Undocked tails?

[Karen]

I have just given Tia a bath & clip (short & functional as it is starting to warm up here & I am on a farm) & am wondering how everyone arrives at what length & style of tail they do with a longer tail. Tia's has so far been described by one friend as a "loo brush" - she came with it in an elongated duster style & I have kept it that way although I have shortened it a little as we are starting to get into "bindi eye" burr season. I have the Kalstone book but it doesn't really give much info that helps me with this.
I want to keep her looking like a poodle especially if we are venturing into the ring soon but need to keep her coat functional for the lifestyle we lead. Any hints will be gratefully accepted.
Thanks
 

[Michael]

I'm not much help on that as I'm used to docked tails (USA), but hopefully others in Oz and Europe can give you some better insight. But if you're going to her in the ring soon, that limits how much you can keep things conservative.

[Karen]

We are only heading for the obedience ring. I don't have the patience or the lifestyle to go for conformation & all that coat management. I actually stopped showing in breed classes with the salukis cos I can't run that fast any more. I got a number of my home bred dogs through to their Ch status which was rewarding as well as doing obedience. I also love the enjoyment Tia gets out of obedience & the way she is so pleased with herself when she gets things right & pleases me.

[Neo]

I cut the tail almost to the tip of the tail, straight off you just take the tail with your hand, and hold i up to the tip, and cut the rest off.
then you can cut it like a ball afterwards,
and shave the bottom - tail 2-3 cm upp, not longer! then you get the toilett brush effect.

oh, im so clumsy in my English, so i hope you'll understand me



you see because of his bow, its longer in the "back of the tail" and shorter in the "front"

[Karen]

Thank you. It sounds like I am on the right track then...now to master the even round topknot!!! Thankfully Tia is very good about being groomed & clipped etc...

[zefi]

Karen, with Montana I kept her long tail like Neo's - full and bushy. However Bonnard happened and her tail became a matted mess very quickly. He loves to grab it as he chases her. LOL So I clipped it off with a #7 blade and grew it back. Right now its like a pipe cleaner. LOL long and skinny but bushy. You can see it in the photos of Bonnard... Montana's tail is only a bit fluffy, Bonnard's is the full long tail.

[Sivaro]

I cut the tail almost to the tip of the tail, straight off you just take the tail with your hand, and hold i up to the tip, and cut the rest off.
then you can cut it like a ball afterwards,
and shave the bottom - tail 2-3 cm upp, not longer! then you get the toilett brush effect.

oh, im so clumsy in my English, so i hope you'll understand me



you see because of his bow, its longer in the "back of the tail" and shorter in the "front"

Oh what a beautiful looking mini.  Im jealous

[auntie c]

OMG... BONNARD IS LOOKING GORGEOUS..

I am baby sitting girlie, and trying to show her the pics, it doesnt seem to be working.

carlene and the girlie, asleep next to me on the lounge...

[Neo]

thanks sivaro that's my Ruby on the ww-dogshow 08
but he is actually a dwarf, oh well, i think you call that sice a mini anyways

[zefi]

Thanks Carlene. He is looking pretty good. He's a brat though. Never stops... talk about energizer bunny in a HUGE size... sigh.

I washed him and Montana yesterday and they are both clean and gorgeous right now. He has the most wonderful coat already at 9 months and I've already cut him into continental to grow him out so he looks funny in his HCC trim, but nice. Its a work in progress... every trim I adjust the lines a bit to get it just right. He has such beautiful soft skin and such a full dense coat. Nice.

So how is the girlie? I keep getting these great photos from Louise but I cant get them off my phone! I tried but the phone usb connection just crashes my computer.

[auntie c]

she is gorgeous, as if you didnt already know, her best friend is pearl, and a little white toy poodle called shoshi.
yes a little dog, that she did have a bit of a go at, but we are working through that.. much to shoshi disgust. its hard to be friends with someone that wants to eat you alive.. but girlie is ok, as long as louise ignores shoshi, its all good.
she is socializing really well, slowly, but its all going great. I have been cafe crawling while i have her. Louise has had to go to WA for a matter over in the Supreme Court there, so i have finally got my hands on her!

i am the one sending the pics, i will take  my camera to work and i will try and get some and email them to you.

I have just remembered you rang ages ago, we have been so flat out at work, (yes i work for Louise now) its the only way i get to see the girl everyday!

carlene and co
 

[Karen]

Thanks Zefi for the photos. Tia's tail is about half way between the two. Given that she has short cut legs as well as her body it seems to work quite well. I will be glad when I finally get rid of the last of the burrs in the "lawn" so I don't have to worry about animals getting them in their coats..not that I could really call what I have lawn at present