Male dogs and other unusual words

This week, I started wondering if there is a term for a male dog. We all know the term for a female dog, but the males are usually just called "dogs".

Well, thanks to the internet, I now know that answer.

There are three terms used for a male dog:

• Stud - usually only used for breeding purposes
• Sire - but only if it has fathered pups
• Cur - although this usually implies one that is angry or ill or abused

And while on the subject, I was able to find out what male and female cats are called. Until now, I only knew the first of the following:

• tom - a male cat
• gib - a male cat that's been neutered
• queen - a female cat (usually only if she hasn't been spayed)
• clowder - a group of cats

And now you know too.