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.
Oh my. How cute!
I was wondering the same thing. PETA's going to get wind of this and go crazy!
>And the seller assured her they were a "quiet" breed.<
Unfortunately, the breed has been plagued in the past few years with over popularity. They are not the breed for everyone, and due to their intensity and intelligence, they are the number one most successful Toy breed in performance sports. Unethical crooks in the breed will tell you whatever you want to hear to sell you one. Good breeders lay out the cons, as well as the pros, and do not sell intense pups to those wanting a lap ornament.
Think border collie energy. You have the same intensity in many Papillons (there is only one "i" in the breed's name). In a strictly pet home, where they don't have a job to do to keep them from getting bored, they can turn into yappy and hyper nuisances.
My most driven Papillon's name is "Gonzo", and it fits.
Very cute little guys or gals...
"What did they DO with the 45,000?"
Didn't the price of fox stoles go down?
Go for it. :-)
Seriously, with the comments on how high-energy they are, I wonder if those things would make good service animals. High-energy dogs are used as service animals for a reason. That would be TOO COOL.
We have red fox come through our yard, I'm afraid they'll hurt my Yorkie!!
My cats will wander off to eat while I'm petting them.
Dogs have owners.
Cats have a staff.
-OR-
Ann Coulter...
Coulter: a cutting tool (as a knife or sharp disc) that is attached to the beam of a plow, makes a vertical cut in the surface, and permits clean separation and effective covering of the soil and materials being turned under
BUMP!
ROFLMAO tears streaming down my face
Try reading it to someone. It is difficult to get to the end without becoming incoherent, even after several readings.
I know what you mean.Just got back from work a little while ago and decided to share it with my kids.It is so hard to read it out loud didn't make to the third sentence without bursting into laughter.
Still ROFLMAO.
Now they need to get to work on tiny elephants.
Hi come on over you will like this thread. ;0)
Thanks for the Ping! So are you going to get a pet Fox for your family? :)
Maybe when they become available on the free market and don't cost to much.LOL.
Let's see. That would mean about 45e284 breedings to come up with a tame Democrat.
Actually, we are almost there!
We have some socialist-leaning foxes and some so-called independents!
Just wait until next year!
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