Dogs and Foxes: Everything You Need to Know

While they may have shared a common ancestor ten million years ago, nowadays, dogs and foxes have evolved into two very distinct species. Read on to find out more about their looks, temperament - and why we probably won't be welcoming a foxy friend into our fur family anytime soon...

What’s the difference between a dog and a fox?

So, dogs and foxes are related, but what’s the real difference between the two? Well, domestic animals like our pooch pals have been intentionally bred for centuries, meaning they excel at certain jobs and, of course, as (hu)-man’s best friend. On the other hand, foxes are truly wild animals and it is extremely rare to see a domesticated fox (something we will come onto later). Dogs and foxes are also genetically different, our pooch pals have no less than 78 chromosomes, while foxes have between 35 and 64 chromosomes depending on the breed.

Dog and fox lifespan

One of the major differences between dogs vs foxes is lifespan. Luckily for us, our furry friends generally live between ten and thirteen years, whereas most foxes live just two to five years. That being said, some foxes have a similar lifespan to dogs, especially those kept in captivity.

Dog and fox temperament

Another point which sets foxes apart from our four-legged friends is their ability to be sociable. Now, our furry friends are known for being affectionate and loyal (I mean, humans and dogs, name a better duo), and most doggies haven’t got a clue about stranger danger. Dogs have been bred to be by our sides, and while foxes can be friendly too, they generally prefer keeping themselves to themselves and may even bite if they feel threatened.

Dog and fox looks

While fox cubs share some similarities with our furry friends (cute, fluffy, and inquisitive), they're usually born with a white-tipped tail which becomes thick and bushy as they grow older. Fox cubs have pointy ears, kitten-like claws, and long, whiskered snouts.

Dog and fox behavior

We know our domesticated doggies are friendly, sociable creatures, but the behavior of our foxy friends depends on where they’re living. Foxes living it up in the city can be bold, curious, and rather tame, but this doesn’t mean they’re domesticated. Foxes that are used to people will have no problem making your garden their home which can lead to problems for your pet pals, especially after dark. Foxes living outside of the city are much more timid, and you will be lucky to catch a glimpse of a countryside fox before it scampers off.

Dog and fox diet

Our pooch pals thrive on a diet of good quality dog food that meets food regulation requirements. However, domesticated foxes need a diet that mimics the way they would eat in the wild. While it is possible to buy fox food, wild foxes get most of their nutrients from animal proteins such as mice, rats, eggs, and insects, so foxes in captivity should be no different. They should also have the opportunity to hunt, catch, and even bury their prey, just as they would in the wild.

Foxes as pets

We know foxes look like a domesticated doggy’s fluffy cousin, but experts do not recommend keeping foxes as pets. Why? To put it simply, foxes are wild animals, and it is actually illegal to keep them as pets in most American states. Unlike our pooch pals, foxes are difficult to train - they struggle to learn commands and generally don’t understand when they’ve done something wrong. They have a natural instinct to mark things (aka pee on them) and trust us, you won’t be getting rid of that smell anytime soon. But it’s not only their pee that smells, foxes have a musky odor that lingers no matter how many baths you give them.

While you probably won’t find many house sits with foxes, some people do keep them as pets. Fox pet parents must understand exactly what they’re getting themselves into and have the specific knowledge to take care of these high-maintenance floofs.

Do dogs and foxes get along?

Foxes are not the most sociable with other pet pals, and dogs are no exception. Foxes are likely to run away at the first glimpse of our four-legged friends (with pooch pals hot on their tails, given half the chance!).

Can dogs and foxes breed?

Although their offspring would look adorable, dogs and foxes cannot breed. Due to the fact that they are different breeds and they don’t share the same number of chromosomes, unfortunately, “doxes” will never be a thing.

Foxlike dog breeds

That being said, there are a lot of doggies that have a particularly foxy look, in particular, Spitz breeds, with their thick double coats, bushy tails, and pointy ears. Here are some dogs that look like foxes:

Shiba Inu
American Eskimo
Schipperke
Finnish Spitz
Jindo
Pomeranian
Norwegian Lundehund

Dog and fox FAQs

Luckily, foxes aren’t generally aggressive towards our pet pals and are much more likely to be chased off than do any of the chasing themselves. That being said, they can be unpredictable, especially at night, and foxes have been known to attack small dogs.

Despite not posing an obvious threat to dogs, wild foxes can also be riddled with parasites such as fleas, ticks and worms, and even diseases like rabies. Keep your pet pals up to date with vaccines to avoid them catching anything nasty when they run out of sight!

Short answer: no. Basically, if dogs and foxes went to high school together, they would be in very different cliques. Both floofs are pretty territorial and foxes in particular won’t appreciate other pet pals invading their space.

Dogs with a high prey drive are known to chase off foxes. This makes foxes naturally wary of our pooch pals, and while they may be a little more cautious if they can smell a doggy in your garden, that doesn’t mean they won’t pop by once your pups go inside for the night!

Keeping your dog on the lead when there’s a fox around not only prevents your furry friend from running off into the sunset but it also protects your pooch from getting close enough to catch any harmful diseases.

Dogs and foxes: everything you need to know

Trending posts