Animal Science I
Dogs
Objectives
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Identify the external parts and
describe the physiology of a dog.
Compare and contrast the groups and
breeds of dogs.
Determine the facilities and
equipment required for the proper
care of dogs.
Objectives
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Analyze the factors to consider
when selecting a dog.
Examine dog behaviors and
describe management, training, and
grooming techniques.
The Dog
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Dogs have been used as
companion animals for more
than 10,000 years.
A companion animal is any
domestic animal kept for
enjoyment and companionship
by humans.
Canis familiaris
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The scientific name for dogs is Canis familiaris.
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Although most dogs eat processed dog food,
they are carnivores by nature.
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Since their family name is Canidae, they are often
called canines.
The genus is Canis.
A carnivore is a meat- or flesh-eating animal.
Dogs are monogastric mammals. Monogastric
means having a one-compartment stomach.
Terminology
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A mature female dog is a
bitch.
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A mature male dog is a sire or
stud dog.
The process of a bitch giving
birth is whelping.
An immature dog of either sex
is a puppy.
A group of puppies born to the
same parents at the same
time is a litter.
Physiology of a dog
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Dogs have skeletal systems with about
320 bones.
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Large breeds have larger bones, and small
breeds have smaller bones.
Dogs are endothermic, meaning they
keep a constant body temperature.
Dogs can weigh anywhere from less than
6 to more than 200 pounds at maturity,
depending on the breed.
External Parts
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The external parts of a dog are:
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1. Back—The part of the body between
the loin and the withers
2. Brisket—The chest
3. Carpals—The wrist; the bones of the
pastern joint
4. Dewclaw—The tiny, useless fifth claw on the
inner part of the leg above the other toes
5. Eye—Either of two organs of sight found on the
head
6. Ear—Either of two fleshy, often triangular
appendages found on the head and associated with
hearing
External Parts cont.
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7. Flews—The hanging part of the upper lip
8. Forearm—The part of a foreleg between the
elbow and the pastern
9. Forefoot—A front foot
10. Hind foot—A back foot
11. Hip—The joint at the uppermost part of a hind
leg
12. Hock—The bones that form the ankle/heel
13. Loin—The part of the body on either side of the
backbone between the rib and the hip
14. Muzzle—The front parts of the jaws
More External Parts
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15. Nose—The tip of the muzzle
16. Pastern—The part below the
knee of the front leg or below
the hock of the hind leg
17. Ruff—The long, thick hair that grows
around the neck
18. Shoulder—The joint at the uppermost
part of a foreleg
19. Stifle—The knee, located above the
ankle on a hind leg
OMG More Parts?
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20. Stop—The indented part of the skull
between the eyes
21. Tail—The hindmost part of the
backbone, set on the rump
22. Thigh—The upper part of a hind leg
23. Withers—The top of the shoulders, just
behind the neck
Diagram dilemma!
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You are charged with the task of
making a dog diagram.
Using the picture given, mark the
external parts in their appropriate
locations.
Check with a partner to see if you have
the same areas.
What are the various groups
and breeds of dogs?
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There are approximately 300 dog breeds. In
the United States, the American Kennel Club
(AKC) does the classification and record
keeping on dog breeds.
Based on both use and
characteristics, seven dog
groups have been identified.
Being familiar with the characteristics of the
groups and breeds is important when selecting
a dog.
You Herd Me Right!
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The Herding Group comprises dogs that are
easily trained to help with herding animals,
such as sheep and cattle.
These dogs need a lot of space because they
must run and exercise often.
Common breeds include:
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1. Australian Cattle Dog
2. Shetland Sheepdog
3. Collie
4. German Shepherd
That’s Awfully Sporting of You
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The Sporting Group is composed of
dogs used for sporting purposes, like
hunting.
Some breeds used for retrieving, finding,
and scaring out game animals include
various types of:
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1. Spaniels
2. Retrievers
3. Setters
4. Pointers
Get Back to Work!
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The Working Group is made up of dogs that
help people achieve specific tasks, like
protection of property, sled pulling, and police
work.
They also act as service dogs for persons
whose vision or hearing is impaired.
Working dog breeds include:
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1. Alaskan Malamute
2. Doberman Pinscher
3. Saint Bernard
4. Rottweiler
You Ain’t Nothing But a
Hound Dog…
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The Hound Group is composed of dogs used
for tracking because of their ability to follow
scents.
Hounds are used by hunters to locate game
animals and by law officials to track lost people
or people who have escaped from
confinement.
Examples of breeds in this group include:
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1. Beagle
2. Greyhound
3. Basset
4. Dachshund
Gotta Dig It!
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The Terrier Group comprises dogs that dig
into the ground to capture their prey.
There are 25 breeds of
terriers recognized by
the AKC.
Some examples of terriers are:
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1. Miniature Schnauzer
2. Airedale Terrier
3. Scottish Terrier
4. Bull Terrier
So Small, They Can Fit in Your
Bag!
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The Toy Group encompasses dogs that weigh
between 4 and 16 pounds.
Toy breeds live longer than larger breeds.
They desire companionship and are easier to
keep in smaller areas because of their size.
Some examples of toy breeds are:
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1. Chihuahua
2. Toy Fox Terrier
3. Yorkshire Terrier
4. English Toy Spaniel
The Miscellaneous Bunch
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The Non-sporting Group consists of
dogs developed for purposes other than
sports, particularly companionship.
Breeds include:
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1. Dalmatian
2. Bulldog
3. Poodle
4. Lhasa Apso
Dogs
What are the facilities and
equipment required for the proper
care of dogs?
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Being a dog owner comes with a
great deal of responsibility.
Certain facilities and equipment are
necessary for the proper care, health,
and sometimes restraint of a dog.
A dog requires some of the same
facilities as other pets.
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An indoor dog should be kept in a warm, dry
environment except when being taken outside to
walk or expel waste.
A dog kept indoors will require enough space to
move about and will enjoy walking and exploring
the house.
Do Your Research!
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An owner should always research his or her
dog breed before keeping the animal outside.
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Breeds with thicker coats will do better in cold
climates but may overheat in the summer.
An outdoor dog will require a warm, dry place to
sleep or rest, along with a dry location for food and
fresh water.
Owners should always remember that many dogs
love to run, dig, and explore.
Keeping a large dog in a small cage is not only
inhumane but may also cause stress and
aggressiveness in the animal.
Facilities and Equipment
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Along with facilities, proper equipment is
necessary to provide for a dog.
Some pieces of equipment that an
owner will find useful are:
1. A strong collar with an
identification tag showing the
dog’s name, the owner’s name
and address, and vaccination
information
2. A good leash for walking or restraining
the animal
Facilities and Equipment
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3. A muzzle to keep the dog’s mouth
closed if the animal has a
tendency to bark or bite
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A muzzle should not be
worn all the time but only
when the pet may become
nervous, such as on a trip
to the veterinarian.
4. A good brush to remove shedding hair
5. Proper medications for flea and tick
control
Facilities and Equipment
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6. A set of food and water bowls
that are chew-proof and slipresistant (so they don’t move
while the animal is trying to
eat or drink)
7. Toys to entertain the dog and
give it a chance to chew
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Many dogs have an instinct to chew.
By giving a dog toys, the animal will be less likely to
exhibit chewing behavior on shoes, furniture, or
other belongings.
Pick up after your dog
Factors to consider when
selecting a dog
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Although every dog is different, similarities
among breeds should be considered when
deciding what type of dog will suit a person
and the person’s needs.
Age of the dog is an important factor.
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A puppy should be taken between 8 and 12 weeks
of age.
Acquiring an older dog may be less expensive in
the long run if it has already been spayed or
neutered.
Puppies are cute and cuddly, but they require much
more work than older dogs.
Selecting a dog
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Another consideration is whether to get a
purebred or a mixed breed.
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If a dog with known ancestry is wanted
for breeding purposes, a purebred
should be chosen.
When a purebred is purchased, little
guessing is needed on how large the dog will get.
Acquiring a mixed breed will usually cost less, but
an accurate prediction of the animal’s mature size
may not be possible if the dog is a pup.
Space
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The space available should always be
looked at in relation to how much
space the dog will need at
maturity.
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Some dogs do well indoors,
and others need wide-open spaces
in which to run if they are to be healthy.
In areas of harsh heat or cold, proper
protection must be provided for an animal.
Puffy Pomeranians!
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Length of hair is the next
consideration.
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Long-haired dogs not only
have more hair to shed, but
they are susceptible to more
diseases and parasites
because of their hair.
Save a life, spay and neuter
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Lastly, gender of the dog should be
considered.
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If the dog is not going to be used for
breeding purposes, it should be spayed or
neutered.
A male dog that has been neutered will be
less likely to run away searching for a
female dog.
Having a female dog spayed will take away
the heat cycle and its symptoms.
Caring for your dog
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Managing, training, and grooming dogs can be
time consuming but also very enjoyable.
Here are a few simple pointers.
1. The importance of choosing a
dog that is alert and healthy
cannot be overemphasized.
2. Finding out what medical attention the
animal has had and if vaccinations have been
given is essential.
Caring for your dog
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3. A dog must always be handled with
care and be made to feel secure.
4. The owner must show patience and
allow plenty of time for the dog to adjust
to its new home.
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The dog should not be expected to arrive
trained to the owner’s liking.
5. The owner should show the dog that it
is cared about by properly bathing and
grooming it.
Caring for your dog
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6. A dog must never be left
without fresh water and
clean bedding.
7. Since a dog needs plenty
of exercise, it must have enough space.
8. Every dog not intended for breeding
purposes should be spayed or neutered
to prevent unexpected and unwanted
litters of puppies.
Training
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1. Training is working with a dog to get it
to have desirable habits and knowledge.
2. The most common training required is
housebreaking.
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Housebreaking is getting a dog to urinate
or defecate in a desired area.
Training
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3. The owner may also want to teach his
or her dog to heel, come, stay, sit, or
speak.
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Obedience schools are organized programs
to help get a dog to do things on command.
4. The most important things in any
training program are patience, kindness,
and rewards to the dog to reinforce
positive behaviors.
Grooming
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1. Grooming is caring for the
external appearance of a dog.
2. The owner should comb,
trim, and bathe the dog, cut its
nails, clean its teeth, and treat minor
wounds as necessary.
3. If the dog is to be entered in shows,
the owner will need to learn ways to
make the animal especially attractive.
Selecting a breed
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Use the lab sheet provided to answer
questions and figure out what breed is
best suited for you.
After you do that, write down what
breed you really want. Is it the same
as the one on the lab sheet or
different?
Review
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What are the external parts, and what
is the physiology of a dog?
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What are the various groups and
breeds of dogs?
Review
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What are the facilities and equipment
required for the proper care of dogs?
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What are the factors to consider when
selecting a dog?
Review
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What dog behaviors can you expect,
and what kinds of management,
training, and grooming techniques
should be used?