---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Take tail docking…in which the last…"
description: "\"“Take tail docking…in which the last several inches of a puppy’s tail are removed, usually without anesthesia, sometimes with extremely crude instrumen..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c32/emily-anthes-34205_dogs_take-tail-docking-in-which-the-last-seve_617437.jpg"
---

#  Take tail docking…in which the last several inches of a…

![“Take tail docking…in which the last several inches of a puppy’s tail are removed, usually without anesthesia, sometimes with extremely crude instruments such as scissors or razors. The American Kennel Club (AKC), which develops guidelines used to judge canines in competition, prefers boxers…” quote by Emily Anthes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c32/emily-anthes-34205_dogs_take-tail-docking-in-which-the-last-seve_617437.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c32/emily-anthes-34205_dogs_take-tail-docking-in-which-the-last-seve_617437.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c32/emily-anthes-34205_dogs_take-tail-docking-in-which-the-last-seve_617437.jpg)

> ““Take tail docking…in which the last several inches of a puppy’s tail are removed, usually without anesthesia, sometimes with extremely crude instruments such as scissors or razors. The American Kennel Club (AKC), which develops guidelines used to judge canines in competition, prefers boxers, rottweilers, cocker spaniels, and dogs belonging to dozens of other breeds to have docked tails. In other words, an ideal specimen is one that’s been surgically reshaped by humans.””

[Emily Anthes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-anthes/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Tail docking is a human‑imposed alteration of dogs, often for aesthetic standards, raising animal‑welfare concerns.

**In simple terms:** Humans alter dogs for looks, sparking ethical issues.

Key Takeaway

Question the necessity of cosmetic animal surgeries.

Themes

animal welfare ethics human control beauty standards

Mood

critical concerned

Type

journalistic ethical

When to use this quote

- pet ownership
- breeding standards
- veterinary practice

Key Concepts

animal rights cultural tradition

Questions to Reflect On

- Should animal appearance be altered for sport?
- What alternatives exist to breed standards?

A Different Perspective

Aesthetic preferences can conflict with animal rights.

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[Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) [Dogs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dogs/)

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