The plum tail style is naturally long on many breeds such as the Shih Tzu, Maltese and Bichon. The plume may be left in its long and natural state, though some owners prefer to have it shortened. Even on the shortened tail, the groomer should simulate the look of the longer, natural tail. A variation of the plumed tail is the “lion tail”. We see this on a few breeds, such as the Chinese Crested, the Lowchen and the Portuguese Water Dog.

• To shorten the tail, run your hand down the tail, stopping where you want to establish the length. Trim off the excessive hair beyond that point.
• Brush out the tail and hold it up over the back of the dog, mimicking the natural tail carriage, with the longer coat draping downward to check the shape and length of the tail.
• If it needs to be shortened, with thinning shears or straight shears, nip some “V” shaped cuts into the fur, paralleling the strands of hair as they hang. The nips can be between 1 and 3 inches deep, depending on how much length needs to be removed. Use caution with this method if it is new to you. It takes time to perfect the technique.

A variation of the plumed tail is the lion tail. On most haircuts with this tail style, whatever blade was used on the body is continued down the tail. Half to two-thirds of the end of the tail should be covered with the plume. If the plume needs to be shortened, proceed in the manner outlined above.

Tips for Shaping the Plume Tail

• Make sure the tail is totally brushed out so that a fine-toothed comb can easily run through the entire tail.
• When shortening a plumed tail, make it look as natural as possible.
• If shortening the length with V nips, always hold your hand around the tail bone for protection.
• Double check around the base of the tail for long strays or unevenness.