While a true hybrid between a dog and a fox is genetically impossible, the discovery of Dogxim—a hybrid between a domestic dog and a Pampas fox (zorro)—has sparked interest in dog/fox hybrids. Here’s everything you need to know about hybrids between foxes and dogs.
Can Dogs and Foxes Reproduce?
No, dogs and foxes cannot reproduce. Despite both being members of the Canidae family, their genetic differences are too significant. True foxes belong to the genus Vulpes, while domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) and their close relatives (like wolves and coyotes) belong to a separate evolutionary branch, the tribe Canini.
What is a "True Fox?"
A true fox is any species within the genus Vulpes. There are currently 12 recognized species of true fox including the red fox (Vulpes vulpes), the arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus), and the pale fox (Vulpes pallida).
These animals are distinct from “false foxes,” like zorros, which belong to the tribe Canini. True foxes are in the tribe Vulpini which they share with tanukis, aka raccoon dogs, and bat-eared foxes.
Why Can’t Dogs and True Foxes Hybridize?
The genetic divergence between dogs and true foxes makes hybridization impossible. They are too distantly related within the Canidae family. Even if mating were attempted, their chromosomes would not align properly to produce viable offspring.
What Was Dogxim?
Dogxim was a hybrid discovered in Brazil in 2021, born to a domestic dog father and a Pampas fox (zorro) mother. While often mislabeled as a “dog-fox hybrid,” Dogxim was not a true dog/fox hybrid because Pampas foxes are not real foxes. Instead, they are members of the tribe Canini, making them more closely related to dogs than to actual foxes.
Sadly, Dogxim died in March of 2023 of unknown causes.
Why Was the Discovery of Dogxim Important?
Dogxim’s discovery shed light on the possibility of hybridization within the Canini tribe outside of the genus Canis, an area that was largely unexplored. Her unique combination of traits provided valuable insight into genetics, behavior, and evolution among canids.
Are Fox Hybrids Real?
While dog/fox hybrids do not exist, fox hybrids themselves are real. Actual hybrid foxes are the offspring of two different species of fox. The only types of hybrid foxes known to exist are hybrids between the red fox and the arctic fox. Hybrid foxes generally have an arctic fox mother and a red fox father. Because red foxes mate in the spring and arctic foxes mate in the summer, hybrid foxes can’t occur naturally and can only be created via artificial insemination.
This is a photo of Everest, a real hybrid fox that lives at Exotic Pet Wonderland. Everest is a hybrid between a red fox and an arctic fox.
Other Mistaken Dog/Fox Hybrids
At our sanctuary, we frequently get contacted about supposed hybrids between dogs and foxes. However, each and every time, the “dog/fox hybrid” turns out to be a whitemark color morph red fox. If you think you found a hybrid between a fox and a dog and it looks like the image below, it is just a red fox!
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