I have an 8 month old dog whose tail set is anatomically fine, but he likes to fly his tail in the ring which is spoiling his outline on the move.  Do you think he may grow out of it, or do you have any tips to train him out of the habit? Thanks in advance :-)

If he's doing this, it's likely the tail set-on isn't quite right.

Thanks MamaBas, the standard calls for the tail to be well set on and carried low, which it is; if he was docked it would look correct, but the tail curves upward from midpoint, if that makes sense?

A sickle tail.
Unfortunately for many .....post docking has thrown up many faults that were hidden with docking. Your dogs tail is one.
I used a cropped dog many years ago from overseas...all my pups ears were semi erect.

Just looking up the definition of sickle tail--as I understand it a sickle tail curves upwards and over the back--that's much more than this boy has, I would say the tip of his tail is carried probably 5-6" higher than his back, but it doesn't curl over.

My boy (gundog breed too) sometimes does this in the ring if I get there and go straight in- well set on and carried level from the body, but curls towards the tip just as you describe. If I hang around ringside long enough and he has spoken to the dogs he's going in the ring with he doesn't do it, for him it's excitement. He occasionally does it when on point too but if I stroke the tail and sort of hold it straight for a second he holds it there. I haven't tried it in the ring as if he does it in the ring it's only on the move so it's a bit tricky!

Does the curl only happen when he carries it on the move, or when the tail is low too when he's relaxed?

That's exactly what happens, Tectona, it's his "on his toes" attitude in the ring, or with dogs he hasn't met, that sets it off. It's not apparent when he's relaxed, or when he's in the field and his tail is lashing from side to side. I wondered whether a lot of it is down to his age, he is only a baby but does like to try to impress :-)

Interestingly, my gundog breed does the same. I don't show her, but I can recognise the good points in her breed. She has a good set of tail coming straight off the back, but when excited and 'up on her toes' her tail curves up at the end sounding very similar to both. If she is relaxed when standing her tail goes in an almost straight line off her back.

Yeah it sounds just the same! Well since it's a novel stimulus type thing maybe the more shows he goes to as he grows up he'll be less inclined to strut his butt quite so severely
My boy is still very immature and is a real social butterfly, which is lovely but does have its drawbacks, haha. There are some really high/curly tails in my breed at the mo and this isn't the same, I know just what you mean.

Be interested to hear any ringcraft type tips if there are any. But for my lad what usually works is just getting him settled around the ring and bored of the dogs!

right, well I will have to get there earlier and let him socialise before going in the ring to see if it makes a difference. This boy is quite a dominant little guy and lives with three adult entire males who mostly tolerate his cheekiness, his mother rarely tells him off and he takes advantage of his litter sister's far more passive nature. I suspect what he needs is a grumpy granny to teach him some manners and that might also take the curl out of his tail :-)

Does he hold it sabre style? Have a look at Rotts and the tail carriage.
We have many dogs where the tail
Set is correct but the carriage is not now we have tails and a standard for them, many judges will overlook tails if the rest of the dog is good enough though

Rotts and the tail carriage.
Daughter got a Rott pup with a tail 20 years ago - well before the docking ban.
Normal tail carriage was below back line, the more interesting 'whatever' was the higher the tail till it was right up and curved over to nearly touch her back.
When she was totally bored it was like a bit of wet string as in 'pin the tail on the donkey' You could lift the end and it just flopped straight back down !!!
Tail itself was quite thick and similar but a bit lighter to a Lab

We have a similar problem with Bassets when despite carrying them up, sometimes they are 'too up' - T-pot tail.   And the fault begins at the set-on usually - the tail is an extension of the spine.   As has been said, now there's no docking in the UK, people are finding out that their undocked dogs do have a problem with their full tails, and are having to work on getting this part of the anatomy right

"Unfortunately for many .....post docking has thrown up many faults that were hidden with docking. Your dogs tail is one."

Not unexpectedly if tails were not bred fro only the set they will be very variable until the desired tails are actively bred for.