Dog ‒ Anatomy

Dog anatomy can vary significantly among breeds, particularly in the size and shape of certain body parts. The head typically consists of the forehead, a moist nose, large eyes, prominent ears, a strong muzzle (housing a typical carnivorous dentition), whiskers and a long tongue. The rest of the body is covered in well-developed muscles and is divided into several key sections. From head to shoulders, the body is structured by the neck, throat, crest, shoulders and withers (the highest point of the dog's back, located at the top of the shoulders). The torso is further divided into the chest, back, flank and abdomen. Dogs have four legs, ending in paws. These are referred to as forefeet or hind feet, depending on whether they are in the front or back. Each paw has four claws (also known as nails), five paw pads (one for each claw plus a larger central pad), and often one dewclaw (a higher, less-used claw that rarely touches the ground). The body structure concludes with the rump (or croup), which is the rear end of the dog, where the pelvis is located and where the tail begins.