Long Tail??
 

Maximus has a strong and long tails. It's about oh I dont know like 5 inches or so. Is this normal? Or is he mixed? :) This is my first yorkie and I never really saw yorkies b/f, they are not too common around the neighborhood, you know? So I never really knew how they look like exactly. As I see some pictures on line (the well groomed and long haired ones), I can not tell if their tails are long or short, but they do look very short (like an inch or two). Are yorkies supposed to have a short tail?

Although he is 7 1/2 inches tall (from toe to shoulder), his body is kind of long too compared to his head. Is this normal?? Please advise...

Do you have photos? I have two girls with undocked tails (fairly common here in Wales) - this is how we wanted them. I could email you a photo of their tails but can't put pics up on here!! If his tail has been docked it won't have a pointy end which both ours do have. Some breeders, perfectly good breeders dock them less than others. I don't know - wish I could see him!! His tail sounds undocked to me? Bet he's so cute!! Ana xx

Most Yorkie breeders in the US dock the tails when the Yorkies are under a month old. Five inches sounds like the tail wasn't cut to me.

It was probably not docked...Mojo's tail is only like 2-3 inches?? I am getting a female soon and she will have a undocked tail...i just love their natural look!!

I'd love to see your baby when you get her!! Our two carry their tails over their bodies as they walk - they have fanlike tails and they resemble little palm trees when held over the body!! Unusual in the USA to have undocked tails I believe? Over here in Wales only the vets are allowed to dock and not the breeders.

what?? This is totally news to me! I am shocked. Docking? What is that, like cutting off their tails when they are babies? why? Is that better for them? How is it going to affect Max if his tail is not docked? I didnt' know this at all. I didn't get him from a breeder. He was an early Christmas present from one of my students (where I worked) whose bitch had puppies. I dont know if his mother's tail was docked or not either. Max's tail is very strong, like a metal string really. He does drag his tail when he walks. Is it going to be a problem?

i am happy to see the discussion on docked tails. both my yorkies have docked tails but i would have liked them longer. and was wondering the same thing. I was having trouble clipping nail and pulling hair from the ears can you immagine me docking tails?

Shouldn't be a problem at all, it just may be a little messy if they poop, I think, that's about it...

Actually it is not even messy for poop. You still have to trim the hair around the anus...my cousin's boyfriend has a yorkies with an undocked tail, it is another thing...it is with the tail that they express their happiness...it is so cute. I actually didn;t even know yorkies had docked tail when i got Mojo, i only found out when i got him here(he was almost 5 months)...hehehe I bought him when he was almost 2 months, so the breeder had already docked the tails. I recently was reading on msnbc.com that they're trying to pass a law banning all cosmetic surgery in animals...i don;t recall the city just know was in california.

My female is already on reserve (hopefully will be born in about 2 months, since the dam i chose is finaly on heat...:D) i was able to advise the breeder to leave the tail alone...:D:D:D I will definetly post pictures as soon as she is born..:)

Ashley - I promise you that the tail is no problem whatsoever - your pup may "drag" it now but as he gets older the hair will grow on the tail and be magnificent and he will mostly hold it up proudly - honestly!! It's an attractive tail and our girls are very proud indeed of theirs!! Ana xx

Thanks... What a relief... Actually, I dont know about people's preferences, but I just can't imagine cutting off and bleeding a small little doggie's tail... It's just too shocking to me. And just proves, in general, how cruel people can be for their "prefernce", if it's not for the dog's benefit. Actually I do have a second hand experience with "docking". My brother used to have a Dobbie and when he was a puppy, his ears and tails were fixed. It looked really painful. And he later on had an infection on the tail so he had to go to the vet's. He seemed to be hurting badly. After that, my family said never to alter animal's natural body. I knew about big watch dogs do that. But I didnt know they would cut little yorkie's tail.

I am glad Max's tail is not docked. It really is cute. He looks more normal to me with the long tail than my friends' docked tail yorkies (I saw it many years ago but I remember it had a short tail too). I just want Max to be pain free and happy. He normally draggs his tail around, which is kind of cute too, ha ha. But when he is excited, it does stand up and the hairs fall like a palm tree really.

Regarding messiness of pooing, no, it's not at all messy. I just cut his anal hair and it's very clean. He lifts up his tail when he goes, so never gets on his tail at all. :)

Thank you guys for the valuable information. And, if possible, let's try to keep our dogs happy. Let's try not to cut off their body parts. They are so small... ;(