Those russian domesticated foxes.. now for sale
- Thread starter Dekka
- Start date
Very interesting. I don't know that I'd want one. But they sure are beautiful. I liked that charcol grey one with the darker ears...sort of salt and pepper.
I agree. They are domestic otherwise I wouldn't be for it at all....just like I'm not for making wolves into pets.
PW....I love your way of thinking. :rofl1::rofl1::rofl1:
I agree. They are domestic otherwise I wouldn't be for it at all....just like I'm not for making wolves into pets.
PW....I love your way of thinking. :rofl1::rofl1::rofl1:
I sort of see fox domestication as comparable to chinchilla domestication. Both happened within the last 100 years. Both began as fur animals. Both are being kept as pets now, with chinchillas being more common because of their size and availability.
ETA: and it's not as if they took wild foxes and *gasp* forced them to live with us during domestication. They used silver foxes, which is a color trait found in captive fox populations and has already existed in captivity for many decades. Then they selected for a trait that hadn't been done before, which was tameness. I don't see a problem with it really.
ETA: and it's not as if they took wild foxes and *gasp* forced them to live with us during domestication. They used silver foxes, which is a color trait found in captive fox populations and has already existed in captivity for many decades. Then they selected for a trait that hadn't been done before, which was tameness. I don't see a problem with it really.
I'll admit, I REALLY want one. I've been watching these guys off-and-on for a while now, and wondered if they would ever become available as pets. $6K is a little out of my range right now (probably out of my range for a looooooooong time), but I am excited to see where this all goes from here.
Also, I do also find the research project itself to be incredibly interesting. How often do you get to document the process of domestication from start to finish? That, and to see what other changes occur in a population due to the domesticating process... I just find it all very neat to read about.
Also, I do also find the research project itself to be incredibly interesting. How often do you get to document the process of domestication from start to finish? That, and to see what other changes occur in a population due to the domesticating process... I just find it all very neat to read about.
I have read that some scientist believe that the domestication of dogs may have occurred in as little as one human being's life span. I am somewhat skeptical about that, but I could see it's happening in a single century or so, which is an eyeblink in evolutionary terms. Not that it necessarily DID, just that it COULD HAVE. I think.
I didn't mean anything about the length of time it took to domesticate... just that in this case the process been studied and documented. As you said, scientists have theories as to long it took to domesticate dogs. With these foxes, we KNOW! (BTW, I believe this project started in 1959...I'd have to double-check, but if that's the case then it's "only" been about 50 years.)
That's what I think is cool.
That's what I think is cool.
my biggest concern for this will be people wanting one because well...there foxes...and have no idea what their getting into...
im sure even domesticated foxes are still foxes and still have that baser nature and general temperment just essentilaly mor epredictable...
for me i think domesticating forxes is like domesticating cats, sure it can be done and they can live happily with human interaction, but unless they changed the fox temperment along the way to something more dog like, they will always be more like a sight hound or a cat than the average owners dog...
in otherwords, not a cat person? dont like sight hounds? then dont get a fox...
im sure even domesticated foxes are still foxes and still have that baser nature and general temperment just essentilaly mor epredictable...
for me i think domesticating forxes is like domesticating cats, sure it can be done and they can live happily with human interaction, but unless they changed the fox temperment along the way to something more dog like, they will always be more like a sight hound or a cat than the average owners dog...
in otherwords, not a cat person? dont like sight hounds? then dont get a fox...
So I am not entitled to my opinion??? Is that how it goes here?
I worry about people getting one for the novelty of it and realising it is not your normal fido. I worry about what will happen to them once they end up not wanted. Don't we have enough unwanted animals in this world.
Oh, and Pops, horses are domesticated animals that have nothing to do with this discussion what so ever. I have no idea where you get your "logic" from but you deserve a refund!
I worry about people getting one for the novelty of it and realising it is not your normal fido. I worry about what will happen to them once they end up not wanted. Don't we have enough unwanted animals in this world.
Oh, and Pops, horses are domesticated animals that have nothing to do with this discussion what so ever. I have no idea where you get your "logic" from but you deserve a refund!
Nobody said you aren't entitled to your opinion. We're just trying to clarify that these aren't wild animals. Look at it this way. I know you love reptiles, a lot of people buy them for the "coolness" factor and then end up dumping them or letting them quietly starve to death in a tank. Does that mean nobody should have the opportunity to own one? They aren't even domestic (with the exception of some lines of corn snakes anyway). These foxes are. From the looks of the website, the fox folks have a stricter contract than most reputable dog breeders. The fox must be returned to them if you can't keep it. You must take it to obedience lessons. They are only sold spayed or neutered. It has to be kept up on vaccines, etc. etc.
That is sort of my point. I don't think they should have been domesticated in the first place. Yes, I have a snake, and her wildness is what I like about her. I know I will never own her.
It just goes against my grain that this was done and being continued. They have made their point, domestication changes physical features.
Everyone is entitled to love them and want one. I don't. I don't appreciate people (not you) speaking down to me because I hold an opinion different from theirs. I think we tinker with nature far too much. It is going to bite us in the arse one day.
It just goes against my grain that this was done and being continued. They have made their point, domestication changes physical features.
Everyone is entitled to love them and want one. I don't. I don't appreciate people (not you) speaking down to me because I hold an opinion different from theirs. I think we tinker with nature far too much. It is going to bite us in the arse one day.
^^That is the key here... is realizing that domestic foxes are NOT just a reincarnation of domestic dogs. This is an entirely new animal (in terms of pet status) and potential owners need to be completely aware of that fact.
That said, I still want one.
A lot. I showed the website to my husband (the fox on the bottom left, in particular). He says it's very cute, but that he already got my support on "too expensive" pets with the Tessera corn snake. I'm on my own if I want the fox. :lol-sign:Maybe next year...
What about all the other domestic small mammal species though? Chinchillas for example were wild animals that were fairly recently domesticated and much for the same reasons as the foxes were initially (fur). For me I'd much rather see people owning domestic versions of the species because I would think that would make handling the animal and keeping the animal much less stressful on the animal.