Many people are delighted with the idea of having a fox as a pet. They are charming and intelligent animals, and there is a lot of appeal in having a “special” animal that not many people have. while the foxes can make decent pets for someone with the time and resources to care for them, many people make the mistake of buying a fox as a pet thinking it will be like a dog.
1. Foxes are hard to train.
Dogs are born with a very strong pack mentality. A dog sees you as his alpha and is programmed to want to obey the leader. They live to please you. A fox, however, lives to please itself. While highly intelligent, a fox’s core motivation is different than a dog’s. The dog wants to please you and make you happy, the fox wants the treat.
2. Foxes suck
Foxes have a very strong odor. Whereas a dog can go a few weeks without bathing to develop a strong stench, foxes smell like skunk 24/7. This strong, musky odor can be lessened somewhat by neutering the fox, but it cannot be completely eliminated.
3. Foxes are shy
Many people imagine a fox as an amazing pet that they can show off to their friends and neighbors. Unfortunately, the reality almost always falls far short of this. While foxes often become very attached and affectionate with their families, they remain incredibly shy around visitors and strangers.
4. Foxes have special needs.
Foxes have special dietary and exercise requirements in addition to those of a dog. They are extremely energetic and require a lot of exercise every day. A large and carefully constructed outdoor enclosure is a must. Which brings me to my next point…
5. Foxes are escape artists.
Foxes are much more adept at getting out of enclosures than even the most determined dog. They can leap six feet in the air, climb fences, and even cling upside down to climb the length of a chain-link roof over short distances. Any enclosure intended to keep foxes must not only be large, but impossible to dig out, and have an entire roof.
6. Foxes are destructive
Many people buy a fox under the mistaken impression that it can be kept as an indoor pet and allowed to run freely around the house while they are away at work. Nothing could be further from the truth, particularly with the larger species like red foxes. They will steal and hide anything small enough for them to carry, and they will shred just about anything they can get their teeth into. It is nearly impossible to break even the best trained fox for these behaviors. A dog can be taught not to chew things, a fox can only be taught not to chew things while you watch. While a fox is on the loose in the house, it requires constant supervision.
In conclusion, foxes can make fascinating pets for people who are prepared to care for them. If you are interested in a fox as a pet, do so with your eyes wide open, do your research, and understand that caring for a fox is not like caring for a dog.