Early Canid Domestication:The Farm-Fox Experiment
Dr. Dmitri Belyaev's experimentation with the Russian Silver fox has been well documented for many years and is part of the hypothesis that Dr. Ray Coppinger used in his theory of the the domestication of the dog to suggest that the common ancestor to the wolf and the dog domesticated itself at a pace much faster than the Darwinian Model.
Coppinger's book was published in 2001. It is an interesting read.
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Replies (4)
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They did this in Russia from Foxes used in fur farms since the turn of the century who were not tame but once and a while had different colour patterns & behavior those were culled the fur wasn't consistent. 40 years ago they took normal farm Foxes and bred only for tamability similar to what our ancestors would have done with the wolf it seems physical and mental change happen together and faster than anyone ever thought. After 40 years they have 70 to 80% are very friendly and capable of being normal pets with physical changes that make them look more dog like white patches, under/overbites, shorter tails and curly also. Here is the link http://www.floridalupine.org/publications/PDF/trut-fox-study.pdf
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Dr. Dmitri Belyaev's experimentation with the Russian Silver fox has been well documented for many years and is part of the hypothesis that Dr. Ray Coppinger used in his theory of the the domestication of the dog to suggest that the common ancestor to the wolf and the dog domesticated itself at a pace much faster than the Darwinian Model. Coppinger's book was published in 2001. It is an interesting read.
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I watched a documentary about the farm foxes sometimes having white patches, ears dropping and sometimes being tame,but had no idea someone was breeding just for tame and the changes are faster than many would expect I always thought size & temperament could be changed by breeding I didn't think bad bites ,short curly tail and color would happen that fast. I will try to read that book thanks
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this has always been my biggest rebuttal to PETA activist who accuse me of being a hypocrite (a vegetarian and advocate for animal rights) but still owning pure bred dogs . . .
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