Page 72 - Dog

Glossary Beagles have

drop ears.

BAIT Something edible put out to DROP EARS Ears that hang down, close to
attract animals the sides of the head
BAT EARS Erect ears that are wide at the ECOLOGICAL NICHE The position
base, rounded at the tips, and pointed out occupied by a plant or animal within its
community, including all the ways in which it
BITCH An adult female dog interacts with living and non-living things
BREED A group of dogs with particular ERECT Standing upright
characteristics. Humans control breeding to
achieve specific features, such as coat type or FAMILY Any of the taxonomic
head shape. If the breeding is not strictly groups into which an order is
supervised, characteristics can very quickly divided. A family contains one or
be lost. more genera. Canidae is the
name of the dog family.
BREEDING The process of producing
animals by mating one animal with another FERAL DOGS Domestic
dogs that have returned to living in the wild
BREED STANDARD The official and now live totally outside human control
description of a breed, setting out size, CLASS Any of the taxonomic groups into
weight, color, etc. which a phylum is divided. A class contains FORELEGS The front legs of a four-legged
one or more orders. Dogs are part of the animal
BRINDLE A mix of tan and class Mammalia.
black hair. GENUS (plural GENERA) Any of the
CROP The removal of the top of taxonomic groups into which a family is
An Italian greyhound the ears so that they stand divided. A genus contains one or
bitch with her puppies upright, and are pointed rather more species.
than rounded at the tip
GROOM To brush, clean, and style a dog
CROSSBRED An animal
whose parents are from GUARD HAIRS The coarse hairs that form
different breeds, or are the outer coat of some mammals
themselves crossbreds
HACKLES The hair on the back and neck,
which is raised when a dog is frightened or in
DEN The retreat or resting
place of a wild animal order to show aggression
HINDLEGS The back legs of a
DEW CLAW The claw four-legged animal
on the inside of the legs.
It is not used for any HOUNDS A group of dogs used for hunting,
particular purpose. including fast but lightly built “sight” hounds,
and stocky but relentless
DEWLAP The loose “scent” hounds.
folds of skin hanging
under a dog’s throat, as in
the bloodhound
BRUSH A term used to describe a bushy tail;
also a fox’s tail DOCK To remove an animal’s
tail, or part of it, by cutting
CAMOUFLAGE The coloration of an
animal that either blends in with the color of DOG Specifically an adult
the surroundings or breaks up the animal’s male dog, but used in a
outline with stripes or spots, making it general way for all
harder to see. Camouflage can be important dogs, regardless
both for animals that hunt and for those that of age or sex
are hunted.
DOGGY
PADDLING
CANID A member of the dog family. The
term comes from canis, which is the Latin To swim moving
word for dog. your limbs in vertical circles,
the way that a dog swims
CANINE Dog or doglike; also the large tooth DOMINANT The animal that is
between the incisors and the premolars, used stronger and in a more powerful
for gripping prey position in a group

CARNIVORE A member of the order DOUBLE COAT A coat made
Carnivora—which contains animals that have up of a soft, insulating undercoat
teeth specialized for biting and shearing flesh. through which longer guard hairs
Most carnivores live primarily on meat. protrude
Labradors are sporting dogs

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