Can you tell me how, if at all the undocked Mini Schnauzer is doing in shows in the UK.
I got the impression after making some calls that the undocked Schnauzer is not favoured at all and therefore virtually not seen in shows within the UK. I have an undocked 10months old mini, she is gorgeous! I would like to show her in the UK when we return next year but wonder if there is any point.

The more people who show undocked dogs the more others will get used to it.

Christine
(with undocked Dobermanns)

ive seen a standard shown with a tail, but it does change the outline when its in a line up, other than that ive not seen any, its a very hard breed to win in it has such quality, and i think youd struggle with a tailed one, :(

At Crufts this year, I saw a couple of Mins. with tails on that had come over from Europe to be shown, and I think there was probably more than just 2 there with tails from abroad. Not sure if it was any of them, but there were some foreign sounding names in the placing. The ones I saw had their tails trimmed to the same length as the jacket (very short). They looked rather like a whippet tail and was most attractive.
I for one am very, very anti tail docking and the sooner this barbaric practice is abolished the better.
Having owned a beautiful Giant Schnauzer, docked, I swore I would never again buy a docked animal. They can't use their body language as easily as ones with a tail. But that's not the only reason I am totally against it. I could go on all night about why they should have tails, but I won't.
Good Luck in the show ring if you do decide to show her. And well done you for buying one with a tail!
Anne

As Christine says the more of us that do it the more it will become acceptable. I breed and show undocked schipperkes and have done for the last 4 yrs, I've managed to qualify all my show quality tails for Crufts and now there are at least 2 breeders keeping tails too, more may follow as there are more inexperienced vets failing to get the dock right.

You can but try and always remember that you take the best dog home with you no matter what the judge does in the ring lol.

I still have my dogs docked. But if your breeder thinks that your dog is good enough go for it. Docking won't be around for much longer I'm sure so we will soon see more and more in the ring. Good luck, you just never know.

I must admit I'm not looking forward to seeing my breed being shown with tails as there seems to be no uniformity abroad, they have tails that are held down, tails that are held up high, tails over their backs and some have tails curled over and over again. This is why I've kept my male that I'm about to show as he was born naturally without a tail.

Good luck if you show you dog and keep us up-to-date.

mandy, schipps tail are spitzy and curl around looking very attractive "FOR A TAIL" :D . but other breeds end up with long whippy tails that for me dont look balanced-theyre not really likely to as they where never considered when the breed standards where written, -its those that spoil the outline for me, you see a big butch rott with a long whippy tail gaily carried i think looks horrific, but again, each to there own, congratulations on having a breed that suits there tails ,

I have seen an undocked mini at a couple of champ shows recently, and it has been doing quite well. If it's a nicely shaped dog overall and moves well and has a good coat, I don't think the tail issue will be a problem with many judges (I could be wrong). Many breeders will frown on it, but it's the judges opinion that counts at the end of the day. I saw a standard with a tail at the Bakewell show last week, and it looked superb.

Hi there, I have been showing my undocked mini at champ shows this year. I think there may be some judges that do not like tails, and we have had one instance this year when the judge went as far as turning his back on us and ignoring us. However I think most judges can see beyond the tail and so far my little boy has done OK - you have to be realistic and honest about your dog and if it is as good as the others then the tail shouldn't make a difference.

Like to think that if I judged the docked breeds it would make no difference, but if I am honest, I think it may. Particularly in the breeds where the buttocks are a large part of the dogs appearance, profile etc. it must be difficult in such breeds to try and ignore the different 'look' that may well change whether the dog is or looks typical of the breed.

My breed have a tail tightly curled over the back, the tail is therefore a big part of the overall picture and if one walked in the ring without it's tail it would be difficult to ignore the fact. The dog would not look typical of the breed and however good it was it would be impossible to ignore the fact that the dog was not correct, or rather did not look correct, judges brains have been trained to look for what they perceive to be the breed standard, they don't dissect the dog they accept their own gut feeling as to if a dog is 'right' or not. Things will change but it will take a good few years IMO.

So I think in some breeds it will make little or no difference in others it will. Poodle OK, Dobe or Rotti not too sure.

I had an undocked Weimaraner who qualified for Crufts and am not unique; I have seen several placed at Championship shows and qualify for crufts. However it has to be said that judges have told me that they would have placed her higher if she had been docked! It should be perfectly possible for an experienced breed specialist to judge a dog with or without a tail and now our breed and I believe most others now have the undocked tail included in the standard and so if the tail conforms to that standard there should not be a problem. However, at the end of the day judging is subjective, and some judges are biased against tails.

Well our first undocked show dog arrived in the UK on Tuesday (Am. Cocker, not Schnauzer). First show is in October, so will keep the board update with progress and judges comments!
bye
Gwen

Recently went to the Birmingham City Dog Show and an undocked mini won a class - can't remember which though. I thought it looked lovely, a very smart dog. It could also have won the waggiest tail competition.

Thank you, that was mine!

Show her and if she is good enough she will do well. Having seen all three sizes of Schnauzer with tails I have to say that the mini looks the best of the three breeds. The tail docking ban will be coming before long and in a few years time we will all get used to seeing traditionally docked breeds with long tails. Best of Luck with her. Will watch out for you at the shows.

Chnauzers, congratulations. He is lovely, excellently groomed as well.