Senior Dog Questions 2025

What are the names and numbers of vertebrae in a dog’s skeletal anatomy, in order from head to tail?

7 cervical, 13 thoracic, 7 lumbar, 3 sacral, and 20-22 coccygeal

The Bassett Hound and Afghan Hound are thought to be the descendent of what animal?

Indian Wolf

What AKC Groups are the following dogs in?

1. Barbet

2. Sloughi

3. Leonberger

4. Biewer Terrier

5. Chinook

1. Sporting

2. Hound

3. Working

4. Toy

5. Working

When are purebred breeds admitted to the AKC Miscellaneous Class?

When the AKC Board of Directors is convinced there is clear proof that a substantial, sustainable nationwide interest and activity in the breed exists

What is the purpose of the AKC Foundation Stock Service?

Optional record-keeping service for all purebred breeds not currently permitted to be registered with AKC

Overshot and undershot bites are comparative to which jaw?

Lower jaw

What is the definition of a rose ear?

A small drop ear that folds over and back so as to reveal the burr (inside of ear)

Describe the name and position of the tail carriage of the Finnish Spitz

Curled Tail — A single curl falling over the loin with the tip toward the side

Describe the conformation of the oval foot

Spoon-shaped, with both center toes longer than cat feet but shorter than hair feet. They are also a compromise between endurance and fast initial speed and jumping.

Name two brushes used to finish grooming a dog with a long coat and name the types of coat that each brush is used on

Bristle brush — long, silky coats

Pin brush — thicker, fuller coats

What breed of dog would the Komondor and Puli coats look a lot like if groomed in that manner?

Poodle

What are 2 uses of the pin brush?

Separating the coat and removing loose hair

When considering what breed of dog to own, why should you learn about their general breed temperaments?

That way you know about their ability to be trained and energy level and see if it matches up with your lifestyle

Why are mixed breed dogs sometimes less likely to have genetic health problems?

Because their parents come from a more diverse gene pool

When looking at a puppy’s pedigree, why should you give more consideration to the sire and dam than to the grandsire and granddam?

An animal far back in the pedigree cannot significantly influence the puppy’s type or performance — these ancestors only contribute 25% of of genes

Between approximately how many weeks of age do puppies develop their primary social attachments?

6-10 weeks of age

Why is it always important to observe the complete picture within the dog’s environment when interpreting a dog’s behavior?

A dog does not express all behaviors in each situation — depends on the individual dog and variationsbetween breeds

Why might a dog display signs of active submission behaviors?

To avoid any additional threats or confrontations from a dominant dog or person

Compare how an aggressive dog may react to a person’s stare and a submissive dog’s response

Aggressive — Direct eye contact, fixed stare, dilated pupils

Submissive — Indirect and brief eye contact, may blink

What two general ways dodogs communicate when disciplining a pack member?

Body language and tone of voice

What are two Canine Good Citizen program opportunities for testing in addition to the original CGC test?

AKC STAR Puppy, AKC Community Canine, and AKC Urban Canine

What type of object must you have before you can begin Place Training a puppy or dog?

Towel/rug/mat

Name 2 behaviors that might occur as a result of using harsh punishment on a puppy

Fearfulness, retaliation, increase or development of new undesirable behaviors

Explain what the term “Marker Signal” means and when to use it

A word or sound that tells your dog “That is right” — used at the second the dog does something right

What are 2 or the 3 things to remember when doing the Standfor Exam?

1. Make sure your dog is standing balanced and evenly on all 4 feet

2. Do not touch your dog while giving the stay command

What is the difference between the “A” and “B” classes in Open obedience?

“A” classes are when the handler and the dog are inexperienced and ”B” classes are when the handler and/or the dog have experience in a class

What does the dog error “Crowding” mean?

You bump into your dog while heeling because your dog is moving too close to you

In shwomanship, what is 1 method of controlling your dog’s head when stacking?

Holding the dog’s lower jaw and cheek on the side closest to you without wrapping your fingers around the muzzle

In showmanship, when showing a small dog on a table, what are 2 reasons why you should never drop the dog into position?

1. Can be harmful to the feet and shoulders

2. Can cause the table to move which can scare the dog

When stacking a dog, when is it permissible for you to put both knees on the ground or floor?

When stacking a toy breed

Why is there no need to make direct eye contact with the judge during the gaiting pattern?

Too much head movement will distract from the picture of your dog gaiting around the ring

In the Down and Back patterns, what are two reasons why you should learn how to switch hands, and therefore switch sides when you return to the judge?

1. It can be used as a tiebreaker

2. In an outdoor trial with ring requirements that force you to switch hands (avoiding a hold or puddle)

In showmanship, how many times should you change hands in the following patterns?

1. L pattern

2. Triangle pattern

3. T pattern

1. 2

2. 0

3. 2

Briefly explain the difference between animal-assisted activities and animal-assisted therapy

AAA — Provide emotional, educational, or recreation human-animal interaction

AAT — Help promote a person’s cognitive, emotional, or physical functioning

What is another name for a dog’s wrist?

Carpus

What is the external anatomical term for coccygeal vertebrae?

Tail

Describe the dolichocephalic head shape

Narrow skull and elongated muzzle. These dogs have long necks and a body build that is agile and swift

What are two other terms for a dog’s stopper pad?

1. Vestigial

2. Carpal pad

In reference to a dog’s digestive system, what are two functions of chewing and the results of each function?

1. Reduces food into smaller pieces which helps the action of digestive enzymes

2. Causes food to mix with saliva, making food easier to swallow

What is canine influenza, or dog flu, caused by?

An influenza A H3N8 influenza virus

Name two of the most common agents causing kennel cough. These can occur as one or in a combination of agents.

Bordtella bronchispetic, parainfluenza virus, adenovirus, mycoplasma organism

Name the intermediate hosts of the following two types of tapeworms that are found in dogs:

1. Dipylidium caninum (D caninum)

2. Taenia species

1. Adult flea or Louse larvae

2. Rabbits or rodents

What is the common term for the Trombicula mite, and where are these most often found on the dog?

Chiggers — legs, head, belly

What are two ways that ringworm can be transmitted to humans?

1. Direct contact wwith infected animal

2. Contact with an object contaminated with the spores

Describe a dog with a body condition score of 3 (moderate)

Ribs palpable with excess fat covering. Abdomen tucked up when viewed from the side

How much moisture do the following types of dog foods typically contain (range):

1. Dry

2. Semi-Moist

3. Canned

1. 10-12%

2. 25-35%

3. 70-75%

What does the guarenteed analysis list on a dog food label?

Lists the minimum levels of crude protein and crude fat and the maximum levels of crude fiber and moisture

What is the biological reason a female dog may be fertilized by more than one male, resulting in a litter having more than one father?

Because the female produces more than 1 egg

What does the term “close-coupled” mean?

A dog with a short loin and back

Where is the Stop located on a dog?

The area between the eyes where the muzzle ends and the skull begins