Friendly Foxes are Cleverer

[ysengrin]

Well, that's the title of the article, anyway. You may remember a fox breeding program in Siberia where they were choosing kits that were neither afraid of humans nor agressive ... now it turns out these foxes are also better able to pick up on social cues from humans as well ...

Hare and his team studied fox kits that had spent "probably a grand total of 20 minutes" with humans, according to Hare, so they could not have learned how to interact with them. Introduced into a room with two hiding places for food and a human pointing and gazing intently at the one spot that actually concealed food, the 'tame' foxes took the hint and found it, whereas the 'wild' ones were flummoxed.

The specially domesticated foxes are not only socially adept, adds Hare, they are regular charmers. "They behave like dogs," he says. "They whine and bark, they wag their tails, they pee for joy, and they just want to cuddle with you."

But don't expect fox kits to be appearing in pet stores any time soon. The foxes have a pungent musk and love to dig and hide food, says Hare. "They would bury your food in your sofa and you would only find it three months later."

And this is differnt how? I've lived with a husky that would cache food in the couch (and other places, like the laundry basket), and been around a Pekinese that smelled of rancid butter ...

Comments

[westly.livejournal.com]

I personally would like the fact that they "Pee for joy"

...or not...

[graafen]

Sounds like normal pet behaviour to me. :)

[griffinwolf.livejournal.com]

Ooooo I wanna Fox. Probably not allowed for export, though. If california has a problem with Ferrets, they'll DEFINITELY have problems with foxes.

[ysengrin.livejournal.com]

I think "fox" is considered "exotic animal" everywhere but where they're raised for fur.

[whiteyfawks.livejournal.com]

Aren't all animals at least somewhat wild to begin with? I mean, Mick is a regular terror if his natural dominant / protective instincts take over. I'ce seen him act like a total puppy around some dogs, and then I've watched him try to attack a 170lb Malamute.

While true that foxes have not been socialized as long, I wonder how long it would take for generations to beome trully codependant on us?

[hyaenidae.livejournal.com]

I owned a Pug once that had a skin problem and it smelled of rancid butter... it was also the most vindictive creature I've ever met. Heh.

Foxes sound a lot easier to take care of than most exotics. I would surely prefer a natural musk to the horrific rancid pug smell anyway. :P

[loriana.livejournal.com]

Heheh.. now, if only the domestication process didnt mess up the fur coloration.. Hmmm...

I would most certainly have a foxie if I had time to spend with it all the time. But a fox is like a wolf in that regard.... though certainly the domesticated ones would be easier in this respect.

As for the smell... I dont suppose it would surprise you to know it doesnt bother me at all.. in fact the scent of fox to me is rather appealing. Urf wanting to be one probably has something to do with that :P