Can a fennec fox really be house-trained? Yes it can. Here is how to train your new pet like you would train a dog. It’s not easy, but it’s not impossible. Follow these steps and your fennec will be toilet trained in no time.
Listed below are the basic steps to toilet train your fennec fox. Hopefully they’ll be as clean as your dog!
Can a fennec fox be house-trained?
Can a fennec fox really be house trained? Like any other pet, a fennec fox requires constant training to be fully house-trained. Like a dog or cat, they need to be praised for toileting in the correct location and rewarded with treats when they do so.
While most fennec foxes are completely untrainable, some can be trained to use a litter box or to use a leash. Though they are wild animals, fennec foxes can be domesticated and make excellent house pets.
Fennec foxes are also very intelligent and have a high level of hearing, making them relatively easy to train. When it comes to house-training, however, fennec foxes require patience and consistency. Like any other pet, they will need to be taught where to go to the bathroom and given ample opportunities to relieve themselves outside.
With time and patience, most fennec foxes can be fully house-trained. However, it is important to keep in mind that they may occasionally have accidents, particularly when they are first learning.
House training
Fennecs are very curious creatures, and they love to explore their surroundings. Unfortunately, this can cause some problems if they are left uncaged in a home. They will run around, knocking over everything in their path.
They may also make a mess, or even try to escape out the door. For these reasons, it is best to put fennecs in their well-secured cage before leaving them alone. This will help to prevent any accidents or disasters from occurring.
Fennec foxes are intelligent animals and can be trained to perform tricks and obey commands. However, they require a lot of patience and consistency from their owners. Like all animals, fennecs learn best through positive reinforcement. This means that they should be praised and rewarded when they behave in the desired way.
When training a fennec, it is important to be patient and use simple commands. For example, you could start by teaching your fennec to sit. Once they have mastered this, you could move on to more complex commands such as ‘stay’ or ‘come’.
Leash training
Some fennec foxes are able to be trained to walk on leashes, but many cannot. Do not expect your fennec to be able to walk on a leash like you would with your dog. They are not built for it, and their natural tendencies will be to run and explore.
If you do decide to try leash training your fennec, start by getting them used to wearing a harness. Put the harness on them for short periods of time, gradually increasing the amount of time they wear it. Once they are comfortable with the harness, you can attach a leash and start walking them around your home.
Start with short walks, and gradually increase the distance you walk them. If at any point your fennec seems uncomfortable or resistant, stop the training session and try again another day.
Potty training
- Start with a large cage that will be the fennec’s ‘bedroom’ and ‘toilet’.
- Place the cage in an area of the house where the family spends a lot of time, such as the living room. This will help the fennec fox to feel like part of the family and less isolated.
- Place a litter box in the cage. This can be any type of litter box, but a high-sided one will prevent the fennec fox from making too much of a mess.
- Place a small amount of hay or straw in the bottom of the litter box. This will help to absorb any accidents.
- Introduce your fennec fox to its new home and let it explore the cage. Show it where the litter box is and encourage it to use it by placing a treat inside.
- Clean up any accidents immediately. If the fennec fox smells its own urine or feces, it will be more likely to toilet in that spot again.
- As the fennec fox gets used to using the litter box, you can start to move it closer to where you want it to toilet permanently. This could be outside in a designated spot, or in a litter box that is placed in a more convenient location inside the house.
- Once the fennec fox is using the litter box consistently, you can start to phase out the treats. Continue to praise and pet the fennec fox when it toilets in the correct spot.
With patience and consistency, most fennec foxes can be fully house-trained.
How to train a pet fennec fox
Let’s face it, foxes are not your average pet. But that doesn’t mean they can’t be trained! With a little patience and know-how, you can teach your fennec fox basic commands and behaviors.
The key is to start early and be consistent with your training. Like all animals, foxes are creatures of habit, so the more you can get them into a routine, the better. Start by teaching simple commands like sit and stay. Reward your fox with praise or treats for good behavior.
And most importantly, don’t get discouraged if training takes a little longer than expected. After all, a little bit of effort now will go a long way towards having a well-behaved pet fox in the future!
Don’t leave the pet fennec fox unsupervised!
The best way to train your fennec fox is to expose it to many different situations. It may be surprising to learn that this animal is not afraid of humans, but they will probably scratch and jump on your furniture. If you have breakables or decorations, fennecs are likely to knock them over.
If you have an unsupervised pet, it’s best to keep it in a large kennel or pen, so it does not snoop around and destroy your things. Fennecs also need to be socialized with other household pets. The earliest introduction will bond the animal with your household members.
Conclusion
Overall, fennecs can be relatively easy to potty train and house train if you are consistent with the training. It is important to start early, be patient, and use positive reinforcement to teach your fennec fox basic commands and behaviors. Most importantly, don’t leave your fennec fox unsupervised as they are destructive by nature. With a little time and effort, you can have a well-behaved pet fennec fox!
