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Allergen: A substance that can induce an allergic reaction.
Allergy: A hypersensitivity in the immune response system. Symptoms may vary from minor skin irritation and gastrointestinal disturbances to a violent, sometimes life-threatening reaction called anaphylactic shock.
Anal sacs: Glands bracketing the anus that secrete a pungent fluid during bowel movements. Used by dogs to identify each other.
Anestrus: The sexually inactive period for female dogs between estrus cycles.
Breed: Group of dogs who exhibit a particular set of physical/mental characteristics developed through selective mating.
Conformation: The primary judging criteria at dog shows. Winning dogs "conform" most closely to the physical standard of their breeds.
Cropping: Trimming the ears to conform to an artificial aesthetic standard.
Dewclaws: A vestigial nail located on the inside of each canine leg. Often surgically removed.
Docking: The surgical removal of most of the tail.
Dysplasia: Abnormal bone or tissue development. Most commonly seen as hip dysplasia, a hereditary condition in which the hip joint fails to develop properly.
Estrus: Period in which a female dog is in heat.
Hackles: Neck and back hair.
Heat: Period in which a female dog is receptive to mating. See Estrus.
Lipoma: A benign fat tumor extremely common in older canines.
Mutts: Dogs of no specific "pure" breed; also known as mongrels or mixed breeds.
Muzzle: The projecting portion of the canine face, including the mouth, nose, and jaws. Also a fastening or covering for this part of the dog, used to prevent biting and/or eating.
Neutering: Sterilization of a male dog via removal of the testicles.
Parasites: Internal and external life forms that use other animals (in this case, dogs) as hosts. Includes, but is not confined to, heartworms, fleas, tapeworms, and mites.
Proestrus: The period just before a female dog enters estrus (heat).
Purebreds: Dogs belonging to a specific breed produced through selective mating.
Sight Hounds: Hunting dogs such as borzois and greyhounds that track prey primarily by sight.
Spaying: Sterilization of a female dog via hysterectomy.
Stripping: The removal of dead hairs from a dog’s coat.
Tricolor: A canine coat with three colors.
Whelping: The act of giving birth.
Withers: The point just behind the neck from which a dog’s height is determined.
The Dog Owner's Manual is a basic guide to dog care. The book was written by a celebrated veterinarian and an acclaimed author. It provides dog owners with well-researched and helpful information presented in a lighthearted manner. The creators chose to write the book in a style similar to what you'd find in "operating instructions" for a car or computer. Of course they--and we--respect the fact that our beloved pets are not products or machines!
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The Dog Owner's Manual is a basic guide to dog care.
on the add a dog, precious is a peekapoo. It doesn't list the hybrids. So what do you do?