Tail Docking

Throughout the history of the poodle breed it's been a common practice to dock tails.  

Reasons behind docking the tails have been functional as well as cosmetic.   Poodles

were originally used as water retrieval dogs.  The tail was docked so it did not hamper

the dogs ability to swim and so that the dogs tail pom-pom could be seen above the

water line.  Other reasons for docking the tail is to prevent broken tails from injuries

such as getting caught in a door, avoiding breaking their tails during excitable tail

wagging, and preventing broken items in homes from wagging tail activities. 

A broken tail is very painful and can cause additional problems for the dogs. 

Tail injuries are why tail docking is a common practice in many breeds. 

With time poodles have become less of a retriever and more of a companion dog.

Nearly worldwide people are used to seeing poodles with short pom-pom tails and in

many cases when asked people think poodles are born with short tails.

Dew Claws

Dew Claws are removed mostly to prevent painful injuries during daily activities

and grooming accidents.  Its very traumatic and painful for the dog to get the

dew claw caught and torn or ripped off.   With longer haired dogs dew claws

can make grooming difficult because they grow at angles twisting and curling.

Dew claws can easily get caught in scissors when trying to shape legs during

grooming and can be difficult to trim and maintain.  They hide

within the hair on the legs can be easily forgot by groomers resulting in over grown

nails that become imbedded in the legs or pads of the feet.  This is extremely painful

for the dog and can easily become infected with devastating results. 

Tails Docking and Dew Claw removal is usually done within the first 3 to 5 days after

the puppies are born.  It usually done during this time because nerve endings have not

fully developed in these areas.