The world of dogs has developed a surprisingly extensive vocabulary. Browse breed information, read about canine history or explore different coat types and you can quickly encounter terms such as brindle, withers, sighthound, roan, stop, feathering and double coat.
Some words describe physical features. Others relate to coat colours and patterns, historical working roles, breed development or the ways dogs are grouped and described. Many have been used for generations, while others are more familiar within particular parts of the dog world.
The terminology can sometimes make a straightforward subject appear more complicated than it really is.
This A–Z provides a broad reference to commonly encountered dog terminology, explaining each term in straightforward language and placing it into context where useful.
It isn't intended to replace individual breed standards or specialist professional terminology. Instead, it provides a convenient starting point for readers who encounter an unfamiliar dog-related word and simply want to understand what it means.
A
Adult Coat
The coat that develops as a dog matures and replaces or develops from its earlier puppy coat. The timing and extent of the change varies considerably between breeds and individual dogs.
Agility
A dog activity involving a course containing obstacles such as jumps, tunnels and weaving poles. It developed as an organised canine activity during the twentieth century and is now seen recreationally and competitively in many countries.
Alert
A word frequently encountered in descriptions of dogs that tend to notice activity or changes around them. When used in general breed descriptions, it should not be interpreted as guaranteeing how an individual dog will behave.
Almond-Shaped Eyes
A descriptive term for eyes whose visible outline resembles the elongated shape of an almond. The expression frequently appears within descriptions of breed appearance.
Assistance Dog
A dog trained to provide particular forms of practical assistance to a person. The term covers several different roles rather than one single type of work.
B
Baiting
A historical blood sport in which animals were deliberately set against or attacked by dogs. Practices such as bull-baiting and bear-baiting are now prohibited in the UK but appear in the histories of some breeds.
Baying
A prolonged vocal sound particularly associated with some hounds. It differs from the shorter sound usually described simply as barking.
Beard
Longer or more prominent hair around the muzzle and lower jaw that creates a beard-like appearance. It is characteristic of several breeds with furnishings on the face.
Bicolour
A coat displaying two visible colours. The amount and distribution of each colour can vary substantially.
Blaze
A contrasting marking, commonly white, running along the central area of a dog's face towards the forehead.
Blue
In dog coat terminology, blue usually refers to pigmentation that appears grey or bluish-grey rather than literally blue.
Brachycephalic
A term used to describe dogs with relatively short skull and muzzle proportions compared with longer-headed dogs. It is an anatomical description encountered in discussions of canine head shape.
Breed
A recognised population of dogs that shares an established history and identifiable characteristics and is bred with continuity between generations.
The development and formal recognition of modern breeds occurred over a much shorter period than the overall history of domestic dogs.
Breed Standard
A written description setting out the characteristics associated with a recognised breed according to a particular kennel organisation.
Breed standards can describe areas including general appearance, proportions, coat, colour and movement. Exact wording and recognised characteristics can differ between organisations and countries.
Brindle
A coat pattern generally consisting of darker striping over a lighter background.
The amount and density of striping can vary considerably between individual dogs.
Our Complete Guide to Dog Colours, Markings and Patterns explores brindle, merle, sable, roan and many other coat descriptions in greater detail.
C
Canine
A word relating to dogs or members of the wider biological family Canidae. In everyday dog writing, canine is frequently used simply as an alternative adjective to dog.
Companion Dog
A dog kept principally for companionship rather than for a traditional working purpose.
Companionship itself has a long history, although it has become an increasingly prominent role for dogs in modern households.
Conformation
The physical structure and proportions of a dog.
In the context of dog showing, conformation relates to how a dog's physical characteristics compare with the relevant breed standard.
Crossbreed
A dog whose parents belong to different breeds.
The term is sometimes used broadly, although its meaning can differ slightly according to context.
Curly Coat
A coat in which the hair naturally forms curls.
The degree and structure of curling varies considerably between breeds.
D
Dam
The female parent of a dog.
The corresponding term for the male parent is sire.
Dewclaw
A digit positioned higher on the leg than the main weight-bearing toes.
Its presence and position can vary between dogs and breeds.
Docking
The removal of part of a dog's tail.
The practice has a long history and appears in discussions of numerous breeds. Modern laws concerning tail docking vary between countries and circumstances.
Double Coat
A coat consisting broadly of two layers: an outer coat and an undercoat.
The relative density, length and texture of these layers vary enormously between breeds.
Draft Dog
A dog historically associated with pulling carts, sledges or other loads.
Several large working breeds and northern dogs have histories involving forms of draft work.
Droving
The movement of livestock over distances, traditionally towards markets, grazing areas or other destinations.
Dogs sometimes accompanied drovers and helped manage livestock during these journeys.
The Complete Guide to the Historical Roles and Jobs of Dogs explores droving, hunting, retrieving, guarding, transport and many other forms of canine work.
E
Ear Set
The position at which the ears are attached to the head.
Breed descriptions may refer to ears being set high, low or in other characteristic positions.
Earthdog
A term associated with dogs working around underground dens or burrows.
The historical work of many terriers has connections with going to ground.
Estrus
A reproductive term referring to a stage of the female reproductive cycle. In everyday UK language, people may instead encounter descriptions such as a dog being in season.
Even Temperament
A phrase sometimes used in general descriptions to suggest steadiness of behaviour.
As with other temperament terminology, it describes a broad characteristic and should not be interpreted as predicting the behaviour of every individual dog.
F
Fawn
A light tan, sandy or yellowish coat colour occurring in a variety of breeds.
It may appear alongside darker markings such as a facial mask.
Feathering
Longer hair occurring on particular areas of the body, commonly including the legs, underside, ears or tail.
Feathering is particularly noticeable in several spaniel, setter and retriever breeds.
Flecking
Small scattered areas or flecks of contrasting colour within a coat.
The term can be used descriptively and should not automatically be treated as identical to more specific patterns such as ticking or roaning.
Flushing
A historical hunting role in which a dog finds and causes game to leave vegetation or cover.
Spaniels became particularly associated with this form of work.
Furnishings
Longer or more prominent hair occurring on areas such as the face, eyebrows and legs.
The word is frequently encountered in descriptions of wire-haired and rough-coated breeds.
G
Gait
The manner in which a dog moves.
Different forms of movement can include walking, trotting and running, while breed standards may contain more specific descriptions of characteristic movement.
Grizzle
A coat description generally involving an intermingled or blended appearance created by differently coloured hairs.
Its precise appearance and usage vary according to breed.
Grooming
The general care and maintenance of a dog's coat and external appearance.
The amount and type of grooming associated with dogs can vary greatly depending upon coat length, texture and structure.
Gundog
A broad description for dogs historically developed to work alongside people hunting with firearms.
Gundogs include several more specialised types, including retrievers, setters, pointers and spaniels.
H
Hackles
Hair along areas of a dog's back and neck that may become visibly raised in certain circumstances.
The physical appearance is sometimes described as raised hackles.
Harlequin
A distinctive coat description most famously associated with the Great Dane, involving irregular dark patches against a predominantly white background.
The term has specific meaning within breed descriptions and should not simply be applied to every black-and-white patterned dog.
Herding Dog
A dog associated historically or currently with influencing the movement of livestock.
Herding should be distinguished from livestock guarding, which developed around a different practical role.
Hock
A joint on the hind leg corresponding broadly in anatomical position to the human ankle.
It sits above the rear paw and is frequently referenced when describing canine structure and movement.
Hound
A broad group of dogs historically associated with hunting.
Hounds include dogs developed around different approaches, particularly those relying strongly upon sight or scent.
I
In Season
A commonly used UK expression referring to the reproductive period in a female dog associated with the oestrous cycle.
Isabella
A pale diluted coat colour encountered in descriptions of certain breeds.
The precise terminology and recognised colours vary according to breed and organisation.
J
Jack
An older or contextual term that can appear within names or descriptions associated with certain dogs, most familiarly the Jack Russell Terrier.
Unlike many entries in this A–Z, Jack is not a general anatomical or coat term and is usually encountered as part of a proper breed or historical name.
Jowls
The loose flesh or lips around the sides of the mouth and lower jaw.
Prominent jowls are particularly noticeable in some larger and heavier-headed breeds.
K
Kennel
A word with several dog-related meanings.
It can describe a shelter or housing structure for a dog, a facility where dogs are kept, or form part of the terminology used by organisations involved with pedigree dogs and breed registration.
Kennel Club
An organisation involved in areas such as dog registration, breed recognition, breed standards and organised canine activities.
Different countries have their own organisations, and breed recognition or terminology is not necessarily identical between them.
L
Lead
The UK term for the strap, cord or similar item attached to a dog's collar or harness when walking or handling the dog.
In American English, leash is more commonly used.
Leather Nose
A descriptive phrase sometimes used in reference to the external visible surface of a dog's nose.
More specialist terminology may differ depending upon context.
Litter
A group of puppies born from the same pregnancy.
Liver
A dog coat term used for brown pigmentation in a number of breeds.
Although it can appear visually similar to colours described elsewhere as brown or chocolate, terminology differs between breeds.
Livestock Guardian
A dog historically developed to remain around livestock and provide a protective presence against potential threats.
Livestock guardians should not be confused with herding dogs, whose historical work centred more directly on influencing livestock movement.
M
Mantle
A coat pattern or marking involving extensive darker colouring over the upper body, often combined with white elsewhere.
The term is particularly familiar in descriptions of Great Danes.
Mask
Contrasting pigmentation covering part of a dog's face, commonly around the muzzle.
Dark masks occur in several breeds with lighter body colouring.
Merle
A coat pattern involving irregular areas of stronger and diluted pigmentation, producing a mottled or marbled appearance.
Blue merle and red merle are among the most familiar descriptions.
Mixed-Breed Dog
A dog whose ancestry includes more than one breed or population and which is not represented as belonging to one recognised pedigree breed.
The term covers dogs with enormously varied appearances and backgrounds.
Molossian
A historical and descriptive term encountered in discussions of mastiff-type and other substantial dogs.
Its use can vary depending upon historical or modern classification context.
Muzzle
The projecting portion of a dog's face containing the nose and mouth.
The length, width and overall shape of the muzzle vary dramatically between breeds.
N
Neck Ruff
An area of longer or denser coat around the neck that creates a ruff-like appearance.
It can be particularly prominent in some long-coated and double-coated breeds.
Nose Work
A broad modern expression for activities centred on a dog's use of scent.
It should not be confused with one particular historical working role, as scent has been used by dogs in hunting, tracking, detection and numerous other contexts.
O
Oestrus
The British spelling of estrus, referring to a stage of the female reproductive cycle.
Open Coat
A descriptive coat term that can refer to hair that does not lie closely against the body.
Its precise use can depend upon breed and coat context.
Outcross
In breeding terminology, mating animals from different lines or populations rather than closely related individuals.
The precise use of the term can vary according to breeding context.
P
Pack
A group of dogs.
The word also has other meanings in dog history: a pack can refer to a group of hounds working together, while a dog can also carry a physical pack containing equipment.
Parti-Colour
A coat containing substantial areas of white together with another colour.
Usage varies between breeds, so the term does not necessarily describe precisely the same visual arrangement everywhere it appears.
Pedigree
A recorded line of ancestry.
In everyday UK usage, pedigree dog is commonly used in connection with dogs belonging to recognised breeds with documented ancestry.
Piebald
A pattern involving pigmented areas alongside areas of white.
The amount and distribution of white can vary considerably.
Pointing
A hunting behaviour historically developed in particular gundogs, where the dog indicates the location of game through a characteristic stationary posture.
Points
Contrasting coat markings occurring in characteristic locations such as above the eyes, around the muzzle, on the chest and lower legs.
The word therefore has a very different meaning from pointing.
Puppy
A young dog.
Exactly when everyday language shifts from puppy to adult dog can depend partly upon context and development rather than one universal conversational cut-off.
Q
Quarry
The animal being sought or pursued during hunting.
The word appears frequently in historical descriptions of hunting dogs and their original roles.
R
Ratter
A dog used historically to catch or control rats.
Terriers became particularly strongly associated with this form of vermin control.
Red
A broad dog coat description covering a range of warm reddish, golden-red and reddish-brown shades.
The precise appearance differs considerably between breeds.
Retriever
A type of gundog historically associated particularly with recovering shot game and returning it to the hunter.
The word survives directly in breed names including Labrador Retriever, Golden Retriever and Flat-Coated Retriever.
Roan
A coat appearance created by a fine intermingling of coloured and white hairs.
Blue roan and orange roan are familiar examples in some spaniel breeds.
Rough Coat
A general description for a coat with a coarser or less smooth texture.
Its precise meaning can vary according to breed.
S
Sable
A coat appearance commonly involving darker-tipped or differently pigmented hairs over a lighter background.
The amount of darker shading can vary considerably.
Saddle
A darker area of coat covering part of the back and sides in a position resembling a saddle.
The German Shepherd provides a familiar example of this general appearance.
Scissor Bite
A description of the way the upper and lower front teeth meet, with the upper teeth closely overlapping the lower teeth.
The term frequently appears in breed standards and descriptions of canine dentition.
Setter
A type of gundog historically associated with locating game and indicating its position.
The name relates to the traditional setting behaviour from which these dogs developed.
Sighthound
A broad type of hound historically associated with locating and pursuing moving quarry primarily through sight and speed.
Greyhounds are perhaps the most familiar example.
Single Coat
A coat without the distinct dense undercoat-and-outer-coat arrangement generally associated with a double coat.
Coat structure still varies considerably among dogs described as single-coated.
Sire
The male parent of a dog.
The female parent is the dam.
Smooth Coat
A short coat that lies relatively close to the body.
The exact texture and density can still vary considerably between smooth-coated breeds.
Stop
The transition or indentation between the muzzle and the forehead.
Its prominence differs markedly between breeds and is often mentioned in descriptions of head shape.
Stud Dog
A male dog used for breeding.
T
Tan Points
Tan markings occurring in characteristic areas such as above the eyes, around the muzzle, on the chest and lower legs.
They are particularly familiar in several predominantly dark-coated breeds.
Terrier
A broad group of dogs with historical associations particularly with hunting or controlling animals around the ground, burrows, farms and similar environments.
The name has linguistic connections with earth or ground.
Ticking
Small areas of pigmentation appearing within otherwise white portions of the coat.
The density and distribution of ticking can vary considerably.
Topline
The outline of a dog's upper body when viewed from the side, particularly across the back.
The term frequently appears in descriptions of canine structure and breed standards.
Tracking
Following a trail, commonly using scent.
Dogs have been associated with tracking in hunting, policing, search work and other contexts.
Tricolour
A coat displaying three visibly distinguishable colours.
Black, white and tan is one familiar combination, although tricolour coats can occur in other arrangements.
U
Undercoat
The layer of hair beneath the outer coat in dogs with a double coat.
Its density and texture can vary substantially according to breed, individual dog and coat condition.
Undershot Bite
A description of jaw alignment in which the lower jaw projects farther forward than the upper jaw.
The term is encountered in breed standards and descriptions of head and jaw structure.
V
Variety
A recognised subdivision within a breed based on a characteristic such as size, coat or colour in organisations that formally distinguish varieties.
Exactly how breeds and varieties are classified differs between kennel organisations.
Vermin
Animals considered unwanted or damaging in a particular human environment.
Historical references to dogs controlling vermin commonly involve rats and other animals around farms, stables, food stores and settlements.
W
Whelp
Historically and technically, whelp can refer to a young dog or puppy.
As a verb, whelping refers to giving birth to puppies.
Whiskers
Specialised hairs found particularly around the muzzle and face.
They differ structurally and functionally from ordinary coat hairs and are also known as vibrissae.
Withers
The area at the top of the shoulders where the neck and back meet.
A dog's height is conventionally described or measured at the withers.
Working Dog
A broad expression for a dog performing a practical role.
The phrase can encompass very different forms of work depending upon context, from traditional agricultural and transport roles to modern detection, search and assistance work.
It can also have a more specific meaning within particular systems of breed classification.
Wire Coat
A coat characterised by relatively coarse, wiry outer hairs.
Wire coats are associated with a number of terrier and other breeds and may occur alongside facial furnishings.
X
Xoloitzcuintle
The name of an ancient Mexican dog breed, commonly shortened to Xolo.
It earns a place here partly because X is unusually scarce in general dog terminology and because the breed name itself is one readers may encounter when exploring less familiar breeds.
The Xoloitzcuintle occurs in hairless and coated varieties.
Y
Yellow
A recognised colour description encountered particularly with Labrador Retrievers.
The visible shade of dogs described as yellow can vary considerably, demonstrating again that canine colour terminology often encompasses a range rather than one precise colour.
Yorkshire Terrier
A small terrier breed whose name reflects its historical association with Yorkshire in northern England.
Like the Xoloitzcuintle entry under X, it appears here because genuinely general dog terminology beginning with Y is limited.
Z
Zygomatic Arch
The bony arch forming part of the side of the skull and cheek region.
It is a more anatomical term than most readers are likely to encounter in everyday dog content, but it can appear in detailed descriptions of canine skull structure.
Dog Terminology Is Full of History
One of the most interesting things about dog terminology is how much history survives inside seemingly ordinary words.
Retriever tells us what a dog retrieved.
Setter preserves a particular historical hunting behaviour.
Terrier carries an association with working around the earth and ground.
Droving belongs to a period when livestock regularly travelled considerable distances on foot.
Terms such as saddle, mask, blaze and mantle developed as convenient ways of describing what people could see.
Others, including withers, hock and stop, allow particular parts of canine structure to be described without lengthy explanations.
The vocabulary surrounding dogs consequently reflects much more than modern pet ownership. It contains traces of agriculture, hunting, transport, breed development, regional language and centuries of changing relationships between people and dogs.
Why the Same Term Can Mean Different Things
Dog terminology is not always completely standardised.
Some words have broad everyday meanings alongside much narrower meanings within breed standards, dog showing, breeding or particular canine activities.
Working dog is a good example.
In everyday language it can describe virtually any dog performing a practical job. Within a particular breed-classification system, however, Working may refer to a defined group containing specific recognised breeds.
Colour terminology presents similar complications.
A shade casually described as brown might be called liver or chocolate in particular breed contexts. Blue generally describes diluted-looking pigmentation rather than a literal blue coat. Parti-colour terminology can also vary between breeds.
This is why context matters.
The purpose of terminology is to make dogs easier to describe, not to turn every word into a universal rule.
Breed Names Can Be Definitions of Their Own
Many breed names become much easier to understand once their component words are examined.
A Labrador Retriever contains a description of historical function.
An English Springer Spaniel contains both geographic and working associations.
A German Shepherd Dog immediately points towards livestock work.
A Yorkshire Terrier combines place and historical dog type.
A Flat-Coated Retriever combines coat description with working role.
Dog breed names therefore act almost like miniature historical records.
Some tell us where dogs developed.
Others tell us what they did.
Some describe appearance.
And many combine several pieces of information in a single name.
From Specialist Language to Everyday Dog Vocabulary
Many dog-related words began within particular practical settings before becoming familiar to ordinary dog owners.
People who never hunt may still immediately recognise the word retriever.
Someone who has never attended a dog show may have heard of a pedigree.
Terms such as double coat, brindle and dewclaw now appear regularly in general dog articles, product descriptions and conversations.
This crossover between specialist and everyday language is one reason an A–Z reference can be useful.
Readers do not need to become experts in canine anatomy, breeding, showing or historical working practices simply to understand the words they encounter.
Sometimes a short explanation is enough.
A Language Shaped by the Diversity of Dogs
Few domestic animals display the physical variety found among dogs.
Dogs can differ dramatically in size, proportions, head shape, coat structure, colour and historical function.
It follows naturally that a large vocabulary developed to describe those differences.
We have words for coats that curl, lie flat, stand rough or contain two distinct layers.
We have terminology for stripes, spots, points, patches and blended colours.
There are words describing the shape and position of ears, jaws, backs and heads.
Historical occupations have given us hounds, retrievers, setters, pointers, shepherds and terriers.
Even seemingly small features such as a white facial stripe or longer hair around the legs have their own commonly recognised descriptions.
The vocabulary is extensive because the dogs themselves are extraordinarily varied.
Understanding the Words Helps Explain the Dogs
Learning dog terminology is not about memorising a specialist dictionary.
Its real value is that the words often explain why dogs look, move or are described the way they are.
Knowing that a blaze is a facial marking makes a breed description easier to picture.
Understanding the difference between a herding dog and a livestock guardian makes two very different historical roles clearer.
Recognising that blue is a coat description rather than literal blue prevents an otherwise confusing colour term from seeming strange.
And knowing that retriever, setter and terrier carry historical meaning turns familiar breed names into clues about the past.
Dog terminology ultimately provides a language for describing one of the most diverse groups of domestic animals in the world.
Once those words become familiar, breed histories, coat descriptions and general dog information become much easier to explore.
More Dog Information & Resources
Explore more substantial articles from Woofuffle.co.uk:
The History of Domestic Dogs: From Early Domestication to Modern Breeds
The Complete Guide to Dog Names: Ideas, Meanings and Inspiration
