#bc ultimately the foxes were from fur farms PRIOR to the experiment

[darkwood-sleddog]

Do you think trying to domesticate other canids is worth it?

No I don't. Dogs are not only the very first domesticated animal and the only animal domesticated in the Pleistocene, they are also the ONLY large carnivore that has been domesticated in all of human history. I do not believe the unique circumstances that led dogs to exist can happen again and that modern breeding programs trying to domesticate other wild canids will yield animals as suitable for human companionship.

Dogs are also one of the most genetically mutable animals on earth, their genetics mutate incredibly easily in comparison to other species, this is likely why they were not only able to be domesticated, but able to establish themselves as the being to evolve alongside humanity so easily. It's the reason why we can use them for SO many jobs and purposes. In comparison, other domesticated carnivores like cats and ferrets serve more limited purposes.

I don't see an empty niche that domestication of foxes, coyotes, jackles would fill and that means that their domestication would be not purposeful, but for human desire ALONE. Human beings did not see ancient wolves and decide they were going to create a breeding program to develop wolves into dogs, dogs did not exist yet. Dogs and humans evolved together over time and we have a coevolutionary relationship where dogs are now more genetically primed to be our companions and partners. I just don't think we can replicate that and no I don't think it is worth exploring "for science" because it would feasibly take thousands of years of dedicated breeding to get to that point.