Tail grooming

[lozzyf]

Prob been asked before!! But how does anyone groom a long tail? My last cocker had a docked one and now bella's is long and I like it!. I just don't know which is the best way to do it. At the moment I have shaved the top as her hair grows and curls round. Next I have thinned the sides down to stop more curl over and then sort of trimmed and shaped towards the base but have had to shave about 3 inches all round near the base as that gets wee'd on or dragged in her wee's?!!! Is there a better way?? One of the other concerns is when she goes in to kennels she tends to sit outside and that " lovely" tail must soak up any wee that's been done!!!

[wendall]

I wish I could groom Honeys tail, she hates it I have to wait til she goes to the groomers...

[elaine.e]

Louis is my first Cocker with a tail and I comb the hair carefully to avoid hurting him and then hold the tail out so I can see what I'm doing and use straight bladed use scissors to shorten the length. Louis is hand stripped and I keep him in a modified version of a show trim with his feathering about 1/2 to 2/3 the length it would be for showing. I trim the feathering on his tail fairly short so that it's still recognisable as feathering, but isn't disproportionately long and plumey. Personal choice, but I prefer that look because I think it looks more in balance with the rest of him.

I'd post a photo if I could but my photo software isn't talking to my computer at the moment

[lozzyf]

Do any others ,wee on their tails if not cut (females obviously )

[6thSense]

Sounds like you are doing pretty much the right thing. How much feather you leave is up to taste. Even on my show dogs I trim under the base round the bum where it would have been docked to keep it clean and tidy. 

[lozzyf]

Sounds like you are doing pretty much the right thing. How much feather you leave is up to taste. Even on my show dogs I trim under the base round the bum where it would have been docked to keep it clean and tidy. 

NOW I'm really proud of myself

[6thSense]

Sounds like you are doing pretty much the right thing. How much feather you leave is up to taste. Even on my show dogs I trim under the base round the bum where it would have been docked to keep it clean and tidy. 

NOW I'm really proud of myself

Sounds like you are doing a fine job. Some like to leave a lot of feather, some take it all off. Personally my choice is somewhere inbetween as in a shortish feather.