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 bait is when you are using food or toy to get your dogs' attention to make the dog want to stack or so they show expression and animation to the judge

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

is a female dog.

Brace

a pair of dogs of the same breed shown together displaying consistency in breeding program with the same attitudes, style, and type. They can win ribbons, group placements and Best in show brace. No regular points are awarded

Breed type

is what makes an Akita an Akita, a Giant schnauzer a  Giant schnauzer. How it conforms to the breed standard.

 Breed 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.

Brucellosis

 All Responsible breeders test bitches and dogs before breeding. It is a bacterial disease spread during mating that can cause the bitch to abort her litter and cause inflammation and infertility in dogs.

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

CERF

Stands for Canine Eye Registry Foundation, a registry for diagnostic tests for inherited eye diseases such as progressive retinal atrophy.

Champion AKC

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.  

Champion non AKC

There are other kennel clubs that award championship status. You can win CH status in other countries as well that have nothing to do with AKC.

Choke

this does NOT actually choke the dog, but rather gives a quick correction to get the dog's attention. You have to placed this properly on the dogs head for the correction function to work properly. It is 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.

Conformation

a 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.  

Crate, Cage, kennel

Usually refer to the place designed for your Dog to feel very safe and secure. A den in your home, their crates. Crates are a CRITICAL piece of safety equipment for ALL dogs traveling in cars. We prefer the hard sided, “airline” crates. They give the most sense of security. 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. They facilitate house breaking and training. A safe place to sleep in and keep pup from developing bad habits while you are sleeping or not home. They should not be used for punishment.

Croup

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

Dog

refers to the male of the breed

Estrus

  a term meaning a bitch has entered her fertile cycle. Most go into estrus every six-to-eight months, but some breeds have intervals up to a year. It lasts about 21 days, but bitches are generally only able to conceive from about day nine to day 14.

Exhibitor

One who is involved in entering a dog to a show in its appropriate class

Ex-Pen

A light weight portable wire fencing unit taken to shows to allow dogs a  clean place to eliminate and stretch out.

Finish

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

Gait

The dogs movement. Breeds are gaited at a speed that best shows the dogs structure and may be directed by the breed judge. Different breeds and dogs are shown at different speeds

Get

The offspring of a stud dog.

Groom

bath, dry, clean teeth, clean ears, comb, clip, trim nails, and scissor a dog there is show grooming and pet grooming

Groups

There are separate groups dogs are presented in. The AKC groups are:

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

Hound (dogs who track by sight or scent) –

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

Terrier (dogs who were bred to kill vermin) –

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

Non-Sporting dogs whose original job no longer exists,  no longer are used for their original function

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 you may hire.

In-breeding

 is the breeding of close relatives such as a bitch and her sire, a dog and his dam, a sister and brother,  etc.

intact

dog with reproductive organs

Judge

In conformation the ring it is 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.

Line-breeding

is the practice of breeding dogs that have some relatives in attempt to breed that  superior physical and temperament traits to try to fix a superior breed type. It can have little potential for inherited diseases.

Line-breeding when done well can achieve much. Line-bred puppies can come from two out-cross (non-line-bred) dogs that have a common ancestor.

 When not done correctly and researched sufficiently line breeding can have undesirable traits, characteristics or even medical problems

Major

In conformation a win that 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 per state is different for each breed, sex, and region, depending upon entries.

Microchipping

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

neutered

Dog that has had organs (testicles) removed preventing possible reproduction.

OFA

 is the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, a registry for diagnostic tests for a variety of inherited abnormalities; Responsible breeders use this to screen breeding dogs and bitches. Determining which do have the defects that affect their breeds. The responsible breeder uses only those bitches and dogs that pass the tests.

Out-crossing breeding

is the practice of breeding unrelated dogs of the same breed. It is used as a breeding strategy to bring new traits and strengths into a specific blood line and breeding program

Parent Club

also a National Breed Club such as GSCA

pedigree

is a canine family tree. The make up the dog’s genetic heritage. Pedigrees are a detailed list if sires and dams on both sides.

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!

Side gait

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.

Spay  

Is what is done to a bitch has had those organs removed and cannot reproduce.

Special

What they call 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 FREE BAIT. Occasionally a judge will not allow you to use bait usually a toy is allowed.

Stickle hair

These white hairs that can appear on a few giant schnauzers. Most giants do not have them at all or just have a few that is not a problem. If these are pulled fewer and fewer will come back as the hairs grow in. You need to talk to your breeder about these

stud dog

is a male used for breeding.

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.

Tack

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

Top line

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). In giants it should be nice and flat.

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

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."

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 fly ball competition as it will determine the jumping height of the dog.