Canine Terminology – B

2009

BACK The anatomical division of the spine is neck, withers, back, loin and croup, each variable in meaning depending upon the context of the Standard. In a few dog Standards, the five vertebrae between the withers and loin.
BELTON A coat colour, especially of English Setters. A coat with ticking or flecking in the base colour (white): blue belton (dilute black or black ticking);orange Belton; liver Belton; or lemon Belton . Ticking is a genetic pattern that may carry any pigment as black, tan (brown) or yellow.
BITCHY Effeminate male (derogatory) or typically feminine female.
BITE Determined when the mouth is closed. The position of the upper and lower teeth relative to one another. Level bite is where the upper and lower teeth meet exactly. In a scissors bite the upper teeth extend beyond the lower teeth, but surfaces touch one another. See also overshot and undershot.
BLAZE A white stripe or line extending up the centre of the face.
BLOCKY Applied to the head or body; square or cube like.
BLUE MERLE Coat in prime condition “blooms”; the sheen, glossiness of the coat.
BOBTAIL Dog with tail bobbed (docked or natural). Also the nickname of the Old English Sheep-dog.
BONE Used to mean substance as in ‘plenty of bone’ or well-boned’; size (diameter) of bone; reverse of light-boned.
BRACE Two dogs shown as a matched pair.
BREED A type of dog developed by man and requiring control by man to prevent intermixing of breeds; dogs that more or less produce like themselves.
BRINDLE A coat colour consisting of a mixture of black lines and a lighter colour arranged into a striped pattern.
BRISKET Lower part of the chest between and in front of the legs; deep brisket or shallow brisket indicates the depth of chest.
BROKEN COLOUR A solid colour broken by white (sometimes other colours).
BULL NECK Heavy neck; well-muscled neck, often short.
BUTTERFLY NOSE A nose with flesh-coloured spots; usually undesirable or faulty.
BUTTON EAR Top of ear folded forwards so as to close the ear-opening with the tip near the skull; ear is pointed towards the eyes.

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