Docked Tails and Dew Claws

[BG and Gavin]

I just read a kjiji ad (why oh why do I do this to myself) advertising some goldendoodle puppies for sale from a home breeder.  The ad said that tails have been docked and dew claws removed.  I have never heard of docking a doodle tail.  I can't imagine Gavin without that saber plume of a flag that waves back and forth as he marches down the street.  Also his dew claws are intact and have never presented a problem (you can hardly find them under the fur).  Is it still a usual practice to dock poodle tails?  What is the purpose?  And dew claw removal?  What is the purpose?  Do any of you have dogs with these alterations?  Just curious.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm pretty sure the dew claw removal on sporting dogs is because originally, they spent a lot of time running through some pretty wild brush and wooded areas, and the dew claws can get caught and cause some nasty injuries, including major tears to the flesh.

The practice of docking poodles' tails was (I think) related to their being water-retrievers, and I think it relates to a rudder-like function and/or aerodynamics, not getting caught in reeds, etc. The top part of a dog's tail is much more slender and fragile, and I think that for working dogs, injuries such as broken bones to that part of the tail were also a problem if it was left undocked. Lots of stories of working dogs having to have their tails amputated after bad breaks. But a poodle's tail is not supposed to be docked really short like a schnauzer or boxer, the lower two-thirds is supposed to be retained.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

After I made my educated guesses, I went and looked it up, like I should have. I'm not a bad guesser!

http://arpeggiopoodles.tripod.com/taildocking.html

[BG and Gavin]

Thanks for the research Karen.  It does sound like more of a astetics situation to me.

[Amy and Lily]

When we bought Lily she had her dew claws removed as a pup.  My springer has her dew claws and oddly enough last month she came in the house and I found blood.  I looked closer and on her front left leg her dew claw was sticking out sideways.  She started limping a bit.  Of course this had to happen on Saturday around 3:00.  I called the on call vet who is 45 miles away and they told me they do not like to take them off because it is a painful procedure to do so.  The nail and finger like dew claw ended up laying back down and then her nail fell off.  It ended up being ok but she went through a lot of pain.  I wish she did not have hers so this would not happen.  I know they serve as little fingers and can be useful.

[BG and Gavin]

I wonder if the dew claws being non-functionally and problematic depends on the breed.  I have seen some that just sort of dangle oddly.  Gavin's look to  be fully integrated.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Full tails and front dew claws here. The dew claws are a pain to trim butt the dogs do seem to hold things with them at times.

[Deanna & Desi & Cori]

Sedona without her tail would be like... a day without sunshine!  (Not too original, but it's the first thing that popped into my mind.)

[Lonnie & Libby Lu]

I am with on on that one Deanna!  I cannot even imagine Libby without her beautiful tail!  

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

The tail is one of the best parts of a doodle. WTD would they do that for?? makes me sad.

[Carla, Lucca and Izzy]

No tail....NOT a doodle...IMO...that tail is part of what makes them a doodle....they wave their flag proudly:)

[Ronna, Murphy & Wilson]

Their are a couple of doodles on DK with docked tails and they are still adorable.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Yes, there are. And we love all of our DK doodles, regardless of what kind of tail they have.