some of these are mainly AKC focused.
Abdomen - The body cavity between the hindquarters and the chest.
Abortifacients - Drugs used to induce abortion.
Abscess - Swollen or enflamed area of body tissue, usually accompanied with pus.
Acalasia - A defect in the line from the esophagus to the diaphragm in which there is a pocket where food and liquid lodge and are never digested.
Acarus - A parasitic mite that can cause mange.
Acetabulum - Socket of the hipbone that holds the femur (thigh bone).
Achilles tendon - Most prominent, longest, and strongest tendon in the dog, provides an anchor and extension for the calf muscle onto the fibular tarsal bone.
Acne - Inflammation of the skin glands caused by dirt entering the glands.
Acromegaly - Disease of the pituitary gland in which a tumor causes overproduction of growth hormone resulting in gigantism.
Action - The way a dog walks, trots or run.
Acupuncture - Ancient Chinese medical practice of inserting sharp needles at specific points in the body to alleviate pain or uncomfortable condition.
A.D. - Agility dog.
Addison’s disease - Hypoadrenocorticism, hormonal deficiency especially of the adrenocortical hormones most common among young to middle-aged dogs.
Aclenocarcinoma - Deadly malignant tumor that originates in the cells which form a gland that quickly spreads throughout the entire body.
Adenoma - Benign tumor, or non-inflammatory growth usually found in the mammary glands.
‘Adonis‘ - English setter that was the first dog registered in the American Kennel Club’s stud book (1878).
Adrenal glands - Glands located near kidneys that produce adrenalin which acts upon the heart and ultimately regulate the blood pressure.
Advanced Agility Dog - Second title for agility competitions (AAD).
Afterbirth - Placenta and fetal membranes discharged from the womb after the birth of the pup.
Agalactia - Contagious viral disease that causes a decrease or stoppage of milk production in a nursing bitch.
Agility dog - First title for agility competitions (AD/A.D.)
Agility trials - Competitive sport involving man and dog in which the handler directs his/her dog through a timed obstacle course; scoring is based on faults.
Aitches - The pelvic tubers.
A.K.C. - American Kennel Club.
Alariasis - Infection caused by ingestion of flukes; the flukes mature and feed on intestinal contents.
Alarm dogs - Dogs which bark to call attention to something or someone that is out of line.
Albinism - Lack of pigmentation of the skin, hair, and irises of the eyes.
Alert - A. any dog of attention, B. racing dog that is quick out of the box.
Almond eyes - Oval-shaped eyes that are pointed at either corner.
Alopecia - Unusual loss of hair, inherited skin problem that has no treatment or cure.
Alpha - In a group of dogs, the ‘top dog,‘ is alpha; groups of dogs will also have a higher alpha which is the owner of the dogs.
Amaurosis - Condition of the German Short-haired Pointer marked by nervousness and decreased trainability. Also known as familial amaurotic idiocy.
Bench Show - Dog show where dogs are displayed on benches except during ring sessions.
Best in Show - Award given to the dog who is judged best of all breeds in a show.
Bitch - A female dog
Bitchy - When a male dog shows female characteristics
Bloom - Glossiness of coat
Bobtail - A naturally tailless dog, or a dog with a very short docked tail.
Brace - Pair of dogs
Brindle - A mixture of black hairs with brown, grey or tan.
Brisket - Front of chest between the forelegs.
Brood bitch - Female used for breeding.
CD (Companion Dog) - Title earned by successfully completing novice classes at three AKC obedience trials.
CDX (Companion Dog Excellent) - Title earned by successfully completing classes at three AKC obedience trials.
Ch., Champion - Title awarded to dog that has defeated a specific number of dogs in competition at officially sanctioned dog shows.
Chest - Directly under the dog, behind the forelegs.
Coupling - Part of the body between the shoulders and hips.
Crabbing - Dog that moves toward you with its body at an angle rather that straight ahead; also called side-wheeling or side-winding.
Conformation - A dog’s form, structure and shape, which should conform to the standard for each breed.
Cropping - Forming erect ears by the cutting or trimming of the ear leather.
Croup - Portion of the back directly above the hind legs before the tail.
Dam - female parent
Dewclaws - Rudimentary toes often removed shortly after birth
Dewlap - skin on the throat
Dish faced - Where the tip of the nose is higher that the stop
Dog - a. any canine, male or female b. male dog, especially when used in conjunction with bitch
Doggy - Female dog showing male characteristics, especially in weight and size.
Entropian - Complex genetic condition that results in the turning in of the upper or lower eyelid, potentially resulting in corneal ulceration.
Eyeteeth - Upper canines.
FCh., Field Champion - Title awarded to a dog who has defeated a certain number of dogs at a series of AKC competitions.
Field Trial - A competition for specific Hound or Sporting Breeds. Dogs are judged on the ability and style of finding or retrieving game.
Hews - Pendulous upper lips.
Gait - Way a dog moves.
Haw - Third eyelid.
Heat: Hocks - Joints above the pasterns of the legs.
Isabella - Fawn or light bay color.
Jaws - The two bones that frame the mouth, holding the teeth.
Kennel Cough - Respiratory disease resulting in acute coughing spasms, a.k.a. Canine Infectious Tracheobronchitis.
Landseer - Black and White Newfoundland Dog.
Liver - Deep reddish brown color.
Luxation - Dislocation of an anatomical structure, i.e. lens or patella.
Match Show - An informal show at which no championship points are awarded.
Merle - Blue-gray or red gray coloring with flecks of black.
Miscellaneous Class - Competitive class of dogs who don’t formally fit into regular show classification.
Nape - The junction of the base of the skull and the top of the neck.
Obedience Trial - An event in which a dog and handler display their competence in executing specific skills such as sit, down, heel, and stay.
OTCh (Obedience Trial Champion) - Title earned by a dog that has won the number of points and first place wins specified in the current obedience regulations.
Open Class - A dog show in which all dogs of all breeds, including Champions, imported dogs, and mixed breeds.
Pad - Cushioned part of the foot.
Pastern - Part of the leg below the knee in the rear legs.
Quarters - The four regions that comprise a quadruped.
Rose ear - Small drop ear that folds over the back to reveal the burr.
Scenthound - A dog that hunts primarily by scent.
Schutzhund - German-developed training regimen for protective work used world-wide, only strong, determined, and aggressive dogs perform well with Schutzhund.
Second thigh - Area of the hind quarters between the hock and the stifle.
Septum - Vertical line between the nostrils.
Show dog - Dog bred for conformation to its breed standards and shown in competition on that basis.
Sire - Male parent
Stifle - Upper joint of the rear legs which correspond to humans knees.
Stop - Point between the dogs’ eyes.
Stud - Male dog used for breeding.
TD (Tracking Dog) - Title earned by a dog that has passed an officially sanctioned tracking test.
TDX (Tracking Dog Excellent) - Title earned by a dog that has passed an AKC dog excellent tracking test.
Triple Champion - Dog that has won bench show, field trial, and obedience trial memberships.
UD (Utility Dog) - Title earned by a dog that has won certain minimum requirement scores in utility classes as a specific number of officially sanctioned obedience trials.
Undershot - Front teeth (incisors) of the lower jaw overlapping beyond the front teeth of the upper jaw when the mouth is closed, i.e. bulldog skull
Vaccination - Immunization against communicable diseases.
Whelps - Weaned Puppies
Withers - Highest point of the shoulders, right behind the neck.