Tail docked too short.... is it hopeless?

[tjdmom]

Originally Posted by bjh

I have seen some dogs do well in the show ring with slightly low tail sets. She is still young so I would evaluate her at 12 weeks.

all right, thanks! I'll try to be patient for a bit longer....

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by tjdmom

Interesting. I did help my vet do my smallest males tail. Not really helped, just held him really. But I believe he cut right across with the scissors. And he put a couple stitches in both the dew claws and tail. I think the stitches seemed to hurt worse than the actual clipping. As for the muscle... do you just pull up on the tail or do you feel around for a muscle..... I suppose I should go back and search for instructions. I'm sure they are here somewhere although I know everyone does it a little different.....

Pull up on the tail and the muscle comes up.

I use medical septic stick on the dew claws, inserting into the gap. Never had them bleed. And clotisol on the tails. A good liquid bandage from your vet or a vet supply company is good too.

[Little Bit]

Originally Posted by Mardelin

I do my own tails, so I measure, then dock. Tails are up.

Thanks! That is what I have my vet do. Just wanted to be sure it was right.

[tjdmom]

Just for reference.... I measure their tails today. The actual bone part of the tail. The 2 boys measure 1 3/4 inches but the girls is barely an inch. I looked closely at where her tail sets and it seems to be the same as the boys but she carries her tail down covering her little hiney. I try to encourage her to hold it up and she can but apparently does not like to. I'm just wondering if this could be because the muscle was not pulled up or is it just because it's so much shorter? I think it wouldn't look so bad if she would carry it up.....

[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by tjdmom

Just for reference.... I measure their tails today. The actual bone part of the tail. The 2 boys measure 1 3/4 inches but the girls is barely an inch. I looked closely at where her tail sets and it seems to be the same as the boys but she carries her tail down covering her little hiney. I try to encourage her to hold it up and she can but apparently does not like to. I'm just wondering if this could be because the muscle was not pulled up or is it just because it's so much shorter? I think it wouldn't look so bad if she would carry it up.....

Are the boys more dominant? Play with her alot, tug a war, etc. Try to work on her confidence level.

I have a Champion girl that never had her tail up, still doesn't unless she's outside running. But, absolutely adored me. She'd sit on her ring side table, with my mentor watching her. The whole time I was in the ring handling another dog, my mentor said she'd whine.....The minute I'd come out of the ring to get her, I'd put her on the floor and say Rosie, let's go play.....the tail would come up and she'd show her heart out. It was all about being with me.

[tjdmom]

Originally Posted by Mardelin

Are the boys more dominant? Play with her alot, tug a war, etc. Try to work on her confidence level.

I have a Champion girl that never had her tail up, still doesn't unless she's outside running. But, absolutely adored me. She'd sit on her ring side table, with my mentor watching her. The whole time I was in the ring handling another dog, my mentor said she'd whine.....The minute I'd come out of the ring to get her, I'd put her on the floor and say Rosie, let's go play.....the tail would come up and she'd show her heart out. It was all about being with me.

I would say the biggest boy is the most dominant but she seems to dominate the littler boy and really gets a bit of an attitude with the bigger boy sometimes but it does strike me that she is a little more timid about certain things. I will work with her more. Thanks for the advice!