List of Dog Terms

Color Terms 

  
Belton: intermingled colored and white hairs.

• Bicolor: a coat of two distinct colors.
• Brindle: an even mixture of dark colors with lighter colors, usually as a striped, tiger-like coat.
• Domino: reverse facial mask.
• Fawn: color of a newborn deer.
• Grizzled: a roan pattern that is usually a mixture of black, bluish-gray, iron gray, or red with white.
• Harlequin: black or blue patches on white.
• Hound-colored: black, tan and white with a black saddle.
• Lion color: tawny tan coat color with darker shading, as seen in Ibizan Hounds.
• Merle: a mottled, marbled effect (usually red or black, sometimes blue).
• Parti-colored: variegated patches of two or more colors.
• Piebald: black and white or two other colors in patches.
• Roan: an even mixture of white and another color.
• Sable: black tips on silver, gray, gold, fawn or brown hairs.
• Saddle: dark patches over the back.
• Spectacles: dark markings around the eyes.
• Ticked: small areas of black or other dark colors on a white background.
• Tricolor: a coat of three distinct colors, usually black, white and tan.
• Wheaten: pale yellow or fawn colored.

Coat Terms

 Corded: coat that is intertwined in the form of long, narrow mats giving a mop-like appearance (example Komondor).

• Double coat: fine undercoat of some dogs that is combined with a harsher outer guard coat.
• Feathered: long hair on the ears, backs of legs and beneath the tail.
• Flag: long fringe on the tail.
• Jacket: tight body coat of a terrier.
• Mane: profuse growth of hair on the rear of the neck.
• Plume: profusely feathered tail carried over the back.
• Ruff: profuse growth of hair on the front of the neck, or surrounding the entire neck.
• Single coat: coat that is one layer thick, lacking an undercoat.
• Stand-off coat: coat that sticks out from the body rather than lying flat (example: Norwegian Elkhound).
• Topknot: tuft of hair on the top of head.

Head Terms

• Apple head: extremely domed skull.
• Brachycephalic: Broad head with short muzzle (example: Pug)
• Butterfly nose: spotted or partially unpigmented nose.
• Chiseled: clean-cut muzzle and foreface.
• Dish-faced: nose tipped up.
• Dolichocephalic: narrow head with long muzzle (example: Collie).
• Down-faced: muzzle curved downward.
• Dudley nose: liver- or flesh-colored nose.
• Fill: fullness beneath the eyes, not chiseled.
• Flews: upper lips, especially those that are pendulous.
• Haw: exposed nictitating membrane (third eyelid), especially if unpigmented.
• Mesatacephalic: medium-width head with medium-length muzzle (example: Beagle).
• Occiput: highest point at the back of the skull, above where the neck joins the head; in many breeds it forms a crest and is quite prominent.
• Stop: transition area from the back of the skull to muzzle, often demarcated by an abrupt depression.
• Snipey: weak, pointed muzzle lacking underjaw.

Teeth Terms

• Bite: occlusion; relationship of the upper and lower jaws when the mouth is closed.
• Canine tooth: the first premolar; long grasping tooth or a dog's fang.
• Deciduous: temporary. Example: A puppy's deciduous teeth are shed before maturity and replaced by permanent teeth.
• Dentition: canine tooth development and eruption. In the dog, there are 12 deciduous incisors that erupt at four to five weeks of age, three on each side, six in the upper jaw and six in the lower. Behind them are four deciduous canine teeth, one on either side, in the upper and lower jaws that erupt at about the same time as the incisors. The 12 deciduous premolars erupt about a week later, and are positioned behind the canines, three on each side, in the upper and lower jaws. They complete the set of 28 deciduous or milk teeth. At about three months of age, the central incisors are replaced by permanent teeth. The four permanent canine teeth are often the last to appear, and typically are not visible until about six months of age. Permanent premolars begin to erupt about four months of age. There are four on each side, on both the upper and lower jaws, and the rearmost is usually visible by six months of age. Those 16 permanent teeth take the place of the 12 deciduous premolars. The two upper molars on each side and three lower molars on each side also begin to appear at about four months, with the last of the ten erupting at about six months. Those 42 teeth make up the permanent set of adult teeth.
• Eruption: 1. breaking out of a visible, circumscribed lesion of the skin. 2. normal activity of the teeth as they break through the gums.
• Full dentition: no missing teeth.
• Incisors: any one of the "biting off" or "cutting" teeth directly in the front of the mouth. There are six incisors in the upper jaw, six in the lower. They are named central, intermediate, and corner.
• Level bite: when upper and lower incisors meet evenly.
• Overbite: when upper incisors overlap lower incisors, leaving a gap between the teeth.
• Scissors bite: when upper incisors just overlap lower incisors, such that the rear surface of the upper incisors touches the outer surface of the lower incisors.
• Premolars: smaller teeth situated just to the rear of the fangs (canines).
• Punishing mouth: strong, powerful jaws.
• Undershot bite: when lower incisors extend beyond upper incisors.

Ear Terms

• Bat ears: large, erect ears (example: French Bulldog).
• Bear ears: small erect ear.
• Blunt ears: ears that are too short and rounded at the tips.
• Button ears: semi-prick ears in which the top portion folds forward (example: Fox Terrier).
• Cropping: the surgical removal of a portion of a dog's ear to make it stand erect. Cropping is cosmetic surgery.
• Drop ears: long, hanging ears. (example: Basset Hound).
• Ear: organ of hearing—inner ear, middle ear and external ear canal. 2. pinna or earflap.
• Ear canal: external duct leading from the tympanic membrane (eardrum) to the outside.
• Ear canker: external ear ulceration and infection.
• Ear carriage: 1. describing the way the ears are held, indicating the dog's mood. 2. position of the ear's attachment to the head.
• Ear clamps: templates or patterns that are attached to an anesthetized dog's ears to outline where the surgical cropping cut is to be made.
• Ear clip: act of cutting off and rounding the pendulant ears of hounds to give them a shortened, uniform appearance and to lessen the probability of tearing the ear leather in the field.
• Ear feather: long hair on an earflap, typical of the Cocker Spaniel and many other breeds.
• Ear foreign bodies: grass seeds and various other extraneous matter that finds its way into the external ear canals of dogs.
• Ear fringe: long hair on the tips of the ears that is seen in Bedlington Terriers
• Ear guide dog: canine specially trained to aid deaf humans.
• Ear hematoma: pocket of blood that occurs between the layers of the ear pinna cartilage and skin. It is often caused by shaking head and whipping the ears due to ear mites or foreign bodies in the external ear canals.
• Ear leather: pinna or flap of the ear.
• Ear mange: redness and crustiness of the ear that is usually caused by ear mites (Otodectes cynotis).
• Earmark: tattoo that is impregnated in the ear leather as a means of permanent identification.
• Ear mites: Otodectes cynotis, a tiny mite that parasitizes ear canals and causes intense itching and irritation.
• Ear notch: in foxhunting, a small notch, or notches, cut in the margin of the ear of the entire pack to immediately identify the dogs of that pack.
• Ear ossicles: three bones of the middle ear—malleus, incus and stapes. They transmit sound waves from the eardrum to the otic ganglion.
• Ear set: describing where on the heard the ears are attached
• Ears set high: placement of ears high on the crown of the head.
• Ears set low: placement of the ears set low on the head.
• Ears set wide: placement of the ears on the head at the maximum distance apart.
• Erect: perk ear; pinna of the ear that stands erect, either normally or assisted by ear cropping.
• Rose ears: small ears folded back in repose (example: Greyhound).
• Semidrop ears: ears that fall over the breaks at the tip.
• Semiprick: aural appendages that are carried erect with the tips breaking forward.
• Pendulant or Pendant: hanging down (example: Bloodhound's ears).
• Pinna: the part of the ear that outside the head; flap or leather.
• Prick ears: ears that stand upright (example: German Shepherd Dog).
• Trowel: ear that is wider in the middle than at the attachment of its tip.
• Tulip: ears that stand erect with a slight forward and inward curvature.
• V-Shaped: drop ear that tapers to a point.

Neck Terms

• Bull-neck: thick, muscular, often short neck.
• Crest: Arched area near the top of the neck.
• Ewe neck: Neck that is arched so that the topline of the neck is concave and the bottom is convex.
• Goose neck: overly long, thin neck lacking strength and shape.
• Throaty neck: neck with loose skin.

Body Terms

• Barrel chest: rounded ribcage.
• Brisket: chest or sternum area.
• Cape: long, thick hair covering the shoulders.
• Cobby: compact, short and square.
• Herring gutted: gradual slope from a fairly shallow chest to tuck-up.
• High in rear: a dog that is higher over its rear quarters than over its front quarters.
• High-stationed: tall and long-legged.
• Hock: Hock Joint: joint on the hind limb between lower thigh and pastern. Since the hock is a joint it cannot itself be long or short; terms such as long or short in hock refer to the distance between the hock joint and the ground.
• Loin: region between the ribcage and croup.
• Pastern: region of the metatarsus that extends from the hock to the foot in the hind leg, and the metacarpal area of the foreleg.
• Racy: long-legged with a slight build.
• Rangy: long-bodied with a shallow chest.
• Rib spring: arch formed by the ribcage; more spring refers to more arch.
• Roach back: an overly arched, convex topline.
• Shelly: narrow, shallow chest and body.
• Short-coupled: short loin area.
• Slab-sided: flat-ribbed.
• Swayback: a sunken, concave topline.
• Topline: line formed by the withers, back loin, and croup.
• Tuck-up: area under the loin in a small-waisted dog.

Forequarters Terms

• Bowed front: forelegs that curve out between the elbows and pasterns.
• Down in pastern: weak, overly sloping pastern.
• East-west front: when feet turn out to the sides, pointing away from each other.
• Foreleg: the front leg
• Fiddle front: east-west front combined with a bowed front, so that the assembly looks like a fiddle.
• Lay back: angle at which the shoulders are set on the dog's body.
• Knuckled over: steep pastern, or with a reverse slope.
• Loaded shoulders: overly muscled or lumpy forequarters.
• Out at elbow: elbows that stick out from the sides of the ribcage.
• Returned: set-back of the upper arm under the dog's body.
• Shoulder or scapula: also used (incorrectly) to refer to both the scapula and upper are (humerus) region.
• Shoulder angulation: angle formed between the scapula and humerus.
• Toed-in front: or pigeon toed: feet pointing toward each other.

Rear quarters Terms

• Bandy-legged: wide, bowed-legged rear quarters.
• Cow-hocked: viewed from behind, the point of the hocks point toward each other, resulting in the rear feet pointing outward.
• Lower thigh: area from stifle to hock, also called second thigh.
• Rear angulation: angles formed between the pelvis, thigh bone (femur) and  second or lower thigh bone (tibia/fibula).
• Sickle-hocked: viewed from the side, an over-angulated joint between the lower thigh and hock; an inability to straighten this joint when moving.
• Well let-down: short hocks.

Foot Terms

• Cat foot: short, round foot.
• Dew claws: extra toes on the insides of the front and sometimes rear legs.
• Hare foot: long, narrow foot.
• Mops: 1. profuse hair on the paws 2. German name for the Pug.
• Paper foot: flat foot.
• Splay foot: toes that are not close together.

Tail Terms

• Bob tail: very short, almost stump-like tail (example: Pembroke Welsh Corgi).
• Brush tail: tail covered in hair in such a manner as to give it a bottled-brush appearance (example: Siberian Husky).
• Docked tail: tail cut to a shorter length (example: Doberman).
• Gay tail: tail carried above the level of the back.
• Saber tail: slightly curved, low-carried tail.
• Screw tail: short, twisted tail (example: English Bulldog).

Movement Terms

• Close behind: moving with hocks close together.
• Crabbing: sidewinding.
• Crossing-over: when viewed from the front (or rarely, the rear), the legs converge beyond the midline.
• Drive: strong thrust from the hindquarters.
• Gait: way of moving.
• Hackney: high-stepping front movement.
• Loose movement: erratic movement suggestive of poor muscle development.
• Lumbering: heavy, ungainly movement.
• Pacing: moving both legs on the same side of the body in unison, as though hobbled together.
• Pounding: front feet hitting the ground with a jarring reaction.
• Reach: length of forward stride.
• Single tracking: as viewed from the front or rear, the legs converge toward the center line of balance as the dog trots.
• Sound: good movement viewed from the front and rear.
• Trotting: moving diagonal legs in unison.

General Terms

• Adoption: to choose or take as one's own; make one's own by selection or assent. To adopt a pet.
• Agility:  judged competitive timed events for dogs and their handlers in which dogs are trained to master different obstacles such as: tunnels, bridges, various types of high jumps, jumps through windows, board jumps and jumps through tires. The course also includes inclined planes, elevated planks to walk, A-frames to climb and more. Various agility titles are awarded to dogs that successfully complete the course in which they are entered.
• Balance: overall proportion and symmetry of conformation.
• Bitch: female dog.
• Bucketing: to bucket a puppy: Bucketing, to bucket a puppy: When a breeder tosses a newborn puppy into water, drowning it. The reason for the practice is often the breeder feels the dog is not worthy of life because it does not make the written club standards of the specific breed or the puppy does not display the preferred color or type even though it is accepted by the club.
• Conformation: physical make-up.
• Cynophobia: the fear of dogs.
• Dam: female parent.
• Dealer: one who buys and sells dogs bred by others.
• Dominance: assertive characteristics of a dog and its influence over other dogs.
• Dominant: alpha dog of a pack that displays a behavior superiority or dominance over other dogs of the pack, and exerts a rule influence
• Dysplasia: abnormality of development, especially of the hip or elbow, but it may refer to an organ of the body
• Dystrophy: abnormal behavior; behavior problems.
• F1: First generation or first cross—the result of two purebred dogs mated together. The puppies would be F1 puppies.
• F2: second cross—could mean any next step in the breeding program after F1. Often the F1 offspring bred back to a purebred dog.
• F3: third cross after F2 and so on.
• Feathering: whelping technique where breeder helps pregnant mother dog (dam) along in her contractions.
• Feist: Rat Terrier.
• Feral dog: a dog living in a fully wild state.
• Flock: 1. collected group of livestock (usually sheep) that are used in a herding trial. 2. farm birds or livestock that are gathered or herded together.
• Flyball: in agility trails, a competition that involves a course of jumping and ends with a treadle that the dog steps on to cause a ball to pop out of a box. The dog must catch the ball and return it to the handler.
• Game Dog: a working dog usually a hunting , herding or terrier type that will work until it drops, never gives up, perseveres and is ready and willing for anything. See Game Dogs
• High in rear: a dog that is higher over its rear quarters than over its front quarters.
• High-stationed: tall and long-legged
• Hip dysplasia: a very common and debilitating genetic disease of the hips, where the junction of the femur head (large bone in the leg) and the hip socket do not fit as they should. Often, surgery is necessary to correct the problem.
• In and In: inbreeding of dogs without regards to results
• Inbred: descriptive of offspring of mated dogs that are closely related to each other
• Inbreeding: practice of mating siblings to each other—father to daughter, mother to son, or other animals closely related to each other.
• Kennel: 1.backyard doghouse where family pets or breeding stock are kept. 2. commercial establishment used to maintain a group of dogs, such as a boarding kennel. 3. in foxhunting, fox's lair. 4. foxhunting term for the hound pack's lodging place.
• Kennel type: bloodline or strain of dogs that has been developed by an individual breeder in a specific kennel
• Line: 1. family of related dogs, usually bred by a single kennel. 2. in foxhunting, the track of a quarry that is indicated by scent. 3. a stripe, streak or lineal mark on a dog's coat
• Linebreeding: mating two dogs that have the same bloodline but are not closely related; a technique used to concentrate and fix genetic features in dog.
• Lineage: genealogical descent from a common ancestor; dog's pedigree or family tree.
• Metacarpus: referring to bones leading from the carpus (wrist) to the toes; anatomical region of the forepastern.
• Molossian dog: Greek sculpture of a Mastiff that belonged to Olympias, the daughter of King Pyrrhus. It is supposed to be a direct ancestor of the modern Mastiff.
• Mongrel: cur; mutt; mixed breeds; dogs of unknown ancestry and questionable parentage.
• Mops: 1. profuse hair on the paws. 2. German name for the Pug.
• OFA: Orthopedic Foundation for Animals.
• OFA-certified: a dog’s hips have been x-rayed for hip dysplasia, a very common and debilitating genetic disease.
• Pariah dog: is used as a generic term for dogs with a more or less intensive human connection. Some scientists reserve the term for the Indian dog of a specific type, i.e. a Pariah dog: ownerless half-wild mongrel dog common around Asian villages especially India.
• Plucking: pulling out loose hair by hand
• Puppy Mill: place in which puppies are bred, often in unsuitable and sometimes inhumane conditions, for sale to dealers
• Purebred: a dog that has parents of the same breed.
• Schutzhund: dog that is specially trained and conditioned for guard and attack work.
• Schutzhund competition: tests of a guard dog's training in attacking a well padded "enemy".
• Sch: abbreviation for the sport of Schutzhund.
• Sire: male parent
• Square-proportioned: height at withers equal to length from point of sternum to point of croup.
• Stacking: teaching a dog to stand in a show stance that exhibits its characteristics favorably.
• Standard: the official blueprint for a breed.
• Stifle: knee joint; articulation between the tibia and fibula and the femur.
• Stray dog: a dog more or less associated with man who does not have a home; homeless; without a home.
• Stripping: the process of hand plucking the outer guard hairs either with your fingers or a stripping knife. removal of the undercoat and dead outercoat without losing the harsh texture; plucking.
• Substance: fairly heavy bone and musculature
• Typey: having a superior body conformation; meeting the breeds standard
• Variety: a subtype of a breed that is shown separately, but that can be interbred with other varieties of the same breed.
• Weedy: lacking sufficient bone and musculature
• Wicket: device for measuring the height of a dog, consisting of two vertical bars joined by a horizontal bar that can be adjusted for height.

Do Dogs Like Women Best?

Understanding Canine Preferences

Many dogs express a clear preference about which people they like — and which they don’t. While there are no hard and fast rules about who a dog might like best, it’s easy to generalize: Dogs prefer adults over children, particularly women. Dogs also generally prefer people with soft voices and calm mannerisms over those who are loud and boisterous.

While these sweeping assumptions are not valid for every dog all of the time, many of them do have some truth to them, for some very simple reasons.

Dogs Prefer Adults — Particularly Women

A dog's preference for one person — or type of person — over another has a great deal to do with socialization. Dogs don't, as a rule, dislike men, but most dogs are cared for by women, and are thus more comfortable around them. A single woman is more likely to have a dog than a single man; in a couple, the woman is more likely to handle the dog’s care. In addition, most animal care workers and veterinarians are female. Some dogs may also be intimidated by a man’s physical appearance, as men are often taller and more sturdily built, with deeper voices and strange features, like facial hair and hats.

Dogs who lack contact with children during their prime socialization period are prone to prefer adults, for some very specific reasons. The way children act — moving with erratic and fast movements, invading the dog’s space — can be threatening to a dog, particularly one who has little experience with children.

Children may behave in ways that are scary to a dog, such as running up and hugging or kissing him, pushing or climbing on him, or putting things in his face. Children often fail to understand how to approach a dog safely and will reach out to pet him when he’s eating or sleeping, or pull a toy out of his mouth. Small children can be prone to accidentally dropping a dog they’re holding, which can be terrifying for the pet.

Dogs Prefer Calm, Quiet People

A person with a loud, booming voice is more likely to startle a dog than one who is soft spoken. A quieter voice with a light, joyous inflection is soothing to most dogs. When pet parents alternate between a stern voice with a hint of anger and a friendly and inviting voice when asking for a behavior, the dog almost always responds with greater eagerness to the happier voice.

People with peaceful body language who allow a dog to approach on his own typically get a warm welcome from the dog as well. A person who has turned her body just slightly to the side is more inviting for a canine to approach than someone facing him head on.

Kneeling slightly rather than bending over the top of the dog is also more approachable. Looking away every so often from the dog or avoiding eye contact with shy dogs also poses less of a threat than direct eye contact and helps the dog stay calm.

Top 10 dog breeds for single women

A single gal's best friend — these female-friendly dog breeds will never leave your side

Forget man’s best friend — a loyal, loving and lovable dog makes the perfect furry companion for any single and independent woman. For the many women who are flying solo and loving it, we’ve hand-picked the best dog breeds that can complement your one-woman show.

1. Top dog for apartment-dwellers: English Bulldog

The English Bulldog is relatively docile (dare we say lazy?). While diminutive compared to a traditional guard dog, the stocky build, fearsome face and general demeanor will give potential aggressors pause. But because they're so agreeable, it takes a lot (like someone attacking Mommy) to really set them off, so while some (especially males) may be somewhat dog-aggressive, you have less to worry about when walking them in public areas of the complex, even if children are around.

2. Top dog for the go-getter: Retired racing Greyhound

A racing Greyhound retires at the tender age of 2 to 5 years, but will live as long as 14. They lived their racing lives in kennels, so they're accustomed to behaving when unattended for long periods. They need a good jog once a day, but their exercise can double as yours. Just make sure they're always on a lead when they're not in an enclosed area — even the retired ones can run up to 45 miles per hour, and you can only hit about 12 to 15.

3. Top dog for the 'fraidy-cat (large breed): Boxer

Boxers are fiercely loyal with a sweet disposition. If anything did happen to you, rest assured, they're more than capable of holding their own — but with an intimidatingly broad chest and bully-like face (think Bulldog and Pit Bull breeds), it's unlikely they'd have to do more than stare intently.

4. Top dog for the 'fraidy-cat (small breed): Chihuahua

A Chihuahua's bark is bigger than its bite — waaay bigger. Nefarious figures rarely appreciate the loud, imploring, attention-grabbing temper-tantrums they're capable of. But don't think for a second that's their only guard-dog trait. They're courageous and difficult to intimidate. You can't expect the same level of physical protection as from a Boxer, but you shouldn't be surprised if they try, either.

5. Top dog for the sneezer: Labradoodle

Labradoodles were specifically bred as hypoallergenic guide dogs. A cross between a Poodle and a Labrador, they can also be specially bred for other traits like lower shedding or less aggression using multigenerational breeding techniques (don't worry, that doesn't imply mating dogs in the same family tree — at least not where a reputable breeder is concerned).

6. Top dog for the coed: Pug

Pugs are small dogs, so they're perfect for college students who tend to live in cramped quarters. Better yet, they're adaptable, so your constant moving won't faze these little guys. They need to be walked for toilet time, but indoor play meets their exercise requirements just fine. They snore, but it's adorable.

7. Top dog for the mature maven: Schnauzer

Schnauzers are great dogs for older or retired singles. They're great companions, make great watchdogs and (bonus!) don't require a lot of grooming. After all, you've got grandkids to spoil rotten. They also come in miniature and standard, so you can have your choice of sizes.

8. Top dog for the single supermom: Standard Poodle

Not only are Standard Poodles great with children, they make wonderful watchdogs. As an added bonus, they're the hypoallergenic component of the mixed Labradoodle. They're good-natured and gentle and make excellent playmates for kids. An active poodle is also a good running companion for Mom.

9. Top dog for the fearless freelancer: Great Dane

When you work from home, dogs can be a challenge. Even if you don't mind your clients knowing you work at home, you still don't need dogs barking their heads off to get attention while you're working, or worse, when you're on an important call. Great Danes are gentle giants. They're calm and rarely bark. But a word to the wise: While they don't bark often, when they do, it's loud and deep, so it will surely be heard on the other end of a call.

10. Top dog for the fitness-obsessed: Border Collie

Border Collies were bred for herding, so it's no surprise they're active and love running. You can bring your Border Collie on your daily run or take him on a good, long hike. He's a sure-footed companion for the active gal.

9 Dogs Women Love Most

Women are suckers for fuzzy animals, and although some women prefer cats, there are for more women interested in dogs. This can be due to their companionship, protective nature, sweet personalities, or their cuteness factor, but its true all the same. A woman will always be enthusiastic over a dog that is safe for their family and very loving, which is one of the key perks women look for in a pet.
9. Dachshund

Long in the body and nice and small for practicality, the Dachshund is a very popular breed on its own, but women absolutely love the cute floppy ears and sad eyes this unique German breed of dog shows off. Available in a long-haired, short-haired, and wire-haired variety, women can also pick out the size and color since the dachshund comes in mini or standard size in fifteen colors and color combos to match one’s personality to their dog’s coat, and women love accessorizing, don’t they? The cute factor is really strong with the Dachshund.

8. Poodle

Whether it’s their friendliness or cute coat, the poodle is popular among women for a variety of reasons. The poodle can come in a toy, mini, or standard size and is considered hypoallergenic, which means even those who have the worst allergies can find a safe companion in this frou-frou pooch. The poodle comes in a variety of colors as well, which can depend on the size of dog and can have a variety of different types of markings, adding to its personality in a unique way.

7. Yorkie

The Yorkshire Terrier, or Yorkie, is a very cute and small long-haired dog that has a very characteristic hair style and the instincts of a hunter but the friendly nature of a companion. The Yorkie comes in a toy breed size, so it’s excellent for those living in small spaces like apartments and town houses and can be easily picked up when a girl needs to put her pet in a carrier or the car. Girls who love to dress their dogs up will love the opportunity to put a bow in its hair or trim its coat just so, which can be worn long or slightly shorter everywhere but the head.

6. Beagles

Beagles are very friendly hunting dogs that come from the hound family. They are great pets for families and are very protective of their owners. The beagle has a short coat and is a small dog that stands at no more than 15 inches. Most beagles are tri-colored, but there are varieties that are two colors instead, which is nice if one has an opportunity to pick one as this will give their beagle a one-of-a-kind look over others. Beagles love exercise, so athletic women will enjoy taking this breed for a run.

5. Chihuahua

Aside from the number of celebrities that have them and the fact that chihuahuas are a novelty breed in terms of their attractiveness in the eyes of women, they are also quite loving and affectionate dogs that come in short and long-haired varieties. They belong to the toy group of dogs and weigh no more than 6 pounds unless their pedigree isn’t pure, which is also why some chihuahuas are deer shaped heads instead of all having the trademark apple head. Chihuahuas are excellent therapy dogs and are very loyal, making them the perfect pet for those who like snuggling and doting on their dogs.

4. French Bulldog

Very muscular and far less wrinkly than the English Bulldog, the French Bulldog is a great companion that is a great pet for indoors. This gorgeous short-haired breed requires little exercise but can be overfed, so owners should be wary of overfeeding their Frenchie, which should weigh 28 pounds or less if at a healthy body weight. Women love these dogs because they are sweet and love quietly sitting with their owner. They are definitely a lap dog breed that appeals to that side of women that needs to be needed.

3. Golden Retriever

Just like in “Marley & Me”, women love Golden Retrievers. They’re excellent companions, protective, and very family-friendly, so women are very happy to bring one in when they have children or are about to have them because the Golden Retriever is so mild-mannered. These dogs love exercise, and this is a necessity due to their medium-large size. These working dogs are highly intelligent and are very in tune with their owners’ needs, making them a preferred breed for guide dogs and therapy dogs for those with special needs.

2. German Shepherd

German Shepherds are very protective and make great companion dogs. They are also well-behaved with children they have become accustomed to and guard the family home with a fierceness that makes them very palatable to women due to the feeling of safety they can have when they own a German Shepherd that will alert them to intruders and other unwelcome guests. Athletic women will really appreciate the German Shepherd for its need for regular physical activity and its playful sense of fun that keeps owners on their toes.

1. Labrador Retriever

The most popular breed in all of the US for both men and women, the Labrador Retriever is often known as the Lab, and is a great family dog, working dog, companion, and guard dog that will love playing with your kids in the backyard while alerting its masters to any suspicious sight or sound if it threatens the family. Another breed used for guide dogs, Labs are friendly and highly intelligent, which makes them very obedient and trainable. Women love taking this dog along while they roller blade or for a jog in the park, which is imperative in order to prolong this awesome breed’s lifespan while minimizing boredom for both animal and owner.

Group of Dog

Sporting Group

 The sporting group comprises some of the most popular breeds, including pointers, setters, retrievers and spaniels. Both routinely in the top five breeds, the Labrador retriever and the golden retriever together account for nearly one-quarter of the more than 1 million dogs registered with the AKC every year. Alert, active and intelligent, sporting dogs have historically been used by hunters to locate, flush or retrieve game from land or water. Many sporting dogs are still used as hunting companions today, although their gentle natures and high level of trainability have also earned them the reputation of being among the best family dogs. These same traits often lead to some of these animals being recruited into service positions, either as helper dogs for the disabled or as bomb and drug sniffers for law enforcement agencies.

Non-Sporting Group

 This is the catchall group for breeds that didn't seem to fit in elsewhere, from the cuddly Bichon Frise, a little too big to be considered a toy, to the striking Dalmatian and the stunning but difficult Chow Chow. Their individual skills, original purposes and temperaments are almost as varied as their origins. The poodle is by far the most popular of the non-sporting breeds. The poodle's opposite may be the bulldog. The national symbol of England, known for its strength and determination, it has been out of work since bull-baiting went out of fashion in the late 19th century. It now serves only as a loving, albeit somewhat sedentary, companion.

Herding Group

 The sheepdogs and cattle dogs of the world are here, including the much-loved collie breeds and those royal favorites, the corgis. Unlike the livestock guardians that simply stand sentry, herding dogs actively round up cattle and sheep with frantic running, eye contact and aggressive barking. Some of the more intelligent dog breeds belong to this group, including the popular German shepherd dog, perhaps most famous for its police work, and what is arguably the most intelligent of all breeds, the Border collies.
Although most of these are now simple companion dogs that have never even seen a sheep, the instinct to herd in some of them can be strong. They require owners who are skilled at training and willing to give them "work" that rewards their instincts.

Hounds Group

The hounds are the original hunting dogs. There is a great deal of diversity, both behavioral and physical, within this group, a history of hunting assistance often being the only common bond among some of the hound breeds. In size, they range from the tall and lanky Irish wolfhound to the short-legged dachshund.
For the most part, these breeds originally assisted hunters in the field with either excellent scenting abilities or exceptional speed. Scent hounds such as bloodhounds, beagles and foxhounds have historically aided hunters by following the scent trails left by their quarry. Today the slow, prodding bloodhound is commonly used by law enforcement to track fugitives or missing persons. Some of the oldest breeds of domestic dogs are the speedy sight hounds. Saluki and pharaoh hounds, in particular, can trace their origins back to antiquity. Images of dogs closely resembling these breeds are depicted on the walls of the tombs of the Egyptian pharaohs. Even the famous racer, the greyhound, has proved to be a popular family pet.

Working Group

 The Akita (Japan), the Komondor (Hungary), the Portuguese water dog, the Newfoundland, the Saint Bernard (Switzerland), the Alaskan Malamute, the Bernese Mountain dog (Switzerland) and many more make this group a veritable United Nations of dogs. A diverse group skilled in a number of disciplines, most working breeds are robust, intelligent and headstrong, often unsuitable for novice owners. Made up of guardians of livestock and property, police dogs, sled dogs and rescue dogs, these workers come in all shapes and sizes, from the standard schnauzer to the Great Dane. But for the most part, these are large, powerful dogs. Without the right training, some working dogs can be difficult to handle, even dangerous.

Terriers Group

 Feisty is the word most often used to describe terriers. Let loose in your backyard, a terrier can build an entire golf course in a day — the 18 holes at least. Too large to go to ground, the popular Airedale terrier puts its strength and stubborn streak to use as a surprisingly ferocious watchdog. Like most terriers, this "king of terriers" has little time for other dogs, and if not properly supervised may engage in some street brawling. If it weren't for the fact that most terriers, such as the cairn and the Norfolk, are fairly small, their tenacious nature and boundless energy would make them hard to control.
Due to some unscrupulous breeders and un-mindful owners, a few breeds within the terrier group have developed rather notorious reputations. The crossing of bulldogs and terriers for the express purpose of creating fighting dogs has produced several dog breeds that can be dangerous in the wrong hands. Combining the taut muscles and compact power of the bulldog with the tenacity and aggressiveness of the terrier, some controversial bull terrier breeds have been involved in some highly publicized biting incidents. Unfortunately, these incidents tarnish the reputations of what can be friendly, stable, even calm pets.

Toy Group

 Luckily for the toy breeds, providing companionship for humans has counted as suitable employment through the ages. This has ensured the survival of breeds without practical skills, such as the Chihuahua, Pug and Pomeranian. Many toy breeds, such as the miniature pinscher, the toy poodle and the English toy terrier appear to be miniaturized versions of larger breeds. Ranging between under 6 pounds (3 kilograms) in the tiniest Chihuahua and 20 pounds (9 kilograms) in the stockiest of pugs, these diminutive dogs have made for loving companions since they were first bred centuries ago. Today their stature makes them excellent pets for people without a lot of extra space in their homes. And despite their tendency toward yappiness, they are considered the best dogs for novice owners, though their fragility can make them less than ideal pets for families with small children. This breed's love of attention serves them well outside of their loving homes too. Loyal and intelligent, they are great at learning tricks, and many excel in obedience competitions.

Mixed Group

 If you can't decide between a shepherd, a setter or a poodle, get them all — adopt a mutt. The world's most popular breed of dog is no breed at all. Mixed breeds, random breeds, mongrels, mutts or curs — call them what you will, they make up the majority of the worldwide dog population. Rare is the country where dogs of mixed and usually unknown heritage do not outnumber their blue-blood, purebred relations. In true mixed breeds, the dog's ancestry is next to impossible to predict, although many people can't help but try to guess. That's part of the fun.
Often used interchangeably, the terms "mixed breed" and "crossbreed" have slightly different meanings. Unlike mixes, crossbreeds have clear roots — often evident by looking back just one generation. Sometimes produced randomly, but most often planned by breeders, crossbreeds result from the mating or crossing of two dogs with a different but identifiable lineage. Two purebred dogs are sometimes deliberately crossed in hopes of creating a new breed such as the cockapoo, which is one part cocker spaniel, one part poodle. But despite what those who breed and sell crossbreeds might try to tell you, these are not, nor will they likely ever be, recognized as purebred dogs.

Dog

 
Dog us a quadruped mammal under vertebrates. It is a domestic animal. Its scientific name is Canis lupus familiaris.
A dog plays the important role of a faithful and true friend. During the absence of his master from home, the dog takes care of the house. A dog keeps thieves away from the house of his master.

Characteristics: 
1. A dog has a bony structure with vertebral column. Its body is bilaterally symmetrical. So, it is a vertebrate.
2. The dogs are classified as mammals. Its body is covered with hairs. The young ones feed on mother’s milk.
3. It walks on digits. The forelimbs of dog have five digits, while its hind-limbs have four digits.
4. The dog has four well-developed canine teeth, non-retractile claws and a hairy tails.
5. It barks.

Relationship with human-beings: 

1. A dog is a domestic animal.
2. A dog is considered the best friend of man.
3. He remains faithful towards his master.
4. A dog loves his master. When the master goes out of the house, his dog eagerly waits for the arrival of his master.
5. A dog plays with his master.
6. Dogs have great sensory capabilities. They are often used by police and investigating agencies.
7. They keep the thefts away by keeping a vigilant eyes on them. Thus, they also provide security to us.