The Docking Question

As many of you already know, our background as a family was in raising purebred Cocker Spaniels. Here in the United States, it is most common to dock the tails of Cocker Spaniel pups shortly after birth, and that is what we did as well. ​

Years ago, when we bred our first Cockapoo puppies, we decided to leave the tails intact. We did this for our first three litters, enjoying those cheerfully wagging puppy tails! However, as these pups matured, we discovered that some of the pups did not hold their tails up very high, even to the point of sometimes letting them drag on the ground. For some reason, they seemed to lack the musculature to fully elevate their tails. With health and hygiene concerns in mind, we decided to return to docking all of the tails. This process has always been done by our vet, using a stitch to help ensure healing is quick and safe.

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We understand that the tail is an important communication device for dogs, so we have tried to make sure to leave enough length that the pups can clearly communicate with their people and with other dogs, too. But over the years we have often thought about those long tails!

Now that we have a number of Cocker Spaniels as part of our program, we have decided to give long tails another chance. Our decision all those years ago was based on litters who all had the same mother and father. Now, we have several active studs, and over a dozen active mamas in our Dutch Haven family. After careful consideration, we’ve decided to begin offering some litters with natural-length tails. We will be selecting from our Cockers who naturally hold their tails in a more upright position. Our adopting families can choose a pup with a docked tail or natural-length, depending on their preferences.

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If you are already on our waiting list, we will still offer you the earliest available puppies, regardless of tail status. If you have a tail preference, you will have the option to wait for a litter that has pups that best meet your desired parameters.

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