If you’ve traveled to different countries across the world then you might have notice that most poodles look a bit different and this is because some owners think it would be best to docked the tail while others think it is best to leave it natural. But why do people actually think docking should be done? Is poodle tail docking necessary? Well, in this article, we will explain why poodle tail docked.
The reason why a lot of poodle owners think it’s best to docked their dog tail is because it helps to prevent injury or to attain a certain cosmetic look. AKC breed standard have stated that in order for poodles to participate in any form of sanctioned contest, they have to be docked. With that said, there are many people who actually disagrees with tail docking unless it’s medically necessary.
Origin of Poodle Tail Docking
Bear in mind that docking dog’s tails are something that have been taking place for centuries now. If we should go back in history you’ll realize that even the Romans have done this process, they have docked their dog’s tails which helps to prevent them from contracting rabies.
Not only that, but back in the 17th century in England, dogs were normally been taxed if they were kept as pets. The only animal that escaped been taxed were working animals or farm dogs. What happen is that dog owners started to dock their dog’s tails to avoid being taxed for them.
It was also a way of shown wealth back then if your dog tail was not docked, because if not you would have to pay taxed and those who wanted to avoid doing so had to make that decision. There were only a handful of dogs who had their tail docked because of medical reasons.
Around 1884 the AKC (American Kennel Club) was formed. What they did was created a “breed standard” for all dog breeds registered with them, which includes a note on each specific tail appearance. Most dog owners had to docked their dog tail because of their standard requirement, especially working dog breeds. All poodles tend to fall under this standard.
However, this is not the case in European Union since docking of tail is completely banned since 1998. So all poodle breeds that is coming from Europe, you can expect to see a long, natural tail.
What Age is a Poodle Tail Docked?
The good news is that poodles tail are usually docked at a younge age ranging from 3 to 5 days old. It normally take around one week for the healing process to completely. During this process you don’t have to worry since there will be no scars and no damage to the nervous system. Because of this sometimes the poodles owner even forgot that the procedure have been done.
Whenever a older poodle or any other dog breeds go through this process at an older age, there is a higher chance of them developing complications and the healing process will take a much longer time.
Why Do Poodles Even Get Their Tails Docked?
We strongly believe the main reason behind tail docking has to do with cosmetic. It all comes to whether a poodle owner want to dock or keep their poodle’s tail long. There it no known benefit behind docking a poodle tail. The thing is that AKC doesn’t allow poodles with long tail to be shown, so what usually happens is the poodle owners docked their tails so that can participate in the dog show without having any issue.
Apart from that poodles are also known as water retrieving dog used for hunting ducks or birds. Poodles were highly trained so that they can easily retrieve any animal that fell in the water after been shot down by the hunters. Poodle owners who enjoy hunting usually think it would be a good idea to dock their tails because they thought that it actually help the poodle overall swimming speed. This is why you may notice there are many poodles out there with pompon on the tip of their tails, which makes it easier for their owners to located them while swimming or hunting.
Are Poodles Born With Tails?
The short answer is yes, if you look closely you’ll realize all poodles puppies is born with long, natural tail. In litters where docking take place, it is usually around one week of age. This procedure should be done by an professional breeder or a veterinarian to ensure everything is done safely. If a owner attempts to dock their poodle tail at home they might put the pups at risk of infection and long-term complications.
Can You Adapt a Poodle With a Natural Tail?
If it’s a case where you’re just looking for a pet and the tail of the dog won’t be a problem, then yes you can adapt a poodle with dock tail all you have to do at this point is find the right breeder. The fact that your poodle will not be participating as a show dog, you won’t have to worry about his/her tail being dock.
It is safe to say that many dog breeders out there actually think that dock tail is unnecessary and doesn’t think it should be legal. By searching around there is no doubt that you will find breeders who does not dock tails. We highly support all breeders who doesn’t participate in doing so.
Is it Bad to Dock Your Poodle’s Tail?
Well, there’s a lot of controversy surrounding this topic as there are many people who this it is cruel to dock poodles tail. The good news is that a lot of dog breeder have stated that the procedure isn’t painful since it is being done when the puppy is just 3-7 days old. On the other hand, you have many dog breeders who says that the procedure is very painful for puppies. Even if the puppy is only 3-7 days old, they still experience a level of pain.
The Perfect Length to Cut a Poodle’s Tail
The perfect length to dock a poodle tail has a lot to do with the type of poodle. Base on AKC standard, it is said that the tip of the tail, when erect, to be at the same height as the top of the dog’s head. With that said, 1/4 to 1/3 of the end of the tail is to be cut off. Below we have list of guidelines for the 3 different sized poodles:
- Standard Poodle: when docking you should leave 1/2 to 2/3 of length (this is approximately 1 1/2 inches).
- Miniature Poodle: when docking you should leave 1/2 to 2/3 of length (this is approximately 1 1/8 inches).
- Toy Poodle: when docking you should leave 1/2 to 2/3 of length (this is approximately 1/2 inches).
Conclusion
If you have a poodle and you’re planning on getting his/her tail docked make sure that you take the time out to do proper research and keep in mind everything you’ve learned throughout this article. We don’t think tail docking is necessary, but if you are a fan of cosmetic, then it might be just for you.