NationStates Jolt Archive

Can foxes be domesticated and used as pets?

Fennec foxes (http://images.google.com/images?q=fennec%20fox&num=30&hl=en&lr=lang_en&c2coff=1&safe=off&sa=N&tab=wi) can be.

sure can...got a cage?

arctic foxes as well

sure can...got a cage?

I have 2 dogs, each with a cage. I want to own a fox someday, but I can't now. :( Are they like dogs, will they sleep on your bed with you, play balls, and Frisbees, etc. Is there any companies that sell Foxes?

http://www.foxes.org/urbanfox/part3.html
http://mynarskiforest.purrsia.com/ev34pet.htm
http://www.eab.gov.bc.ca/wildlife/96-07.htm
http://www.ozfoxes.com/aafoxes.htm#Pets

These folks don't seem to think they make good pets....

depends on where you live. Generally in most places the law is if they are found in the wild around where you live, then no, but anything else is free game. Now you could go with option three (not endorsing this) and own one illegally, but beware there are some serious reprocussions for this. Although I mainly hear about cases with potentially hazardous animals(ocelots, wildcats, that sort of thing) but this one lady is now looking at $150,000 fine and 10 years in prison for selling ocelots. Since a fox isn't a hazardous animal they would probably only fine you something relatively small and terminate the animal. For referance I work at a veterinary clinic in Oregon USA.

source for the lady selling them. Sorry, no description of her charges on here, I'll look for a better source (http://cwapc.org/news/IncidentDescription.asp?FileName=incident_20050325_2.html)

Fennec foxes (http://images.google.com/images?q=fennec%20fox&num=30&hl=en&lr=lang_en&c2coff=1&safe=off&sa=N&tab=wi) can be.
Awwww <3.

Can foxes be domesticated and used as pets?

I believe there are a couple (in I think Australia) that have managed to breed tame foxes. Strangely though, they don't look much like wild foxes.

And I'll add that if you do decide to get them, From my experiences with wildlife, and foxes specifically, that you play with them like you would a cat. Foxes are kinda awkward like that, they seem to be a bit more personality wise like a cross between cats and dogs, they act and play like cats, but hunt and eat like dogs. I would also highly suggest getting two of them instead of only one. But then again my experience was with 5 little foxes, and they definatly seemed to like playing with each other.

http://www.foxes.org/urbanfox/part3.html
http://mynarskiforest.purrsia.com/ev34pet.htm
http://www.eab.gov.bc.ca/wildlife/96-07.htm
http://www.oz . m/aafoxes.htm#Pets

These folks don't seem to think they make good pets....

Wow. those are lots of reasons not to get one...

my son tells me that someone is indeed working on breeding a domesticated fox. so perhaps in 10 years or so you can get one that would look like a fox and make a good pet.

start saving your money, they are sure to be expensive

arctic foxes as well

What?

My great aunt rescued a fox pup when she was a child and live on a farm. She said it was great but of course he didn't live in the house like the way we might think a dog would..... and eventualy he when back to the wild when he was about two just naturally. She would see him around sometimes and he would come to her but no one else.......... I'm personally just fine with the animals we have already domistcated over the hundreds of years that we have been doing so.... I really don't think we need to have more. If you want a challenge there are some great odd pets at your shelter and in the local resuces in your area and they can give you support with taking care of them. If you want to work with wild animals then get involed with the wildlife rehablation around your area. I know here in SF the Lindsey wildlife musem does it.... and back in MO. there was a wolf sactituary. (sorry I can't spell worth crap)

They already bred domestic foxes in Russia. They also noticed that the domestic foxes had shorter legs, shorter tail, and shorter muzzle, just like the difference between wild dogs and domestic dogs.

Given some information coming out of Russia, where for many years now fur breeders have tried to breed 'tame' / domesticatabele foxes the idea is not sound. ( and the poor foxes that did breed out as domestic were horribly damaged genetically - genetic problems that shortened their life span, produced poor quality furm, twisted their tails, made breeding uncertain, and damaged their digestive tract/functions IIRC )

When humans domesticated dogs and cats they litterally changed them from the species that they were - there is a part of their ..psyche, if you will -that is no longer present in domesticated dogs and cats.

That is why wolves and wolf dog hybrids make such terribly poor pets - it's not missing in them. ( even if they have been rasied from birth by humans ) - ( and yes I have seen individual animals with specific humans be different and truly bond/ domesticate with them but that is a fairly rare occurance )

Now one animal that seems to be doing very well in the domestication area are skunks - there are many people out there quietly keeping skuns as companion animals, and quiet happily too. There are many different patterns of skunks as well - not just the stripe down the back. They are lively, curious, intelligent, cleanly, playful, and the surgery to descent them is relatively simple. However they are not for every one as they can be headstrong and stubborn.

http://www.skunk-info.org/photos/photos.htm#gallery

I myself have always wanted a domesticated red fox. The simple truth, as kindly pointed out by a few people thus far, is that foxes are a wild animal - and therefore are not suited for being 'kept'.

In the end, if for no other reason, we ought to respect that what makes a fox beautiful is an inability to tame them - that they are the very essence of what it means to be wild and free.

Even if kept, you've accomplished nothing more than breaking an animals spirit. A goal no loftier than seeing the fiery eyes of a tiger caged and turned cold, or the strength in the muscles of an ape atrophy in their confinement.

This is not to say that a human can't find that companionship in such a form, but... well, Ill let Red take this one.

I have to remind myself that some birds aren't meant to be caged, their feathers are just too bright... and when they fly away, the part of you that knows it was a sin to lock them up does rejoice. Still, the place you live in is that much more drab and empty that they're gone. I guess I just miss my friend.


;)

my son tells me that someone is indeed working on breeding a domesticated fox. so perhaps in 10 years or so you can get one that would look like a fox and make a good pet.

start saving your money, they are sure to be expensive

You'd think people would've thought about keeping foxes loooong time ago. Oh, well. I'll just keep shelties until then. They are dogs, and very nice ones, but they kinda look like foxes. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheltie

Max, if I may :fluffle:

you said it just right.

You'd think people would've thought about keeping foxes loooong time ago. Oh, well. I'll just keep shelties until then. They are dogs, and very nice ones, but they kinda look like foxes. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheltie
In my time, I've known many miniature shelties. One, my first dog, who passed away when I was around twelve. A beautiful, friendly, compassionate and loyal breed - they are well suited to life in domestication. My brother and my sister have both taken to them enough to have one of their own now that we've grown and moved on. I can tell you now, you couldn't stand to pick a finer friend than the one you'll find in that choice. :)

Edit: Tanara, yes, you may say - and I thank you. ;)

In my time, I've known many miniature shelties. One, my first dog, who passed away when I was around twelve. A beautiful, friendly, compassionate and loyal breed - they are well suited to life in domestication. My brother and my sister have both taken to them enough to have one of their own now that we've grown and moved on. I can tell you now, you couldn't stand to pick a finer friend than the one you'll find in that choice. :)

What? You almost described my life. Only my Sheltie (named Kendal) died when I was 11. I also had one sheltie that I thought was the "perfect dog" She was Cassie, and she loved everyone, played Balls and Frisbees, (but she didn't let Play time take over her live like Juun, my Border Collie did.) We had to give her away, because she couldn't learn the one thing that would make us keep her, house breaking. :( Since then, I had another sheltie named Tank, but he's ok for now. Really great dogs. They kinda look like foxes. :D

Indeed. My dogs name was Caylea, she was a beautiful little thing to be sure. The happiest dog I can ever remember - she made my childhood a great one. My sastarad's is named Raine, and my brothers goes by the name Jackson (kind of interesting, since he also has a border collie with four white socked feet - I named him Shoeless Joe because of that, since Shoeless Joe Jackson once played an entire game in his socks). They are great dogs, and I've yet to meet someone who can say anything bad about sharing their company. :)

You'd think people would've thought about keeping foxes loooong time ago. Oh, well. I'll just keep shelties until then. They are dogs, and very nice ones, but they kinda look like foxes. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheltie

Actually... The spitz looks rather foxy too. As do Pomeranians.

Yeah, they kinda do too.. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spitz http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomeranian

Can foxes be domesticated and used as pets?

I'll be your pet. :3