Page 341 - The Complete Dog Breed Book Choose the Perfect Dog for You, New Edition (DK)

G L OSS A R Y 341

Griffon (Fr.) Referring to a coarse or Pastern Lower part of the leg, below the Temperament The character of a dog.
wire coat. carpals (wrist bones) of the foreleg or
the hock on the hind leg. Topcoat Outer coat of guard hairs.
Grizzle Usually a mixture of black and
white hairs, which gives a blue-gray or Pendant ears Ears that hang down from Topknot Long tuft of hair on the top of
iron-gray shading to the coat. It is seen their base; an extreme form of drop ears. the head.
in some breeds of terrier.
Pendulous lips Full, loosely hanging Topline The outline of the dog’s upper
Group Dog breeds are classified into upper or lower lips. body from ears to tail.
various groups by the American Kennel
Club, FCI, and Kennel Club. The groups Rose ears Small, drop ears that fold Tricolor A coat of three colors in
are loosely based on function, but no two outward and backward so that part of well-defined patches—usually black, tan,
systems agree. The number and names the ear canal is exposed. This type of and white.
of the groups differ, as do the breeds that ear is seen in Whippets.
are recognized and included in them. Tucked up Referring to the belly, an
Ruff A long, thick collar of hair sticking upward curve to the abdomen toward
Hackney gait Dogs with this type of out around the neck. the hindquarters, typically seen in breeds
action, such as the Miniature Pinscher, such as the Greyhound and the Whippet.
raise the lower part of the leg particularly Sable A coat color in which hairs
high as they walk. tipped with black overlay a lighter Undercoat Underlayer of hair—usually
background color. short, thick, and sometimes woolly—that
Harlequin A color pattern comprising provides insulation between the topcoat
irregular-sized patches of black on white; Saddle A darker-colored area that and the skin.
seen only in the Great Dane. extends over the back.
Undershot Facial conformation in which
Hock Joint on the hind leg, equivalent to Scissors bite The normal bite of dogs the lower jaw protrudes beyond the upper
the human heel; in dogs, this is elevated with mesaticephalic and dolichocephalic jaw, seen in breeds such as the Bulldog.
because they walk on their toes. heads. The upper incisors (front teeth) are
slightly in front of but in contact with the Undershot bite The normal bite of
Isabella A fawn color found in some lower incisors when the mouth is closed. brachycephalic breeds such as the Bulldog.
breeds, including the Bergamasco The other teeth interlock with no gaps and Because the lower jaw is longer than the
Sheepdog and Dobermann. form the cutting edge of the “scissors.” upper jaw, the incisor teeth do not meet
and the lower incisors are in front of the
Mask Dark coloration on the face, usually Semierect ears Erect ears in which only upper ones.
around the muzzle and eyes. the tip is inclined forward, as seen in
breeds such as the Rough Collie (right). Withers The highest
Merle A marbled coat with darker patches point of the shoulder,
or spots. Blue merle (black on a bluish-gray Sesame A coat color comprising an equal where the neck
background) is the most common variation. mixture of black and white hairs. In black meets the back.
sesame, there are more black hairs than A dog’s height is
Mesaticephalic head Head shape in white; red sesame is a mixture of red and measured
which the base and width are of medium black hairs. vertically from
proportions. The Labrador Retriever the ground to
and Border Collie are examples of Sickle tail Tail that is carried in a half the withers.
breeds with this type of head shape. circle over the back.
Neutering A surgical procedure that Spoonlike feet Similar to catlike feet but
prevents dogs from breeding. more oval in shape because the middle
toes are longer than the outer toes.
Otter tail A thickly furred, rounded
tail that has a broad base and tapers Stop The indentation between the
to the tip; the hair on the underside is muzzle and the top of the head, in
parted. It is seen in breeds such as the between the eyes. The stop is almost
Labrador Retriever and Chesapeake absent in dolichocephalic breeds, such
Bay Retriever. as the Borzoi, and very pronounced in
brachycephalic and dome-headed
Pack Usually used to describe a group of breeds, such as the Cocker Spaniel
scent or sight hounds that hunt together. and the Chihuahua.

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