Certain breeds of dogs grace our grooming tables that typically have docked tails. A docked tail has been wholly or partially removed, usually when the puppy is only a few days old. Some common examples are Poodles (toy, miniature, or standard), American and English Cocker Spaniels, English Springer Spaniels, Schnauzers (miniature, standard, or giant), Yorkshire Terriers, and many other breeds.
Groomers get used to trimming docked tails because, traditionally, we have seen so many of them. Our grooming guides show us images of breeds that usually have docked tails and how to style them appropriately. However, in recent years, some breeders have begun to leave natural tails on the puppies they produce. It can be argued that tail docking is inhumane, and the American Veterinary Medical Association and the American Animal Hospital Association condemn it. Furthermore, tail docking is illegal in several countries, including most of Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.
The first time you have a commonly docked breed on your table with a natural tail, it can cause you to stand back, scratch your head, and say, "Huh." What should you do with all that excess acreage? The good news is you can get creative, which is usually fun.
Let's imagine you have a standard poodle to groom. The owner has requested that you shave the face and feet, leave the body coat about one inch long, and scissor a top knot. However, they didn't mention what to do with that long, long tail. Often, it is because they are unsure what would look best. This leaves you with a few choices.
- You can leave the entire tail full and fluffy, just as it arrived, or lightly scissor, shaping it up.
- You can pretend it is a docked tail and clip a narrow tail band, then scissor the entire length of the tail into an elongated pom. Or, you can clip a tremendous tail band and scissor a small pom at the end of the tail. I like the second option because it makes the dog look more balanced, but it all depends on the look you are going for.
With spaniels, you can trim the tail to mimic that of a setter into the shape of a lovely flag. On some breeds, the undocked tail curves up to a surprising degree over the back. That curved shape can change how you choose to cut the hair.
On any breed with an unexpectedly long tail, use this trick to help guide your grooming; stand back and look at the dog after you have groomed the head and body but before you have tackled the tail. After taking in the entire image, decide what will make the dog look balanced, natural, and beautiful. You can never go wrong that way.
