# Animals that might be candidates for full domestication and why **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 22, 2024, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animals-that-might-be-candidates-for-full-domestication-and-why/996508 "2024-01-22T18:53:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2024, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animals-that-might-be-candidates-for-full-domestication-and-why/996508/61 "2024-01-23T06:17:17Z")
You eliminate the hard to train ones from the breeding stock. There’s also what my old Granny used to say. “Most kids quit crapping their pants by kindergarten age” There were times when I was at the elementary school, volunteering, and I cursed my old Granny and her foolish statements. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2024, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animals-that-might-be-candidates-for-full-domestication-and-why/996508/62 "2024-01-23T07:32:17Z")
I think the Spotted hyena might be interesting as an alternative to dogs. The obvious drawback is that they are huge and deadly, so the penalty for failure is severe. But they are highly social and hierarchical, so as with dogs I suspect that if raised from birth and bred for favorable characteristics they could come to see their human as pack leader. The main motivation would be that they have such flexible hunting and feeding strategies, they are consummate opportunists, so I suspect that they might be more intelligent (or have more flexible intelligence) than dogs. ---
**Author:** ![gnarator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gnarator/32/8266_2.png) [@gnarator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnarator)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2024, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animals-that-might-be-candidates-for-full-domestication-and-why/996508/63 "2024-01-23T07:45:45Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > Considering both the mythological qualities of Raven and the apparent intelligence levels of corvids, I think that might be a pretty risky enterprise. What risk? They fly all over the world and bring you back information. Better than Twitter. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2024, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animals-that-might-be-candidates-for-full-domestication-and-why/996508/64 "2024-01-23T08:27:25Z")
Yep. Rap, rap rapping at my door. I suspect I can do without that. But they could be taught to steal nice sparkly diamonds off rich ladies ears. And bring them to me. Me me me. Yes me. 💎😏 ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2024, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animals-that-might-be-candidates-for-full-domestication-and-why/996508/65 "2024-01-23T10:28:23Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I would have thought the effects of eating paint would solve that problem. Nah – dangerous paint, like lead-based, has been phased out for years now. Current paint is , if not nutritious or tasty, at least non-life-threatening. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2024, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animals-that-might-be-candidates-for-full-domestication-and-why/996508/66 "2024-01-23T13:28:03Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > I think the Spotted hyena might be interesting as an alternative to dogs. A spotted hyena is the type of pet you’d give your mother-in-law. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2024, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animals-that-might-be-candidates-for-full-domestication-and-why/996508/67 "2024-01-23T14:26:04Z")
Wolves are far more intelligent than dogs. Dogs do not need to be that smart. Many people who mistakenly bought a Border Collie puppy would agree. We do not want duplication of our own strengths in our domesticates, we want complements. With dogs it is short-distance speed, their sense of smell and to a lesser extent, hearing. We gots all the brains needed. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2024, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animals-that-might-be-candidates-for-full-domestication-and-why/996508/68 "2024-01-23T14:32:30Z")
> [@Tibby](#): > > A spotted hyena is the type of pet you’d give your mother-in-law. A guy in New york had one in his apt he had raised from a pup. He tried to put a leash on it and it snapped his arm with one bite. They have one of the strongest bites in nature. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2024, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animals-that-might-be-candidates-for-full-domestication-and-why/996508/69 "2024-01-23T14:55:25Z")
That’s true of wolves/dogs, however hyenas are more closely related to cats than dogs. Hyenas and cats diverged from a common ancestor ~30 million years ago. Hyenas and dogs diverged ~60 million years ago. And hyenas are very smart—they solve problems, cooperate, think ahead, and can even count. ---
**Author:** ![HoneyBadgerDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honeybadgerdc/32/1033_2.png) [@HoneyBadgerDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoneyBadgerDC)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2024, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animals-that-might-be-candidates-for-full-domestication-and-why/996508/70 "2024-01-23T15:33:15Z")
> [@Tibby](#): > > That’s true of wolves/dogs, however hyenas are more closely related to cats than dogs. Hyenas and cats diverged from a common ancestor ~30 million years ago. Hyenas and dogs diverged ~60 million years ago. And hyenas are very smart—they solve problems, cooperate, think ahead, and can even count The females also have a usable penis. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2024, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animals-that-might-be-candidates-for-full-domestication-and-why/996508/71 "2024-01-23T16:00:04Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > The females also have a usable penis. Well, there’s that. Still, not jonesing for one (a hyena, I mean). ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2024, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animals-that-might-be-candidates-for-full-domestication-and-why/996508/72 "2024-01-23T16:17:05Z")
> [@Tibby](#): > > [Bush Babies](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galago), because I want a small, playful pet who’s jumping muscles perform six to nine times better than those of a frog, and will eat all the pesky bugs in my house. A woman I knew bought one on impulse from a pet store in New York. When she tried to return it the next day they pointed out the “no returns” sign. She tried returning it again, with no expectation of getting her money back. Nope. It was a male. He spent most of his day masturbating. Anytime she approached the cage it would fling poo at her. It became ill, so she took it to the Animal Medical Center where they diagnosed it with a large gastric hairball which they removed endoscopically. She eventually found someone with previous galago experience who took the animal (but did not pay her a cent). ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2024, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animals-that-might-be-candidates-for-full-domestication-and-why/996508/73 "2024-01-23T16:17:53Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#): > > > [@Tibby](#): > > > > That’s true of wolves/dogs, however hyenas are more closely related to cats than dogs. Hyenas and cats diverged from a common ancestor ~30 million years ago. Hyenas and dogs diverged ~60 million years ago. And hyenas are very smart—they solve problems, cooperate, think ahead, and can even count > > The females also have a usable penis Nitpicking - it’s actually an elongated clitoris. Through which they give birth, ouch. It’s why they have a high death rate among cubs and first time mothers. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2024, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animals-that-might-be-candidates-for-full-domestication-and-why/996508/74 "2024-01-23T16:28:27Z")
They do urinate through the pseudopenis, so in that sense it’s “usable”. But as you say for intercourse and birthing it’s a bug rather than a feature. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2024, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animals-that-might-be-candidates-for-full-domestication-and-why/996508/75 "2024-01-23T18:08:17Z")
> [@gnarator](#): > > > [@thorny\_locust](#): > > > > Considering both the mythological qualities of Raven and the apparent intelligence levels of corvids, I think that might be a pretty risky enterprise. > > What risk? They fly all over the world and bring you back information. Better than Twitter. They’ll bring you the information they feel like bringing. They’ll take to others of their choice the information about you they feel like bringing to them. They might well feel that they ought to be in control of the humans, not the other way around. Much of that is indeed rather like Twitter/X, come to think of it. > [@Ulfreida](#): > > We gots all the brains needed. State of the world argues otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2024, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animals-that-might-be-candidates-for-full-domestication-and-why/996508/76 "2024-01-23T18:11:52Z")
You just had to go there. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2024, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animals-that-might-be-candidates-for-full-domestication-and-why/996508/77 "2024-01-23T18:58:39Z")
> [@Deanna\_D](#): > > Squirrels, because they’re adorable! Plus, they seem very motivated by food, so they’re probably easy to bribe into doing stuff. My friend used to feed peanuts to the squirrels in his yard. He demonstrated this one beautiful summer day I came over. It was all cute and Disneyesque until he said “ok, I think that’s enough for today, guys”. As he rolled the bag of peanuts closed, about a dozen squirrels started advancing on us menacingly, as we slowly backed up toward the house. He reopened the bag and threw a couple more peanuts out in an attempt to appease them, and they viciously fought each other for the remaining few peanuts, squealing and snarling at each other. We took took the opportunity of that diversion to escape into the house. Not that same day, but maybe a few days later that summer, he told me a squirrel broke through the screen of their kitchen window, presumably looking for more peanuts. Adorable? Ha. Not when they turn on you. ---
**Author:** ![Deanna\_D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e495f1/32.png) [@Deanna\_D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deanna_D)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2024, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animals-that-might-be-candidates-for-full-domestication-and-why/996508/78 "2024-01-23T19:03:26Z")
Am I the only one who likes squirrels here?? Should I just pick another type of cute critter? Raccoons, maybe? ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2024, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animals-that-might-be-candidates-for-full-domestication-and-why/996508/79 "2024-01-23T19:07:12Z")
I love squirrels. We have squirrel feeders and our property is a release point for squirrels rehabbed by a wildlife center That said, feeding them from your hand is nuts. Everyone I’ve ever known who had a squirrel that would take peanuts from their hand has eventually been bitten. Raccoons? Big nope due to rabies virus. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2024, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animals-that-might-be-candidates-for-full-domestication-and-why/996508/80 "2024-01-23T19:26:11Z")
Squirrel are jerks. Fickle and evil. They go around looking all cute and chittering so sweet. Then you go on your deck to sit and step on pecan shells they’ve placed right where you’ll step barefoot. Worse than the Lego on the rug at midnight, I tell you what. They befriend you and run up and down the deck rail entertaining your dogs. While the multitude of the family raid your bird feeders. Chew up your flower pots. Dig up your tulip bulbs. Take one bite outta 20 peaches hanging from the tree. Get in your garage and tear up everything and eat all the cat food. And the insulation in the ceiling is their maternity ward. Run up and down log walls. Well, I’ve actually not found this harms much unless you look out your upstairs window and they’re little peeping toms. Disconcerting. I still love them. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animals-that-might-be-candidates-for-full-domestication-and-why/996508.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/animals-that-might-be-candidates-for-full-domestication-and-why/996508.md?page=5)