New "Dr K Exotic Vet" show

[artgecko]

I'd just like to throw in the Russian silver foxes case. I think it points to interesting aspects that relate to this. After just a few generations of selecting for the calmest, most people-tolerant foxes on their fur-ranch (or farm, whatever the correct term is) they ended up with foxes that produced foxes with "domestic" traits like dogs... And this is just in a few generations, mind you, not thousands of years. These foxes acted more like juveniles or baby foxes, were less aggressive, and less reactive than the ones not selected for temperament. Interestingly enough, they also started showing other dog-like traits (floppy ears, white patches, etc.).

I guess a better way of looking at "domestication" is the keeping of animals for multiple generations selecting for traits that make them more suitable to live around humans... Particularly, more "juvenile" behaviors like affection, lack of aggression, and being less reactive (flighty). Thus, the common dog, bred for these traits, might be an easier animal to keep (under standard conditions) than a wolf, who has not been selected for generations for these traits. Similarly with cats, a domestic cat may tend to less "extreme" needs and behaviors than an f1 hybrid bengal.

All that said, if reptile keepers and other breeders (of rats, birds, etc.) are selecting their stock also based on what we would consider good temperament, then we are currently in the process of "domesticating" them.. If we are following the definition I put above.

It all really boils down to knowledge, realistic expectations, and ability to provide for the animal you have chosen.