Glossary

Landrace: The term “landrace” isn’t particular to dogs. A landrace is any domesticated and regionally adapted type of plant or animal that has developed naturally, over time, to suit its environment and purpose. Some examples of landrace dog breeds include the Africanis, the Taiwan Dog and the American Carolina Dog.

Pariah: The word “pariah” originally comes from the Tamil word “paraiyar,” a term that has been used to describe the lowest people in the Indian caste system. As it relates to dogs, the word “pariah” traditionally refers to a an ownerless dog that roams freely. In modern times, however, the term also indicates a type of dog that conforms to a certain set of characteristics (which differ according to the region they are in).

Precaudal Gland: Also known as the Violet or Supracaudal Gland, the Precaudal Gland is located on the upper surface of the tail; in dogs, it is a few inches from the base of the spine. In layman’s terms, it is a scent gland, and it is used to mark territory. The Precaudal Gland secretes volatile turpenes that are close to what’s produced by the flower known as the violet (hence the name, Violet Gland); nevertheless, this mixture is in much greater quantity in animals and can be rather pungent depending on the type of animal it comes from.

Stop: The “stop” is the point on a dog’s skull where the forehead ends and the muzzle begins.