The Breed Standard TERMS Croup: The area of the back directly above the hind legs. Elbow: The joint of the forearm and upper arm. Forearm: The portion of the front leg going from the dog's elbow to its pastern. Harefoot: An elongated oval paw, similar to the foot of a hare. Hock: The joint between the second thigh and the metatarsus on the hind legs. Keel: The projecting longitudinal line that runs along the center of the chest and the bottom of the rib cage. Knuckling over: A double-jointed wrist that doubles over when bearing the dog's weight; sometimes includes an enlarged, protruding bone. Loin: The side areas between the dog's ribs and hindquarters. Metatarsus: Part of the hind foot. Pastern: The front leg between the wrist and the foot. Second thigh: The area between the wrist and the foot. Stifle: The joint of the hind leg; similar to a human knee. Stop: The place where the skull and nose meet. Thorax: The breastplate; the cavity in which the heart and lungs lie. Tuck up: A shallowness of the body at the loin, causing the appearance of a waist. Upper arm: Between the forearm and the shoulder blade on the front leg. Walleye: A blue- or pearl- colored eye caused by a whitening of the iris. Withers: The highest point of the back, usually above the front legs. | Dog Show Terms Angulation - Angles created by bones meeting at their joints. Baiting - Using liver or some treat to get the dog's attention and have him look alert. Bench Show - A dog show at which the dogs are kept on assigned benches when not being shown in competition, so they can be viewed and discussed by attendees, exhibitors and breeders. Exhibitor - A person who brings a dog to a dog show and shows it in the appropriate class. Fancier - A person who is especially interested, and usually active, in some phase of the sport of purebred dogs. Gait - The way a dog moves, movement is a good indicator of structure and condition. Groom - To brush, comb, trim or otherwise make a dog's coat neat. Handler - A person or agent who takes a dog into the show ring or who works the dog at a field trial or other performance event. Heel - A command to a dog to keep close beside its handler. Match Show - A usually informal dog show at which no championship points are awarded. Miscellaneous Class - Transitional class for breeds attempting to advance to full AKC recognition. Pedigree - The written record of a dog's family tree of three or more generations. Points - Credits earned toward a championship. Soundness - Mental and physical well-being. Stacking - Posing the dog's legs and body to create a pleasing picture. | Glossary of Terms Used in Rally Brisk - Keenly alive, alert, energetic. Course Design - A set of signs, previously arranged by the judge, that the dog and handler team will navigate Crowding - A dog that is so close to the handler as to interfere with the handler's freedom of motion. Gently - With kindness, without harshness or roughness. Leg - A term that is used frequently for a qualifying score. Natural - Not artificial; free of affectation; what is customarily expected in the home or public places. Qualifying Score - Minimum of 70 points out of a possible perfect score of 100. Station - Location of a sign providing instructions regarding the exercise that is to be performed. Timing -All dogs will be timed. Times will be used only in the event of ties for a placement. Walk-through - Handlers are permitted to walk the course, without a dog, prior to the start of the class to plan their strategy. The walk-through gives handlers an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the signs and the course. |
