Agility: A competitive sport where dogs navigate an obstacle course.
AKC (American Kennel Club): A registry of purebred dog pedigrees in the United States.
Alpha Dog: The concept of an "alpha dog" being the dominant dog in a pack is a myth; modern research shows that dogs do not operate under a strict hierarchical structure.
Anxiety: Stress or nervousness often seen in dogs due to various factors.
B
Barking: The vocalization that dogs use to communicate.
Bathing: Cleaning a dog with water and dog-safe shampoo.
Breed: A specific group of domestic dogs with similar characteristics.
Brindle: A coat pattern with streaks of color.
C
Canine: Refers to dogs; members of the dog family.
Chewing: The act of a dog using its teeth on objects.
Collar: A band placed around a dog's neck for identification and control.
Crate Training: Training a dog to stay in a crate.
D
Dental Care: Maintenance of a dog’s teeth and gums.
Deworming: The process of removing parasites from a dog’s body.
Docking: Removing part of a dog’s tail, typically for cosmetic reasons.
E
Ears: The hearing organs of a dog, which can be erect or floppy.
Exercise: Physical activities that keep a dog fit and healthy.
Exhibition: Showing dogs in a competitive setting.
F
Feeding: Providing food to a dog.
Flea: A small parasite that feeds on dogs' blood.
Fetch: A game where dogs retrieve an object thrown by their owner.
G
Grooming: The process of cleaning and maintaining a dog’s coat and nails.
Guard Dog: A dog trained to protect property or people.
H
Harness: An alternative to a collar that fits around a dog’s body.
Herding: The natural instinct or training of dogs to control the movement of animals.
Hypoallergenic: Refers to dog breeds that are less likely to cause allergies.
I
Inoculation: Vaccinations to protect dogs from diseases.
Intelligence: The mental capacity of dogs to learn and understand commands.
J
Jumping: The act of a dog propelling itself off the ground with its legs, often seen during play, excitement, or when greeting people.
K
Kennel: A shelter or boarding facility for dogs.
Kibble: Dry dog food in pellet form.
L
Leash: A strap or cord attached to a dog's collar or harness, used to guide the dog during walks.
Loyalty: The strong bond and devotion a dog shows to its owner.
M
Microchipping: Implanting a small chip in a dog for identification purposes.
Muzzle: A device placed over a dog’s snout to prevent biting.
N
Neutering: Surgical removal of a dog’s reproductive organs.
Nutrition: The process of providing or obtaining the food necessary for health and growth.
O
Obedience: Training that ensures a dog follows commands.
Off-leash: Allowing a dog to roam freely without a leash.
P
Paw: The foot of a dog.
Puppy: A young dog.
Q
Quarantine: Isolation of a dog to prevent the spread of disease.
R
Rescue: Saving a dog from a dangerous or unsuitable situation.
Retrieval: The act of fetching an object.
S
Socialization: The process of exposing a dog to different environments, people, and other animals.
Spaying: Surgical removal of a female dog's reproductive organs.
T
Training: Teaching a dog specific behaviors or commands.
Treats: Small rewards used in training or as snacks.
U
Ultrasound: Imaging technique used to diagnose health issues in dogs.
V
Vaccination: Injection to protect dogs from diseases.
Vet (Veterinarian): An animal doctor.
W
Walk: Taking a dog outside for exercise and bathroom breaks.
Weaning: Transitioning puppies from mother’s milk to solid food.
X
X-ray: Imaging technique used to view inside a dog’s body.
Y
Yawning: When a dog opens its mouth wide, often a sign of tiredness or stress.
Z
Zoomies: A dog's sudden bursts of energy, running around wildly.
