| Word | Definition |
| AKC | (American Kennel Club) Holds shows for pruebreed dogs that are recongized by this kennel club. |
| All-Breed Dog Show | Dog shows that are not limited to one breed or group. Any recongized breed can compete for best in show title. |
| Bait | A bit of food or a toy used to hold a dog's attension in the ring. |
| Benched | A show where an entered dog must stay within a chosen area for as long as it is not being judged. Breeds are usually grouped together. |
| Best In Show(BIS) | A dog (meaning both sexes) that has defeated dogs within its breed and group and the winners of each of the other 6 groups. |
| Best in Speciality Show(BISS) | A dog that has been chosen to be the best example of its breed or group in a speciality show. |
| Best Of Breed(BOB) | A dog that is the best example of its breed comparied to other dogs in that show. |
| Best Of Opposite Sex(BOS) | A dog that is the opposite sex of the best of breed winner and is the best example of the sex opposite of the best of breed winner. |
| Best Of Winners(BOW) | A dog chosen that is the best of the winners dog or winners bitch. Usually receives the highest amount of points given to either the dog or bitch. |
| Bitch | A female dog. |
| Bitchy Dog | An undersirable quality where a dog resembles a bitch in type. |
| Bow-Legs | An undersirable quality in most breeds where the hocks and legs bow out from the center. |
| Champion Of Record(Ch.) | A dog that has earned 15 points including two majors over dogs in a sactioned kennel club show. |
| CKC(Canadian Kennel Club) | A kennel club that oversees dog shows and registery in Canada. |
| Cow-Hocks | An undersirable quality in most breeds where the hocks point inward and usually the feet point outward. |
| Dam | Mother of a dog or litter. |
| Dog | A male dog. |
| Doggy Bitch | An undersirable quality where a bitch resembles a dog in type. |
| Field Trial(FTCH) | A special show held for most sporting breeds that tests the training and instincts of that dog to hunt, point, or retrieve. A Field Trial Champion is a dog who has earned points by beating other dogs in a sanctioned field trial. |
| Finish/Finished | A dog who is looking to finish its championship./A dog who has finished its championship. |
| Free-Stacking | Letting the dog stack itself without help from the handler. |
| Gaiting | Moving around the ring at a steady trot. |
| Group 1-4 | First throught fourth in a group. |
| Groups | Classification of dog considered on what there purpose was or still is. They are the Hound, Working, Sporting, Terrier, Toy, Herding, and Non-sporting groups in the AKC. |
| Hare-Feet | A desirable quality in some breeds, and an undesirable quality in other where the feet are shaped like a rabbit or hare's. |
| Judge | A person who is licenced by the AKC or other kennel club to pick which dog best fits its standard to win on a breed, group, or best in show level. |
| Judging Program | A document that tells you thte number of dogs entered, the rings each breed competition will take place and the time each competition is held. Also includes directions to a show, a show's location, and the judge's names and addresses. |
| Junior Showmanship(Juniors) | A competition for boys and girls between the ages of 10 and 18 specially set up for those who want to learn about dog shows, competing, and sportsmanship. You present your dog to a judge and the judge rates your preformance and not the dog's conformation. |
Major | A group of three to five points won at a sanctioned show won by beating a number of dogs in that dog's breed. A dog must have two of these to become a champion of record. The number of dogs beat depends of the breed. |
| Miscellanious Class | A class set up for dogs who are not yet offically recongized by the AKC, but only partially. These breeds do not have the previliges of a fully recongized breed and cannot compete for Best in Show. |
| Muzzle | A dog's nose and mouth area of its skull. |
| Non-Regular Classes | A class (such as Juniors) that is not a regular conformation or obedience class. Receives different colored ribbons for 1-4th places. |
| Novice Class in Juniors | A class for boys and girls that have not won three first place awards with competition present. |
| Obedience Trial(OTCH) | A special show held for all dogs to exibit how well trained they are. Obedience Trial Champion is a dog who has earned points by beating other dogs at a sanctioned show. |
| Open Class in Juniors | A class for boys and girls who have won three or more first place awards with competition in a Novice class. |
| Pedigree | A generation by generation look at a dog's ancestors. Tells such things as Champions of Record, coat color, and registered names. |
| Points | An award vaulable to dogs who want to finish their championship. The number of points received is directly based on the number of dogs entered. |
| Premium List | A document that you receive before the closing date of a show that tells you the judge of a certain breed or group and the prize for winning a certain class. Also contains entry forms for entering that show, the closing date of the show, and entry fees. |
| Show Lead | A usually thin light-weight leash used to keep control of a dog in the ring. |
| Sire | The father of a dog or a litter |
| Special | A dog that has finished its championship and is being shown in Best of Breed competition so it can win BOB and group placements. |
| Stacking | The position a dog stands in when being examined by a judge. The actual placement of the feet is determined by breed but is usually a four-point stack. |
| Steward | A person who helps the judge in the ring hand out prizes, take down armband numbers and is an all-round assistant. |
| Stop | The point at which the muzzle meets the rest of the skull. |
| Superintendent | Someone who coordinates the show and represents the AKC. |
| Tail Set | The position a dog carries its tail in motion and in rest. |
| Tracking Test | A show held for all dogs to test their ability to track a human sent throught various obsitcles and terrains to earn titles of TD (tracking dog), TDX (tracking dog excellent), or VST (variable surface tracking). |
| Tuck | How a dog carries its loin or stomach area. |
| Typey | Showing lots of breed characterists in a way that is characterist with a dog's breed. |
| UKC(United Kennel Club) | A kennel club that handles some registering matters and dog shows in the USA and Canada. |
| Unbenched | A show where a dog that is exibiting is free to go or stay anywhere and free to go and come before or after its judging. |
| Winners (Dog/Bitch) | A dog that has won over all the dogs entered in the gender-related grouping within its breed. They receive points towards a Champion of Record. |
