Pet foxes

[xchairity_casex]

Let me just give you some info on what its like to own a fennec fox before you get one (not trying to discourage just educate)
first off they are hyper up,down,left,right bouncing off the walls they like to chew,they NEED to dig weather you provide an area to dig or not they will dig your carpet,your furniture,your hardwood floors,your bed. they are difficult to train since htey do not have very good attnetion spans NEVER leave one outside on a chain,rope,ect they can be nervous and will escape. they can be moody it seems sometimes one minute in love with your petting them the next nipping to get you off. it would be better all around to keep them out of the publics eye why? 1 becuase people will talk people will want people will go to great lengths to get one (one great length being not doing any research on how to care for them) getting one for there kids an then finding out hey these things are horrable around my kids i will set it free,get rid of it,kill it ect. its best all around in that regard to not take it out to greet people not to mention they are nervous little animals and will more likly nip then be freindly.
2 people in the area who dont like foxs think they are pests WILL blame all things on it "something raided my trash cans it MUST be the neighbors fox!" even if its not allowed out without you there are going to be people who will dislike it and blame anything they can on it which will ensurre a police vist and probably a warning which could go further into having the fox taken to an animal sanctuary weather it or you has done anything wrong.
3 if someone comes to greet your little fox bring there kids to meet it or pet it or whatever its just a lawsuit waiting to happen you cannot control people you cannot control peoples children you can however control who meets your pet. dont let strangers or even aquaintences greet your little pet especielly strangers kids if someone gets bit and the police are called youll be in big trouble so watch out!
i know it souns likea huge bummer having this great new exotic pet you want to show it off but unfortunatly for the sake of your pet its best not to that doesnt mean not to socielize it by all means invite people who your freinds with over to play with it but not people you dont trust if you dont trust someone to not be understanding about getting nipped then dont bring them over to meet your pet. a long long time ago i had 2 fennecs darlings i love them but those were the problems we faced owning them the neighbors swearing it HAD to be them running off with a chicken,getting into there garbage bins ect even when we did not let them outside ever. peoples kids wanting to meet them and then getting bitten from teasing them.

just make sure you fox proof your home (locks on the cubboards,lock on the fridge door, locks on everything, all poer cords wrapped in wire mesh) provide them with ample digging oppertunities IN doors a few kiddy swimming pools of sand work well you can tuck some bones in the sand also to make it more exciting. when training use dog training methods but just be more patient they are smart just have trouble following you so be patient. use a littler box for them to use (the seem to like useing corners at elast thats what ours liked) as for toys furry mice, and squeeky toys work.

 

[RabbitMage]

I wasn't a fan until that recent article in Nat Geo (I think it was them?) about the breeding program in Siberia. Seeing just how domestic those animals have become changed my mind.

But that's the only place I'd ever consider getting a fox if I were so inclined.

 

[AquaEyes]

Quote:

Way to go! I agree with you all the way. That being said, I'm a pretty weird person, and the things you describe that would probably deter "normal" people just make them more endearing to me. I'm all about knowing both sides, and I thank you for posting some of the "not so fun" aspects of keeping an unconventional pet. I would like to add that most are never 100% litter trained (expect to find "tootsie roll surprises" when they're left out for a long enough period of time), they have nutritional needs beyond opening a bag of dry dog or cat food, and they will never be a dog (or cat or ferret or anything else) because they are what they are -- fennecs. Understand what they are, how they behave, what to expect, etc. and if you can bend yourself to fit their needs (and not the other way around), then you can make a happy situation.

 

[Tam'ra of Rainbow Vortex]

Foxes are the cutest and most manipulative animals I have ever met. My family had a pair of grey foxes for a time. A friend of the family started loosing fowl so he set traps and caught and released 3 adults. Then a week later he caught 4 kits too young to turn loose. Argue legality if you want, rather than sending them to a wildlife rescue we kept them to maturity. SMART things... but messy. All in all, of the chicken prdators, I would rather have a raccoon. At least they can be trained to do your dishes

 

[Akane]

That's why I mentioned a shiba. You may have done the research and be the right type of owner but dozens of people who see threads like this probably aren't while thinking just how cute they are and how they have to have one. Dogs closer in appearance to wild canines tend not to fit as many owners either but they are a better choice than an exotic pet for most people.

 

[AquaEyes]

Quote:
I agree, so we'll keep the thread balanced, and thank you for helping with that. As we're seeing, there are some people on BYC with experience with foxes (of different kinds) as pets, and I'm loving the information posted thus far. Perhaps there are some people who will use this thread as a springboard for finding out more. On that note, there are some yahoo groups of fox owners (as well as other exotic animals) that I would recommend an interested person joining. That's how I've been enjoying them vicariously through other people these past (too many to mention) years.

Thanks to everyone who is contributing.



~Chris

 

[lasergrl]

I highly recommend anyone wanting a fox check out www.sybilsden.com/bb This is where fox owners go for info and such, and sharing stories. Theres way too much to eevn mention in this thread.
I dont find my fennec any more difficult then a ferret although she will attack anyone but me, including my husband that she has known since she was 7 days old. Sometimes, fennecs will become one person animals, even if very well socialised. They do not however have any odor and are not near as destructive as the vulpes foxes. Another species that is very good is swift foxes though I only know of one breeder (and she is awsome btw).

 

[AquaEyes]

Quote:
Wow, I haven't been to that site in YEARS...I think before there ever WAS a forum. So much has improved. Before, I think it was mostly a collection of information and pictures from the site-owner -- not bad, but not NEARLY as comprehensive as it is now. Thanks.



~Chris

 

[SourRoses]

I watched that show too! I believe it was a Nova program, and I saw it on Netflix. Possibly, what I saw might have been a clip from the fox program inserted into the Nova program. Apparently, a main point of the research was to study the way dogs had been domesticated. They also mentioned and disproved the theory that dogs had descended from foxes rather than wolves. It was crazy, in the aggressive barn.. just how viscious those foxes were.. they actually bit the handlers hand inches away from through the cage while she was talking about them for the camera! Then they went over to the docile barn.. and all was peace and tranquility. Really amazing. For some reason I had thought it was in Germany... there was mention of the wars and stuff when talking about its start... but I'm sure everyone is correct and it was Siberia, then.

And some of the rest of the program was studying the change in the kind of intelligence of our domesticated dogs.. and how very like us they have grown to become. For instance.. they did a study on 8 week old pups, from domesticated dogs and from wolves. Some dog puppies stood out for picking this up quickly, but all did very well at it... was understanding a human pointing a finger. The dog puppies would quickly learn that the cup a person pointed to (out of three) was the one that had a treat under it... until some were getting it right every time, in a very short initial session. The wolf pups, they worked and worked with.. and they consistently didn't pick it up.
Also they did a study showing that dogs, to some degree or another, understand human facial expressions and react to them. Wolves don't.
All very amazing.

 

[dewey]

I grew up with or around people having fox, coyotes, wolves, and other "exotic" animals. I've no personal experience of owning this fox in your thread but they are beautiful. For those used to or willing to appreciate and accommodate unique needs, their proper care seems simple enough. If it were me, ultimately, I'd want to provide them with a secure indoor/outdoor habit with some space and activities for their energy...away from the chickens and rabbits.

They are adorable.