Tail docking ,what is the correct length

[brown trout 1]

Off to get my pups tails docked this week at the vets ,there saying its up to me to decide what length to do them any ideas any one please the pups are patterdales ,thanks ,I've been told to pull it down to were there tuppance / balls would be and mark it off ?????

[Carraghs Gem 1,675]

in an adult dog the ideal is for the tail to be level with the top of the skull, I could show you if the pups were in front of me as its a little hard explain, not all pups have same length tails either, in my own pups ive had taken off 1/2 - 1/3 but whatever you do dont relie on your vet to get it right as ive seen some right fuckups from vets used to docking pet russels etc

[Attack Fell Terrier 864]

Just over half I'd say, but its up to the individual.

[Caib 49]

I take off between a 1/3 to a 1/4, I like a longish dock

[RubyTex 1,957]

Mine got hers done so that it was in line with her bits. Nice little stump, my dog on the other hand was done by a vet before we bought him who may aswell have not even bothered he only took a stub off the end the muppet.

[Barrie 1,325]

Get the vet to take exactly 1/3 off...... I even used to measure before I did them.

[Cleanspade 3,322]

I take off between a 1/3 to a 1/4, I like a longish dock

 

same as above, less is more when getting the tail docked. make sure you are present and get them docked exactly where you want

[matt1979 766]

My old man always measured the pups back to the base of the tail and 1/2 this measurement for the tail length after docking for his russells. This would mean each pups docking was proportioned to its body and it leaves a good size tail after the dock. Cheers.

[brown trout 1]

Thanks for the replays

[j1985 1,983]

My old man always measured the pups back to the base of the tail and 1/2 this measurement for the tail length after docking for his russells. This would mean each pups docking was proportioned to its body and it leaves a good size tail after the dock. Cheers.

 

Thats a good way mate, makes sense to do it to the individual length of each dog.

[BORDERSCOT 3,816]

Taking off anything less than 1/3 on a patt looks silly in my opinion. Hate small tails. Like something to get a good solid hold of when need be.

 

Having said that I once saw a litter of 6 pups docked by a clueless vet and they're all different lengths

[pothunter 33]

between 1/3 or 1/4 and do it with knipex cabel cutters or the like, the nipper type as it sqeezes the tail in before it cuts and then the skin grows over with the hair on and you dont get a bald tip on the tail like you do if you cut straight with a sharp blade

[STAFFY poacher 90]

my father used to half his russells, used to bite em off the dirty twat

[events co-ordinator 353]

between 1/3 or 1/4 and do it with knipex cabel cutters or the like, the nipper type as it sqeezes the tail in before it cuts and then the skin grows over with the hair on and you dont get a bald tip on the tail like you do if you cut straight with a sharp blade

I think philpot is looking for you.

[Jagdman 30]

I always take a third. I like a longer dock. They are easier to grab with a little more handle.