs, a.k.a. "guardhairs" that make up the protective outercoat. |
Purebred | A dog with ancestors of the same breed. |
Roach back | Convex curvature of the back. |
Roan | A coat pattern in which the base color (often red) is mixed with white hairs & looks lightened or mottled. |
Rose ears | Small, creased ears that fold back to reveal the ear opening. |
Ruff | Thick long hair around the neck. |
Sable | Dark brown shaded with black hairs. |
Saddle | Saddle-shaped black marking over back and shoulders. |
Secondary hairs | The soft, fine hairs that surround the primary hairs & make up a dog's dense, insulating undercoat. |
Substance | Bone structure, physical solidarity. |
Ticked | Small splashes of colored hairs on a basically white coat. |
Topknot | A clump of long hair on top of the head. |
Topline | The line along a dog's back in profile. |
Type | Essential characteristics distinguishing a breed. |
Undercoat | The underlying layer of soft, smooth secondary hair that insulates a dog's coat. |
Wheaten | Pale yellow or fawn color. |
Wild boar | Tan undercoat with black or grizzle overlay. |
Wrinkle | Loosely folded skin on sides of face or forehead. |
Spitz-type dog | Characteristic traits of the northern breed including prick ears, a double coat, a brushy tail, & powerful body. |
Wirehaired | A coat in which an abundance of coarse primary hairs gives it a "wiry" look & texture. |