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Scientists breed cute tame foxes
BBC News ^ | Feb 8, 2005 | Staff

Posted on 02/22/2005 8:43:05 AM PST by balrog666

Forget hounds - foxes could become man's newest best friend, as scientists have shown they can be tamed.

After 45 years of breeding, tame foxes that wag their tails, greet humans with excited barks and look cute have been born in Siberia.

The original foxes were all black, but the new critters have white patches, big floppy ears, and curly tails.

The new foxes are also more curious, better at understanding humans, and less frightened of new things.

The scientists bred about 45,000 foxes to get to the tame stage.

When breeding the animals, they only chose them on how well they responded to people.

But the physical changes came as well - making scientists think cuteness comes along with being tame.


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: animals; cute; doggieping; evolution; foxes; pets; science
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To: Dead Corpse

>>>...Better a domesticated fox than what my wife wants. I will NOT spend time in the same house with a rat terrier.

Rat Terrier? That's not a dog, it's a chew toy for a real dog...


101 posted on 02/24/2005 1:12:20 AM PST by Keith in Iowa (Common Sense is an Oxymoron)
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To: balrog666

Also, how well do they get along with cats?


102 posted on 02/24/2005 1:22:10 AM PST by HiTech RedNeck
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To: PatrickHenry

Isn't breeding wonderful.


103 posted on 02/24/2005 1:22:56 AM PST by HiTech RedNeck
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To: balrog666

What is the average life of a fox? Is 45 years about 4 generations? Also if they can successfully reproduce they are still within the same species.


104 posted on 02/24/2005 1:42:08 AM PST by lbmorris11 (America defeating terrorism and Liberalism)
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To: lbmorris11

lions and tigers can sucessfully reproduce


105 posted on 02/24/2005 3:54:18 AM PST by bobdsmith
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To: bobdsmith

Lions and tigers are different species. Since they are geographically separated, and do not breed in the wild (or rarely maybe), the are in the process of diverging even more.

Of course, you won't be alive to see the total separation of their genetics, but they probably won't either. They will be extinct.


106 posted on 02/24/2005 4:52:48 AM PST by shubi (Peace through superior firepower.)
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To: balrog666

K says they are cute and would take care of our loose chicken problem ;)


107 posted on 02/24/2005 5:02:25 AM PST by Centaur (Never practice moderation to excess.)
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To: balrog666

Awwww, how cute.

Unfortunatley we will probably be reading a related story titled in 3 years: 'Researchers Clone New Hybrid Uber Fox For Classified Military Program'.


108 posted on 02/24/2005 5:06:20 AM PST by Reform4Bush
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To: balrog666

I remember reading an article a year or two ago that (as I recall) stated that EVERY animal - during the domestication process physically changes its appearance and becomes black and white with floppy ears. Other forms arise....but there is always B&W w floppies. Seems to apply here also.


109 posted on 02/24/2005 5:08:53 AM PST by KeepUSfree (WOSD = fascism pure and simple.)
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To: shubi
LOL, I wouldn't dare try to give my cat a pill.

I had to see my doctor yesterday. He was asking me about the cat bite I got in November (which is still giving me some problems).He was telling me about Komodo Dragons, he said their bite isn't poisonous but that their bite kills because the victim gets an overwhelming infection. They follow the prey around after they bite waiting for it to die and then they eat it. I might change kitty's name to Dragon.

110 posted on 02/24/2005 6:06:09 AM PST by muggs
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To: Keith in Iowa
Rat Terrier? That's not a dog, it's a chew toy for a real dog..

We had a Manchester terrier when I was a kid..
She was very protective of her litter..
She took on 2 full grown dobermans, and ripped their stomachs open...

111 posted on 02/24/2005 7:05:23 AM PST by Drammach (Freedom; not just a job, it's an adventure..)
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To: lbmorris11
What is the average life of a fox? Is 45 years about 4 generations? Also if they can successfully reproduce they are still within the same species.

Read the link in post #28. Average lifespan in the wild is 3 years. They breed here at one generation per year although they were hoping for two.

112 posted on 02/24/2005 9:15:16 AM PST by balrog666 (A myth by any other name is still inane.)
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To: muggs

You can just imagine the deadly bacteria in a Komodo's mouth after eating all that carrion and not brushing their teeth.


113 posted on 02/24/2005 9:44:10 AM PST by shubi (Peace through superior firepower.)
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To: HairOfTheDog

PING!


114 posted on 02/25/2005 6:06:25 AM PST by Long Cut (The Constitution...the NATOPS of America!)
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To: balrog666

That headline reminds me of my high school typing class.


115 posted on 02/25/2005 6:07:34 AM PST by OHelix
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To: balrog666

The thing is, how do they think we got dogs in the first place?

Some observant hunter gatherers began paying attention to and offering scraps to the friendly / cute wolves and foxes, that's how. Over time they kept the friendly / cute / helpful ones from each successive litter and drowned the rest.

Voila, dogs.

Now that's science.


116 posted on 02/25/2005 6:13:26 AM PST by Phsstpok ("When you don't know where you are, but you don't care, you're not lost, you're exploring.")
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To: balrog666; Long Cut; Flyer; technochick99; sinkspur; annyokie; Scott from the Left Coast; 88keys; ..
Ping!


Other articles with keyword "DOGGIEPING" since 12/29/04

117 posted on 02/25/2005 6:51:17 AM PST by HairOfTheDog (It is no bad thing to celebrate a simple life!)
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To: balrog666

I want one.


118 posted on 02/25/2005 6:52:03 AM PST by ladylib
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To: shubi
Heh...I've learned to do a tight body wrap (i.e. wrap them TIGHTLY in a towel or blanket, so they can't so much as move their head) on a cat while pilling or putting in eye drops or what have you. It isn't foolproof, but it usually works.

Of course, afterwards you have to more or less drop the bundle and run, and you get the look-of-death for a few days, but...

119 posted on 02/25/2005 6:55:08 AM PST by RosieCotton (A dead thing can go with the stream, but only a living thing can go against it. - GK Chesterton)
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To: Nakatu X

can we get one? :)


120 posted on 02/25/2005 6:56:15 AM PST by Libertarian4Bush
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