Fennec foxes are the smallest member of the canine family. This means that they are relatives of dogs, wolves, coyotes, and other species of fox. Their native habitat is in the Sahara Desert region of North Africa. Their big ears and pint size, about as large as a chihuahua, make them very desirable as pets.
They certainly have all of the physical attributes needed to let them qualify as cuddly. They come in a variety of colors, from white to brown to tawny. Their large furry ears are adapted to let them hear predators from quite a long ways away. They tend to be very energetic in small bursts, although they sleep a lot.
Fennec foxes are smart enough to recognize their owners. After a while, they can get used to cuddling with you. But they are a lot like cats in this regard. They cuddle when they wish and then move on to something else. Don’t expect them to be anywhere near as affectionate as the average domesticated dog.
The important thing to keep in mind is that, even though they certainly qualify as cuddly, they are also primarily wild animals. This means that it will take some doing before they can be considered as a conventional pet to keep in your home. They can adapt, but they will do so at their own pace and on their own terms.
Are Fennec Foxes Affectionate?
Fennec foxes can be affectionate when they feel like it. For example, after a fennec fox has gotten used to you, they will jump up and down and squeal for a bit when they see you coming home. This won’t last for very long. Soon enough, their attention will be occupied by something else. Fennecs are a lot like cats in this regard.
Fennec foxes tend to sleep a great deal during the day. Their primary habitat is in the desert area of North Africa. As a result, they tend to be mostly nocturnal. If you are more of a night person, this is when you will interact most naturally with a fennec fox. The key is to let them take their own sweet time to warm up to you.
After they have gotten used to it, they will tend to slowly become more affectionate. However, their display of such feelings will always be much closer to that of a cat than a regular domestic dog. Living among predators in the desert has taught them to be very cautious, skittish, and prone to displaying their fight or flight reaction.
You will probably have more success by adopting a baby fennec fox than an adult. Once they have grown, fennecs are pretty well set in their wild ways and prefer not to alter them. If you get a fennec young and raise it from a cub, you will be more able to train them to act as much like a domestic dog as they possibly can.
Can You Train A Fennec Fox To Be More Cuddly Or Affectionate?
There are certain tricks that you can teach a baby fennec fox to do. These may include such minor accomplishments as giving paw, sitting, rolling over, and the like. You can also train them to use a litterbox at least some of the time. Keep in mind that their droppings are dry and not usually scented.
You can also teach them to respond to your voice and come to you on command. However, this may take quite a while since fennecs are not by nature domestic. You can teach them quite a few little tricks if you are willing to put in the time and effort that this will require. It can be a rewarding, if quite exhausting, experience.
In the end, fennecs are not household dogs and were never really meant to be. But if you want to keep one as a pet, it can be done. You just have to be very patient and understanding with them. Fennecs can show quite a bit of love and affection for their owners, although it will always be on their own terms.
The biggest contributing factor to teaching a fennec fox to be more affectionate and cuddly is time. They need to get used to you as well as the new home they are in before they can relax.
How Do You Get A Fox To Trust You?
The best way to get a fennec fox to trust you is to give it plenty of space. You need to let the fox get used to living in a new environment among plenty of new faces. This can be a bit disorienting at first. The fennec will need some time to adapt and get used to its new surroundings. It’s always best to let them move at their own pace.
Keep feeding them the food they require on a regular basis. Give them a warm, safe place to sleep or retreat to when they feel angsty. Knowing that they always have food, water, and a safe place to sleep will enable them to feel a great deal more secure. Slowly, they will get used to their environment and to you as well.
Fennec foxes sleep an awful lot. This is all the more true during the day since they are naturally nocturnal. This means that you want to let them rest as much as they need to without disturbing them. Once they realize that they can get all of the sleep that they need without being molested, they will trust you a great deal more.
They can be very playful in short bursts. You can join them in play but, when they have had enough, they will stop abruptly. Foxes may also play a lot by themselves without requiring you to join in. Again, it’s best to let them seek out their level of interaction with you on their own terms. It’s the best way to build trust.
