The Great Pet Debate

[Mal Bridgeman]

http://www.yorkshire-divers.co.uk/fo...ntid=996&stc=1

Rgrds
Mal

P.S. How do you include pics in messages?

[Bethi]

I like lizards Had a bearded dragon but he died Still want another one mum!

[jptaylor9]

[O2 Steve]

Apparently dogs are leading the way but all the posts are from cat or fish people??

3 cats, bought a fish tank and set it up to keep them amused

Steve

[Scubamad]

We have a sweet Staffie called Molly - but answers to most names!!

[clownfish]

Well, I am silly with all types of animals but, out of the list, dogs have to be my favourite (as we have two!). We have a Shih Tzu that is 13 years old called Suzie - the best way to describe her is a grumpy old lady.

We also have a 4 year old American Cocker Spaniel called Amber - the only way to describe her is stupid!

Added to the collection is a tortoise called Hermonie (or the terrorist as my pet sitter who is my best friend calls her) and a royal python - not sure it has a name, it is Daz's (no funny comments!)

Sam

[Mr T.]

The foxes that bark and wag their tails
By Roger Highfield, Science Editor
(Filed: 08/02/2005)

Within the reviled fox beats the heart of an adoring dog, an experimental breeding programme suggests.


Fox cubs: The captive breed foxes show a strong social intelligence

Foxes have the potential to become man's new best friend, say scientists at a Siberian fur farm who have spent 45 years breeding tame foxes.

The result of the programme is a population of foxes that wag their tails, greet humans with excited barks and look appealing.

Unlike the all-black silver foxes, a form of the common, red fox, the tame ones have patches of white fur on their heads, legs and tails. Some have curly tails and their faces are rounder than those of wild foxes.

Tests showed that the tame foxes seemed brighter than wild ones, Dr Brian Hare and colleagues from the Max Planck Institute in Leipzig, Germany, reported in the journal Current Biology.

They were quicker to follow human cues and less afraid of novelty.

Prof Richard Byrne, of St Andrews University, said the social intelligence of the animals could have been masked by their nervousness, until the programme showed that they could be as friendly as pet dogs.

Current Biology

[Fathoms Down]

Originally Posted by Mr T.

The result of the programme is a population of foxes that wag their tails, greet humans with excited barks and look appealing....

...shortly before they run off with your kebab as you stagger home from the pub.

[Fee]

at present 2 ferrets.....used to have rats.gorgeous creatures(but their nads are disturbingly huge)

[Paul Beal]

Freshwater crayfish called Bob - we have him in our goldfish tank. He is a real character, even having mood swings corresponding to when he is about to moult. We don't actually know if he is a "he" but if the cap fits and all that. He is an escapolgist extraordinaire too, we keep a 1kg weight pouch on the tank lid just to make sure!

Paul