Domesticated foxes

[sholio]

I'd read about this before, but never thought to look them up on Youtube. Basically, a Russian researcher deliberately bred silver foxes for tameness (so they would be easier to harvest for fur). What he discovered, unexpectedly, is that as the foxes grew more tame, they also started to exhibit a whole bunch of dog characteristics along with the tameness -- floppy ears, spotted coats, barking, wagging, and generally acting like dogs.

And the video of them ... my first reaction was OH GOD FREAKY, because they have fox bodies and fox tails, but they move just like dogs, with the wagging and bouncing. And my second reaction was SO CUTE! WANT!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enrLSfxTqZ0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzTcmE-pMLU

(ETA: Apparently they do sell them as pets. Now I really want one!)

Comments

[leesa_perrie]

Fascinating videos - though I can't help feel sorry for them being kept in those small cages. Interesting to see how adrenaline affects tameness as well as genetic changes.

I can fully see why you want one - they are sooo cute - very energetic too by the looks of them! (Too energetic for me!)

Me, I'd like a tame wolf...but that's not very likely!! (I was always a bit jealous of that mountie chap in Due South. Hmmm, now I'm wondering how he and Rodney would get on... LOL!!)

[friendshipper.livejournal.com]

I feel kind of sad for them, in those cages, too! They look like they would make wonderful pets -- but yes, very energetic, would probably need a lot of attention and room to run around.