Can foxes breed with dogs?

In the case of canines, wolves ('canis lupus') and domestic dogs ('canis domesticus') can interbreed. Apparently some domestic dog breeds can, or used to able, to breed with foxes (vulpes fulve) which are a different genus. read more

« Reply #12 on: 20/09/2008 10:07:49 » I have heard of a bull dog crossed with a shitzu, producing a bullshit Question: My Bull terrier bitch is called Ruby Loved dearly and loves everyone. read more

Members of the dog genus Canis: wolves, dogs (both common dogs and dingoes), coyotes, and golden jackals cannot interbreed with members of the wider dog family: the Canidae, such as South American canids, foxes, African wild dogs, bat-eared foxes or raccoon dog; or, if they could, their offspring would be infertile. read more

No. Dogs are, genetically speaking, domesticated wolves. They can interbreed with wolves and produce fertile offspring because they are not yet genetically different enough to be incompatible. read more

Dogs and foxes cannot interbreed, because they have vastly differing chromosome counts. The red fox (Vulpes vulpes) has 34; the dog (Canis lupus familiaris) has 70. Gametes from each animal (sex cells) would have 17 chromosomes for the fox, and 35 for the dog. read more

Over the course of thousands of years, humans have carefully and selectively bred domestic dogs to produce a massive and diverse spectrum of animals. It's incredible to consider that the tiny Chihuahua, the massive Saint Bernard, and the wolf-like Malamute are all members of one species. read more