P - Dog Dictionary Definitions

• Pace

  A movement that produces a rolling motion where the left foreleg and left hind leg move forward in unison before the right foreleg and...(continued)

• Pack

  A group of hounds.

• Padding

  A movement where the front feet flip upwards for a split second to compensate for the longer stride from the rear.

• Paddling

  A fault in gaiting where there is a pinching in at the elbows and shoulders which cause the front legs to swing forward on an...(continued)

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  Pads

  Also called soles, they are the tough projections on the underside of the feet that also provide shock absorption.

• Panosteitis

  Panosteitis is a disease that affects the bones, especially the limb bones, of primarily young large breed dogs. A lameness in...(continued)

• Pants

• Paper Foot

  A foot that is devoid of any arch to the toes.

• Papillon

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  Parainfluenza

  A respiratory infection that is characterized by fever, vomiting and diarrhea.

• Parasite

  An organism that lives, grows, feed and is sheltered on a different organism without contributing to the survival of the host

• Parent Club

  The national club for a specific breed. also see breed club.

• Parti-Color

  A coat pattern where there are two or more definite and well-broken colors with one of the colors being white.

• Patella

  Also called a kneecap, it is the flat moveable bone that is found at the front of the knee joint.

• Patellar Luxation

  Also known as "slipped stifles" is a common problem in small dogs. It is caused when the patellia, which has three parts;...(continued)

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  Pathogen

  An agent, such as bacteria, or a virus, that causes a disease or an infection

• Pedigree

  The written genealogy that documents at least three generations of the dog's ancestry.

• Peekapoo

• Pekingese

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  Pelvis

  The three fused bones that form the pelvic girdle.

• Pembroke Welsh Corgi

• Pen Breeding

  A mating between two dogs that is unwitnessed and occurred due to the dam and sire being confined together.

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  Penciling

  Black lines that divide the tan on the toes.

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  Pendant Ears

  Ears that are long and hanging, like the ears of a Basset Hound.

• PennHIP

  A method of evaluating the chance of hip dysplasia in dogs by calculating the hip laxity that is compared to the breed ratings that...(continued)

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  Pepper

  A term used to describe a coat color that is a medium-brilliant black with low saturation.

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  Pericarditis

  An inflammation of the pericardium, which is the membrane sac covering the heart

• Periodontal Disease

  A bacterial infection that attacks the bones and soft tissues supporting the teeth.

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  Peritonitis

  Inflammation of the peritoneum, which is the membrane that lines the abdominal cavity. Symptoms include constipation, pain and...(continued)

• Persian Cats

• Persistent Pupillary Membranes (PPM)

  Persistent Pupillary Membranes is caused when remnants of the fetal membrane, which nourished the lenses...(continued)

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  Pet Shop

  A commercial organization that buys and sells dogs and other animals.

• Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen

• Pharaoh Hound

• Phenotype

  The physical and biochemical characteristics of an organism that are determined by genetic and environmental influences.

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  Pheromones

  A chemical secreted by an animal that often functions as an attraction to the opposite sex but generally affects the behavior and...(continued)

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  Piebald

  A term to describe a coat pattern where the coat is covered with patches of two colors such as black and white.

• Pied

  A term to describe a coat that has patches of white with another color.

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  Pig Eyes

  Eyes that are set too close

• Pig Jaw

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  Pigeon-Breast

  A chest that is narrow and has a protruding breastbone.

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  Pigeon-Toed

  Toes point inwards.

• Pigment

  A substance in the tissue or cells of an animal or plant that produces a distinctive color.

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  Pile

  Soft dense undercoat

• Pincer Bite

• Pinch Collar (See also: Prong Collar)

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  Pinking Up

  Occuring between 18 to 20 days after mating it is the changing of color to the nipples which become pink in color in a pregnant

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  Pinto

  A term to describe a coat that is marked with white or is white and marked with a darker color.

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  Placenta

  A vascular organ that is found in most mammals. It develops during pregnancy and is formed in the lining of the uterus by the union...(continued)

• Plott

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  Plume

  1. A term used to describe the long fringe of hair that can be found on a tail. 2. to carry the tail plume-like.

• Pocket Beagle

• Point

  The stance of a pointing dog when it indicates the position and presence of game

• Pointer

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  Pointing Breeds

  A term used to describe the breeds that typically point at game.

• Points

  1. The credits that are earned at events to obtain a championship statue. 2. color such as white, tan or black that is found on the...(continued)

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  Poke

  A term used to describe a neck that is carried abnormally low and stretched forward when moving.

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  Police Dog

  A dog that is trained for police work.

• Polish Lowland Sheepdog

• Pomeranian

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  Pompon

  A tuft of hair that is left on the end of a tail with its coat clipped.

• Poodle

• Portuguese Water Dog

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  Post Sternum

  The breastbone that is located midway between the shoulders on the forechest.

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  Posterior

  The part of the dog during locomotion that is carried toward the rear.

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  Pounding

  A fault in a gait where the dog's stride is shorter in the front with the front feet striking the ground before the rear stride is...(continued)

• Premium List

  A publication that is mailed to prospective exhibitors before a show that lists the club, date and location of the show as well...(continued)

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  Prick Ear

  An ear that is usually pointed at the top and carried erect.

• Primary Coat

• Primary Teeth (See also: Milk Teeth)

• Produce

  A brood bitch's offspring

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  Proestrus

  The preparatory period that precedes estrus where there is a growth of graafian follicles, an alteration to the uterine and...(continued)

• Professional Handler

  An individual who trains, conditions and exhibits dogs for a fee.

• Professional Trainer

  An individual who trains and handles hunting dogs for and in field events.

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  Progesterone

  A hormone produced by the corpus luteum that prepares a uterus for the impanation of fertilized ovum, maintains pregnancy and...(continued)

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  Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)

  A degenerative eye disorder that affects many dog breeds. Blindness caused by PRA is a slow process...(continued)

• Prominent Eyes

  Big round eyes that protrude. A trait seen on Pugs.

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  Prong Collar

  Also known as a pinch collar, it is a collar with long metal pieces that pinch a dog. It is used for training and is a collar...(continued)

• Pug

• Puggle

• Puli

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  Pulmonic Stenosis

  Is a congenital heart disease where blood does not flow through the heart properly due to a narrowing of the region...(continued)

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  Pump Handle

  A tail that is long and carried high.

• Puppy

  A young dog that is usually under the age of one year.

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  Puppy mills

  A facility that breeds for profit with no regard for breed standard, genetically linked defects, socialization, temperament, or...(continued)

• Purebred

  A dog that is the offspring of two dogs of the same breed who are not mixed descent since the breed was recognized.

• Purling (See also: Crossing Over)

• Put Down

  1. To euthanize a dog 2. prepare a dog for the conformation ring. 3. a dog that is unplaced in competition.

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  Pyometra

  Pyometra is an infection of the uterus and is more commonly seen in older dogs but has occurred in young and middle age dogs as...(continued)

• Pyrenean Shepherd