Blanket - The color of the coat on the back and upper part of the sides, between the neck and the tail.
Balance - When all the parts of the dog, moving or standing, produce a harmonious image.
Luxating Patella - A problem that causes the kneecap to slip when the joint is moved. Transmitted genetically and can lead to lameness.
Senile Cataracts - Occurring in elderly animals, a lens opacity in the eye that does not interfere with vision.
Virus - Any of various simple submicroscopic parasites of plants, animals, and bacteria that often cause disease and that consist essentially of a core of RNA or DNA surrounded by a protein coat. Unable to replicate without a host cell, viruses are typically not considered living organisms.
Walleye - An eye with a whitish iris; a blue eye, fisheye, pearl eye.
Prong Collar - Collar used for training dogs. It has metal pieces on it that pinch a dog. It is against AKC rules to use this type of collar on the show grounds. Also called pinch collar.
Bad Mouth - Crooked teeth; when the mouth is closed, upper and lower teeth do not line up according to the standard of the breed.
Bandy Legs - Legs that bend outward.
Briard - An ancient French breed of sturdily built, rough-coated dogs.
Hook Tail - A tail that is carried down, but with the tip curled upwards.
Topline - The dog's outline from just behind the withers to the tail set.
