The Ultimate Dog Groomers Glossary

Not sure what half these grooming terms actually mean?

You’re not the only one. Most groomers learn this language on the job, bit by bit. This glossary is here to help you make sense of the language groomers use every day.

If you're just getting started, you might also like:
→ Your Ultimate Guide to Getting Started as a Dog Groomer

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• Coat Colours

  • ASCOB: Any Other Colour than Black

  • Blaze: a strip of white down the centre of the face

  • Blue: a greyish blue

  • Brindle: dark and light streaking similar to stripes on a tiger

  • Café au lait: creamy brown

  • Chestnut: reddish brown

  • Chocolate: brown

  • Cream: off white

  • Fawn: a reddish- brown yellow

  • Harlequin: patchy black or grey on white. (Sometimes reversed on Great Danes)

  • Landseer: black-and-white Newfoundland

  • Mahogany: dull reddish brown

  • Mask: dark colour on face

  • Merle: dark splotches against a tighter background of the same colour

  • Mottled: dark, round splotches on a lighter background

  • Mustard: muted yellow

  • Parti-coloured: patches of two colours or more

  • Piebald or pied: large splotches of two or more colours

  • Roan: mix of coloured hairs with white hairs

  • Ruby: mahogany red

  • Rust: reddish brown

  • Sable: black tipped silver, gold, grey, fawn or brown hair

  • Sandy: sand coloured, tan

  • Seal: black with a reddish tint

  • Stage: red (stag): deep red with black hairs

  • Wheaten: wheat coloured, tan

  • Ticking: little spots of colour lighter or darker than the base colour

• Ear Shapes

  Bat ear: an erect, forward-facing ear that is broad at the base and round at the top, a French Bulldog has a bat ear

  Button ear: an ear that folds forward, covering the inside of the ear. This ear is semi erect. The Parsons Terrier has a button ear

  Cropped ear: a drop ear that is cut to stand erect. This is illegal in Australia. Schnauzers, Boxers and Staffordshire Terriers can have cropped ears

  Drop ear: pendant or natural ear: this ear folds over and hangs down. A Labradoodle has a drop ear

  Prick ear: this ear stands upright. A German Shepherd has a prick ear

  Rose ear: a small, thin ear that folds over and back. The Pug or Greyhound may have a rose ear

  Semipricked: an erect ear with just the tips folded forward. A Collie is a good example

  Hooded ear: a wide erect ear with the edges turning in. Example, Bull Terrier

• Tail Shapes

  Brush tail: a bush tail that is well coated. Example, an Australian Cattle Dog

  Carrot tail: shaped like a carrot and upside down. Example, a West Highland White Terrier

  Corkscrew tail: a spiral tail. Example, a Pug

  Docked tail: a tail that is shortened by being cut. This practise is illegal in Australia

  Flag tail: a tail that is carried high with long silky hair. Example, an Irish setter

  Ring tail: a tail that is carried almost in a circle. Example, an Afghan Hound

  Saber tail: a tail carried like a sword in a semi-circle. Example, a Siberian Husky

  Whip tail: a pointed tail carried straight out. Example a Bull Terrier

• Canine Skull Types

  Dolichocephalic skull: a long slender nose with a high set eye, this allows for exceptional sight. Examples of this skull type are Salukis and Greyhounds

  Mesocephalic skull: a broader skull with larger nasal openings, many scent hounds and pointers have this skull

  Brachycephalic skull: a compact skull with a much short snout. Bulldogs and Pugs are good examples. Care must be taken around eyes and in the drying process; they are at risk of overheating if not cared for correctly

• Canine Anatomy

  Occiput: the area on the back of the skull where the skull meets the neck

  Withers: the ridge above the shoulder blades, below the base of the neck and above the top line

  Stifle: the rear leg knee, the joining point of the femur and tibia/fibula

  Hock: the rear leg, back section that joins to the foot

  Stop: the point where the top of the muzzle and skull meet

  Pastern: the rear of the front ankle bend

  Brisket: sternum, where the bones form the base of the chest

  Flank: the loose skin that sits below the loin and either side of the last rib and thigh

  Loin: the waistline, between the last rib and pelvis

  Prosternum: the point of the chest or forechest

  Zygomatic arches: or cheek bones, the widest point on the dog’s face.

• Grooming Terminology

  Against the grain: to clip against the natural fall of the coat

  Breed standard: a blueprint or ideal dog in relation to structure, temperament, coat type etc.; an example of a perfect breed as set out from the Australian National Kennel Council / Dogs Australia

  Breed group: dog breeds grouped from 1-7 in accordance with the Australian National Kennel Council / Dogs Australia

  Broken coat: wirehaired

  Carding: the technique of removing undercoat from a dog using a range of tools

  Cat foot: a foot that is neat and round and has a close set arched toes

  Coat king: an undercoat rake trade marked by Mars

  Cow hocked: hocks that are turned inward

  Confirmation: showcases the dogs breed standard. A visual reference to correct breed standard

  Fickle leg: an outward –bending leg, bowleg

  Hand stripping: is the removal of the undercoat on a wire or broken coated dog

  Tuck up: finding the ‘tuck up’ point between the last rib, the flank and the loin. This highlights the dogs’ waist

  Skirt: refers to hair furnishings on the dog’s rib cage

  Stacking: a dog’s stance in relation to show off his best attributes. This helps create the ultimate profile

  Topline: the area along the spine, from behind the withers to the tail set

  Tuck up: the highest point of the underline from the flank to the last rib

  Undercoat: short, soft dense hair that supports the outer coat

• Medical Terminology

  Abscess: an infected, pus-filled pocket under the skin

  Alopecia: hair loss

  Cherry eye: a swelling of the gland behind the dog’s third eye lid. Making an appearance as a cherry in the corner of the dog’s eye

  Crop: to amputate part of the ear to make it stand, not legal in Australia

  Dewclaw: a nail that is set above the foot on the inside of the back and rear feet, it does not touch the ground

  Hip dysplasia: a loose-fitting hip that is usually inherited

  Hot spot: an inflamed bald area on the dogs skin, caused by rubbing, licking, scratching or biting

  Incontinence: uncontrolled leaking of urine

  Kennel cough: a contagious bronchial disease that is caused by a virus or bacteria. The dog will often cough or appear to have a cold

  Lick granuloma: excessive licking that causes discoloration of skin and open wounds

  Tumour: an abnormal growth that may be malignant or benign

  Zoonosis: a condition that can be passed from one species to another. The Australian bat virus, lyssavirus is an example.

Tip: Bookmark this page. It’s one of those things you’ll come back to more than you think.

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