They may be of a different species, but dogs and foxes have way more similarities than I would’ve guessed.
In the video below, two fox pups were spotted in a backyard playing with a tennis ball. The way the one on the left is hopping around resembles the manner in which dogs also play, like the one who thought a prune was a rubber ball. I know my Jack Russell terrier also plays with his toys in a very similar way. Just look at the fox at the :23 mark and again at the :42 mark — I'm sure many other dog owners will recognize the similarities, too.
What's even funnier is how overprotective the fox on the left appears to be over the little ball. Many dogs also showcase that type of possessive nature, including the little pooch who doesn’t want a German shepherd anywhere near his food bowl. My dog is also pretty picky about which other dogs he lets nears his things, especially when it comes to his favorite green ball.
Of course there are still differences between the wild fox and the domesticated dog. But interestingly, NPR reported in 2011 that red foxes may have once been considered human pets after one was uncovered buried alongside a human in Jordan. Who would have thought?
Watch the video below and please SHARE this funny sighting with your friends!