Kipawa is working his way to a very bushy tail. It seems like over the past month it has just gone… well, hairy!
Now, I trim my own bangs between hair appointments, and they never look 100% - I can tell by my stylist's face when she sees them. So, the questions are:
1. Should I attempt to trim Kipawa's tail on my own? Is there a video somewhere that would guide me?
or
2. Should I go to a dog groomer to get this done? Would a groomer know how to trim a basenji tale? Forgive me if that question sounds dumb, but I have never taken a dog to a groomer before.
I've searched prior threads/posts but cannot find anything specific to answer my questions. Unfortunately, there isn't a basenji breeder here that I could go to.
Fran, I'll be interested in the answers you get to your question, since Blaze has the same problem! 
Sugar's tail. I would trim it, but not much.
Around here, most of us Basenji people trim our own dogs tails for show. I don't trim mine too short, I don't like the shaved look. I will try to take a few pics, right now they are sleeping and if I wake one up, they will all run to find out what the heck is going on! I simply follow the shape of the tail and trim closely. Trim all the stray hairs off and if really bushy-Shadow's tail resembles a big bush with no distinction at all-then I will use thinning shears and thin out the sides a bit. These pics aren't the best, and they are dark, but this is all I have at the moment.
Shadow's Tail. At this point, I would simply trim the stray hairs and give it a little shape where the white tip is.
We also start with thinning shears - once they get some of the weight of hair off the tail it often curls better and lets you see the shape to trim the "wild" hairs. I agree, Arlene, I don't like the shaved look but it depends on the tail. Some people prefer the bushy tail as long as they're not showing.
Terry
I agree with using thinning shears… I would not go to a groomers because they don't have a clue about B tails and are more likely to shave it... besides it being a pretty big waste of money. Some that use clippers on the tails use those attachments that prevent getting too close.
I don't know if you will be able to see this, but here is Sugar's tail before and after. Some like it closer than others. Thinning shears are easy to use and you can always trim up the strays after with scissors.
Untrimmed
Trimmed
Is this for show? or just for around the house?
Hi, first I would like to say what a great place this forum is. I have been lurking here for some time now and have learnt so much. But as regards tail trimming, we have a wonderful breed in the basenji, which in the most part has been designed by nature. So why do people feel the need to try to improve on this by altering things, to my mind if a basenji has a bushy tail then let it have bushy tail that the way it is supposed to be and I have heard that some people actually trim whiskers. Why?, our basenji are perfect the way nature made them , just my opinion, lol
@plastered:
Hi, first I would like to say what a great place this forum is. I have been lurking here for some time now and have learnt so much. But as regards tail trimming, we have a wonderful breed in the basenji, which in the most part has been designed by nature. So why do people feel the need to try to improve on this by altering things, to my mind if a basenji has a bushy tail then let it have bushy tail that the way it is supposed to be and I have heard that some people actually trim whiskers. Why?, our basenji are perfect the way nature made them , just my opinion, lol
Most times tails are done for the show ring, just to make the tails look neat and tidy… also a bushy tail in the ring hides a nice "rear"... and yes years ago it was very common for show Basenjis to have their whiskers trimmed but usually that is only done now by professional handlers, most of us do not trim whiskers any longer. Just do nails and tails!
Around home when not showing only do tails once in a while. Nails always once a week
I second Pat's comments. We have never trimmed whiskers, even the 'goaty' ones on the chin. I view them as sense organs; Basenjis use their whiskers! And our tails are bushy on those not showing. But if you look at Arlene's pictures of Sugar's tail before and after you can see the curl looks better and her tail set shows up better, even though not a lot of hair has been taken off. (Nice work, Arlene!)
Terry
Jackie's tail and B-hind was getting crazy. Frank & I came across a sale, 3 self cleaning brushes & with a trimmer on top. You flip it the the desired trim length. Jack seems to not mind at all, he thinks he is just being brushed and loved. If you are looking for something like this my is made by PetZoom. Hope this helps
Thank you Terry! I don't trim whiskers either. Sugar will be showing in a couple of weeks, so it wasn't just a random thing, I would have had to trim it anyway! Usually, if they are not showing, I don't trim. Unless they get sooo bushy they stick out all over the place and Shadow's tail is the only one that gets that way.
All you really want is to define the shape. Just do a little at a time, then put the scissors and shears away and try again if you are not satisfied. BTW, I do groom dogs, but I'm one of those groomers that takes less off than more if possible. And I wouldn't take a B to a groomer for the tail. Most of them get the clippers out and shave it.
I don't do anything with my b's tails. I like them natural.
Are you starting showing him Fran?
Personally I love the bushy tails. My kids tails have only been trimmed when they are being shown. Never their whiskers (since as others have said they use them). I prefer the natural untrimmed tail look and would never trim it if it weren't for showing - but understand why they are trimmed for the show ring.
I don't do anything with my b's tails. I like them natural.
Are you starting showing him Fran?
Hi Sharron - no, Kipawa will not be shown. His tail is just getting rather full, so I wanted to keep it neat - not a huge trim, but something that will define it a little better than it is now.
But I would never trim whiskers. I love them!
Hi Sharron - no, Kipawa will not be shown. His tail is just getting rather full, so I wanted to keep it neat - not a huge trim, but something that will define it a little better than it is now.
But I would never trim whiskers. I love them!
Forgot to mention - I have contacted a basenji breeder that is willing to do it. She doesn't live all that far away from us, and Therese and Kevin know her.
I posted this a long time ago. You can see the tools I use to do tails with.
I second Pat's comments. We have never trimmed whiskers, even the 'goaty' ones on the chin. I view them as sense organs; Basenjis use their whiskers! And our tails are bushy on those not showing. But if you look at Arlene's pictures of Sugar's tail before and after you can see the curl looks better and her tail set shows up better, even though not a lot of hair has been taken off. (Nice work, Arlene!)
Terry
I also second this ("third" it?). I don't think whiskers need to be or should be trimmed - they may indeed be sensors. I know for a fact it's disastrous to trim cat whiskers, and basenjis are catlike. There was another thread posted here a while back showing some nicely trimmed tails - general consensus is start small, cut only a little, and basically just clean it up.
I'm a professional dog groomer, and though my basenji's tail isn't bushy I can give you 2 different options. 1. Go to a petsmart and get a pair of Martha Stewart Thinning Shears, essentially you will just scissor repeatedly in the same spot until all the hair is uniformly trimmed, (You can use a pair of small straight or curved shears, but it would be blunt and to unnatural looking). Or 2. go to a reputable groomer, get your baby a lovely bath, and ask her to do the trimming, if the groomer wants to shave it, tell her to do it with a "3 blade" or "5/8ths blade". that would leave the hair longer and not shaved looking.
