How to Teach a Pet Fox Tricks

Regardless of the type of fox you adopt, a pet fox behaves like a combination of a dog and a cat. Unfortunately, most foxes are closer to cats when it comes to learning tricks--if they don't see the use in the trick, they aren't likely to do it, even with praise and treats. The key is to find out what your fox already enjoys doing and build a trick custom-made for her. Read on to learn how to teach a pet fox tricks.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Establish a strong rapport with your pet fox. For training to work, your fox needs to see you as someone he feels good about and wants to please. Before teaching your fox tricks, develop a strong, trusting relationship with one another.

2. Learn your fox's natural behaviors and preferences, focusing on what makes her an individual. It's helpful to keep a journal about your pet fox, jotting down things you notice about her.

3. Find a way to turn a behavior into a trick. Some natural fox behaviors, such as tree climbing, can look like tricks without modification. Other behaviors, like digging and pouncing, need your creativity to become tricks. Think about how props or context might change his behavior into a trick, or how stringing two or more behaviors can create a trick.

4. Reward your pet fox with a favorite treat and praise each time she engages in the natural behavior you want to turn into a trick. She quickly learns that there's something you like about it, so she might do it more often.

5. Add a verbal command when your fox initiates the behavior. Give him the command as soon as you see the beginning of the behavior you're looking for. To reward at the right time, you have to be especially aware of what your fox is doing. Provide a reward at the end.

6. Use the verbal command to instigate the fox's behavior once she's used to hearing it. Give the command often, even if she doesn't engage in the behavior in response. When she responds to your command, praise her elaborately and give her a treat. While you're doing this, keep following Step 5 when you see her begin the behavior.

7. Phase out using a vocal command when you see her initiate the behavior. Instead, only use the command when you want her to engage in the behavior, and only reward her for the behavior with treats and praise when you ask for it.

8. Wean your pet fox off treats and reward with praise alone when he responds to your command almost every time you ask him to. While treats are a good training tool, praise is more sustainable—and keeps your fox trim and happy.

Tips & Warnings

• Spend a few hours a day with your fox, and always carry a small bag of treats to reward him every time he engages in the behavior you're shaping into the trick.
• Use a short, consistent word as a verbal command for each trick. Enunciate it clearly and deliver it in the same positive tone each time.
• If you want to string two behaviors together to create a trick, focus on them separately first until your fox does each one alone.
• Be patient as you teach your pet fox tricks. It might take weeks or months before she can perform a trick.
• To make sure your fox doesn't forget a trick, ask for it a few times a week. Offer treats in response to the trick at times to keep your pet interested.