What term refers to a dog tail that has been surgically shortened?

The term that refers to a dog tail that has been surgically shortened is "docked." Docking is a practice where a portion of the dog's tail is removed, often when the dog is still a puppy. This procedure can be done for various reasons, including breed standards, traditional purposes, and to prevent injury in working dogs. Certain breeds, such as Boxers and Doberman Pinschers, have a history of tail docking as part of their breed characteristics, and this practice dates back many years.

The other options represent different characteristics or conditions of tails but do not accurately describe the surgical shortening of a tail. For instance, "screwed" is not a recognized term in this context, while "plumed" refers to a tail that is feather-like, often seen in breeds like the Shih Tzu or Papillon. The term "curled" describes a tail that naturally curls over the back, which is characteristic of some breeds, such as the Basenji or Akita. Thus, "docked" is the precise term for a surgically shortened tail.