CT Girl

FluffySpoos, I agree with you on dewclaws. My Aussie had them and even though I trimmed the nails he would rip them every once in a while and it would bleed like a son of a gun. My Aussie naturally had no tail but his nubbin was very expressive. I can understand how with a working dog a tail might get in the way. I honestly did not even consider this issue with Swizzle but my guess is that the breeder would not have been receptive had I requested a non docked tail.

meredian

Our breeder docked Wade and it's sort of a nubbin at this point - a little thing. I am wondering if it will appear longer when he is older. He does have his dew claws and we are a little worried about that.

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Oreo's Mommy

Thank you so much for all the info. I love the comment that he will look like a poodle... Brought a huge smile to my face!

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The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way in which its animals are treated. (Mahatma Gandhi)




Oreo: 16 December 2012

Fifi: 8 Sept 1998 to 20 November 2012

outwest

Actually, it is kind of the opposite. The dog grows into the tail. Jazz' tail looked super long as a little puppy, but much less so now. Wade will likely have a bunny tail, which is cute, too! My poodles have their dewclaws. I haven't had any issues with them as long as I keep the nails trimmed short, but theirs are attached and they only have front ones.

Oreo's Mommy

Just talked to Noodle's breeder and his tail is not docked so he will be a Curley Q more than likely.

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The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way in which its animals are treated. (Mahatma Gandhi)




Oreo: 16 December 2012

Fifi: 8 Sept 1998 to 20 November 2012

Dusty Rose

Thank you all for sharing you feelings on tail docking. I will be breeding my spoo next year and have already been wondering about this. My girl has been introduced to upland birds and ducks and does not flinch at gun shots. We are also doing agility classes and, at 10 months, she is doing as well as the 2 year old dogs in the class. I do notice that she doesn't do tight turns as well as my other two dogs and I believe that is due to her not having dew claws and having had her tail docked.

I intend to promote a more "back to the beginning" spoo. Healthy, sturdy, multi purpose dogs, and of course, great family friends.

I am getting a great deal of useful information from this site, thank you all.

Oklahoma

Tail docking is the norm here in the US but I'm not a fan. We also have two miniature Schnauzers. They both have docked tails and one has cropped ears, which was done prior to us adopting him. If we had our say, they would both have natural tails and ears as we don't hunt. I don't believe in docking or cropping for cosmetic purposes, especially since we don't plan on showing.

I've spoken to a few breeders in the US and Canada that will leave the tail natural as long as you've prepaid for your puppy by a certain age.

Totally agree about removing dew claws though. We adopted a rescue dog a few years back. Even after telling the groomer that he still had dew claws, they forgot and nearly cut one off. They felt awful and paid for the vet care. They just get in a rhythm and don't expect them to be there. It's a safety issue, at least for us.

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Ella, 2 y/o Standard Poodle


Lexie, 4 y/o Mini Schnauzer
Hudson, 4 y/o Mini Schnauzer

caroline429

Cali's tail is undocked and she has her dewclaws. She looks just like a poodle. Except for the glowing devil eyes. LOL

outwest

Cali's tail is particularly short for an undocked tail. Maybe minis have shorter natural tails?? It looks the same length as Jazz' long dock. Are you sure it wasn't docked?

4 months:


7 months


It doesn't look nearly as long now. I prefer a docked tail and dew claws left. I believe most breeders will leave a puppy undocked if the puppy is chosen and fully paid for before two days old if that is what you like. Bonnie has a long dock, too, but she also has a squirrel tail. Jazz has a curve, but it doesn't go over his back. I sometimes wish Bonnie's was docked shorter so it didn't go over:


I actually think my dogs use their dewclaws when running fast and jumping. Maybe it is in my imagination, but it sure looks like they use them in right turns.

Dusty Rose

I thought "glowing devil eyes" are the poodle, they certainly are with Maya, especially when she thinks I'm not looking!!