GLOSSARY OF DOG RELATED TERMS, ABBREVIATIONS & TITLES TERMINOLOGY

Agility An obstacle race for dogs. Dogs and handlers complete course. Speed and accuracy are important in developing the skills required for agility.

Angulation Angles created by bones meeting at their given joints .

Baiting or Free Bait To bait the dog or to free baiting, is using food or toy to get your dogs' attention so they show expression and animation to the judge or make the dog want to stack..

Benched show a show where all dogs are required to stay in an assigned "benching area" for the duration of the show, (except when being exercised, groomed, or exhibited) as in Westminster Kennel Club in New York City, International Kennel Club in Chicago, and Golden Gate in San Francisco. These are very large, heavily attended shows by the public. Excellent for the public, but can be exhausting for the exhibitors and dogs.

BITCH a FEMALE canine

Brace a pair of dogs of the same breed shown together displaying consistency in breeding program with the same attitudes, style, and type. No regular points are awarded.

Campaign To enter and compete in a large number of shows with a Champion or Special - in order to obtain national rankings by way of defeating the greatest number of other dogs. Requires an excellent dog and handler. Owners or breeders or professional handlers may handle.

Catalog sold at shows which lists each entered dog's entry number, class entered, registered name and number, breeder, owner, sire, dam, and date of birth. Usually a in book form.

Champion an AKC is a title awarded to dogs who have been awarded at least 15 points, including two majors in the breed ring by 2 different judges, where their conformation to the written standard of excellence for their breed is judged. "CH" becomes an official prefix to the dog's registered name. Champions are often referred to as "specials" - usually when they are being actively campaigned.

Choke a "choke" is a metal, nylon, or leather collar consisting of a straight piece of the material, usually joined by looping it through one of two rings on each end. This is the most common collar worn by dogs in the breed ring. Worn properly, with the pull loop coming off the top of the head, this does NOT actually choke the dog, but rather gives a quick correction to get the dog's attention.

Crate, Cage, kennel are other names for it. It is a place where your Dogs feel very safe and secure in their crates, which double as their private "dens." Crates are a CRITICAL piece of safety equipment for ALL dogs travelling in cars. Crates function in much the same way as does a child's safety seat; preventing dogs from being hurled through glass windows during a collision, and taking the impact of a crash.

Croup The lower spinal region of a dog, containing the back of the pelvis to the root of the tail.

Conformation a ring competition where the dog is handled an is being examined by a judge, dogs are placed according to how well, in that judge's opinion, they "conform" to their breed standard. .

Dog Used a MALE canine.

Ex-Pen A portable wire fencing unit taken to shows to allow dogs a safe, clean place to eliminate and stretch out.

Finish to finish means to have won enough points to be awarded the title of Champion

Gait the movement. Most breeds are gaited at a trot or jogging speed.different breeds and dogs are shown at different speeds

Get The offspring of a stud dog.

Groom bath, dry, comb, clip and scissor a dog there is show grooming and pet grooming

1. Sporting (dogs used for upland gamebird hunting i.e. Retrievers, pointers, setters, spaniels)

2. Hound (dogs who track by sight or scent)

3. Working (guard, pulling and/or rescue dogs) this is where Giants appear in the USA.

4. Terrier (dogs who were bred to kill vermin)

5. Toy (dogs who were bred strictly as small companions to people)

6. Non-Sporting (dogs whose original job no longer exists, or who no longer are used for their original function)

7. Herding (Dogs bred to gather and move livestock - formerly part of the Working Group)

Handler The person who presents the dog in competition. It can be an owner, breeder, both or a professional handler.

Judge. An official who evaluates and compares how well, in his/her opinion, and in comparison to the other dogs entered in the class that day, a dog conforms to its breed's written standard

Judging Schedule A small publication given by the superintendent listing when and where and who judges each breed that day.

Lead A thin leather, nylon, cotton, etc. Usually with a metal snap or clip connector on one end to attach to the dog's choke to lead the dog around the show ring.

A "Major" earns you 3, 4, or 5 points towards its championship. It is a big win for a class dog who has defeated enough dogs that day by going Winners Dog or Winners Bitch, to The point schedule is different for each breed, sex, and region, depending upon entries.

Micro chipping - An identification technique in which a microchip, a rice-sized device encoded with a unique and unalterable identification number, is implanted just under the skin in the scruff of the neck and is read by a scanner.

Parent Club also a National Breed Club such as GSCA

Produce The offspring of a brood bitch.

Ring Steward Stewards are responsible for the smooth operation of their rings, and the comfort of the judges they are assigned to assist. Acting as judge's assistant who is in charge of getting the exhibitors and their dogs into and out of the rings efficiently. Stewards check in the exhibitors, answer questions about ring procedures, call in the classes, prepare the ribbons and trophies for distribution, and maintain their own marked catalogs as back-up documentation for official placements.

Set Up The area on the show grounds, your home-base for grooming and holding your dogs while you are not in the ring. Getting to the show site early is important so you have enough space hopefully close to the rings with an electrical outlet for grooming!

Sidegait The movement of a dog as it is seen from the dog's side. Look for how effectively it tracks, and how appropriately it reaches with it's front legs, and drives off of it's rear.

Slicker A small brush with a rectangular head on the end containing fine teeth with bent tops which is used to separate and brush out topcoat and furnishings.

Special is Slang for a Champion who is being actively campaigned.

Specialty A show consisting of only one breed, given by a "Specialty Club." Specialty clubs are groups of individuals (breeders, exhibitors, pet enthusiasts, etc.) Who share a passion for a specific breed of dogs, and who host events specific to promoting that breed.

Stack To cause your dog to stand in a manner that best displays it's best virtues. In most breeds, the dog's forelegs are stacked in alignment with their withers, and their rear pasterns are squarely aligned and presented at a 90 degree angle from the floor. One may "Hand stack" their dog by manually placing each foot in it's best position, or else "Free stack" by using a hands free method of using bait, verbal commands, body language, or lead correction to get the dog to stack itself. Occasionally a judge will only allow you to FREEBAIT. Occasionally a jude will not allow you to use bait.

The "Standard" A written detailed description of the dog breed put together by the National parent organization as the official description of perfection for their particular breed.

Sweepstakes A non-regular class, usually offered at specialty shows, which are specifically designed to recognize outstanding young dogs and puppies. Sweepstakes are the only classes where money prizes are normally awarded. Owners are the handlers.

Tack means Equipment (collars, leads, grooming products, combs, brushes, shears, etc)

Topline The spinal section of a dog from it's withers (top of shoulder blades) to the end of it's croup (at the tail root).

Veterans A non-regular but competitive class for dogs at least 7-8 years old, designed to honor those dogs who have maintained their structural integrity, health, vigor and love of showing into their golden years

Withers The point at which the shoulder blades (scapulae) meet. The withers is the point at which actual HEIGHT of a dog is measured with a tool called a wicket. The height of the dog needs to be determined for obedience, agility and flyball competition as it will determine the jumping height of the dog.

Whelp To give birth to a litter of puppies. A pregnant bitch is considered to be "in whelp." When she is giving birth, she is said to be "whelping."

AI refers to Artificial Insemination

OFA - is Orthopedic Foundation for Animals - A research, diagnostic, and registration organization of veterinary orthopedists. The OFA is a diagnostic service and registry for hip dysplasia, important for large breed dogs

CERF-Canine Eye Registry Foundation A group of board certified Veterinary Ophthalmologists who maintain a registry of purebred dogs. CERF provides a variety of reports, the CERF newsletter and other eye disease materials to help educate the owner/breeder

TT refers to Temperament Testing,

TDI is a therapy dog, dogs who can officially go to hospitals, schools and nursing homes

BBE-bred by exhibitor

BIS-Best in Show

BISS-best in specialty sweepstakes "specialty show best of breed win"

BJH-Best Junior Handler -

BOH-Breeder, Owner, Handler

BOS-Best of Opposite Sex when BOB winner is DOG BOS is a bitch. If a Bitch wins BOB dog wins BOS.

BW-Best of Winners

CD-Companion Dog

CDX-Companion Dog Excellent

CGC-Canine Good Citizen, AKC certificate indicating that the dog has successfully participated in AKC's CGC test-a casual set of exercises testing the dog's skills and basic obedience.

CH - Champion title awarded to dogs who have been awarded at least 15 points, including two majors in the breed ring by 2 different judges, where their conformation to the written standard of excellence for their breed is judged.

FD-Flyball Dog title awarded to a dog that competes in Flyball and earns 20 points.

FDX-Flyball Dog Excellent title award to a dog that competes in Flyball and earns 100 points.

FDCH-Flyball Dog Champion title awarded to a dog that competes in Flyball and earns 500 points.

NA-Novice Agility AKC title awarded to dogs who completes 3 legs in AKC novice agility.

NAC - Novice Agility certificate earned by a dog who completes 3 legs in NADAC novice agility.

OA-Open Agility certificate earned by a dog who completes 3 legs in AKC open agility.

PHA-Professional Handlers' Association

TD-Tracking Dog title awarded to dogs who have qualified in this first level of Tracking Test

TDX-Tracking Dog Excellent title awarded to dogs who have qualified in this highest level of Tracking Test