TAIL DOCKING GUIDELINES – HOW MUCH TAIL SHOULD BE DOCKED & LEFT

Tail Docking Guidelines, How much tail to dock, Guidelines of tail cropping

Tail Docking Guidelines, How much tail to dock, Guidelines of tail cropping,
Breed Length*
Sporting Breed
Brittany spaniel Leave 1 inch
Clumber spaniel Leave ¼ to 1/3 of length
Cocker spaniel Leave 1/3 of length (approx. ¾ inch)
English cocker spaniel Leave 1/3 of length
English springer spaniel Leave 1/3 of length
Field spaniel Leave 1/3 of length
German shorthaired pointer Leave 2/5 of length
German wirehaired pointer Leave 2/5 of length
Sussex spaniel Leave 1/3 of length
Vizla Leave 2/3 of length
Weimaraner Leave 3/5 of length (approx. 1 ½ inches)
Welsh springer spaniel Leave 1/3 to ½ of length
Wirehaired pointing griffon Leave 1/3 of length
Working Breeds
Bouvier des Flanders Leave ½ to ¾ inch
Boxer Leave ½ to ¾ inch (two vertebrae)
Doberman pinscher Leave ¾ inch (two vertebrae)
Giant schnauzer Leave 1 ¼ inch (three vertebrae)
Old English sheepdog Leave one vertebra (close to body)
Rottweiler Leave one vertebra (close to body)
Standard schnauzer Leave 1 inch (two vertebrae)
Welsh Corgi (Pembroke) Leave one vertebra (close to body)
Terrier Breeds
Airedale terrier Leave 2/3 to ¾ of length **
Australian terrier Leave 2/5 of length
Fox terrier Leave 2/3 to ¾ of length **
Irish terrier Leave ¾ of length
Kerry blue terrier Leave ½ to 2/3 of length
Lakeland terrier Leave 2/3 to ¾ of length
Miniature schnauzer Leave ¾ inch
Norwich terrier Leave ¼ to 1/3 of length
Sealyham terrier Leave 1/3 to ½ of length
Soft-coated Wheaten Terrier Leave ½ to ¾ of length
Welsh terrier Leave 2/3 to ¾ of length **
Toy Breeds
Affenpinscher Leave 1/3 inch (close to body)
Brussels griffon Leave ¼ to 1/3 of length (approx. 1/3 inch)
English toy spaniel Leave 1/3 of length (approx. 1 ½ inch)
Miniature pinscher Leave ½ inch (two vertebrae)
Silky Terrier Leave 1/3 of length (approx. ½ inch)
Toy poodle Leave ½ to 2/3 of length (approx. ½ inch)
Yorkshire terrier Leave 1/3 of length (approx. ½ inch)
Nonsporting Breeds
Miniature poodle Leave ½ to 2/3 of length (approx. 1 1/8 inches)
Schipperke Close to body
Standard poodle Leave ½ to 2/3 of length (approx. 1 ½ inches)
Miscellaneous Breeds
Cavalier King Charles spaniel (optional) Leave 2/3 of length with white tip
Spinoni Italiani Leave ¾ of length

* When docking is performed at less than 1 week of age
** The tip of the docked tail should be approx. level with the top of the skull when the puppy is in show position.

 

    

These guidelines are only for the purpose of common understanding. These must not be taken as medical reference neither we encourage you to do any tail-docking on your own. Please comply with your country’s regulation and restrain from doing anything surgery/tail-docking/ear-cropping on your own. Our Ear Cropping Kits and Tail Docking Kits are meant to be used by the Veterinarian and health-care professionals only.