# Common pets 100 years from now

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-pets-100-years-from-now/740175>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [December 11, 2015, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-pets-100-years-from-now/740175 "2015-12-11T16:52:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\
**Post date:** [December 12, 2015, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-pets-100-years-from-now/740175/21 "2015-12-12T06:03:04Z")

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> [@Gatopescado](#):
>
> Wallabies! Get yours \*NOW \*and beat the rush!

Can domesticated Tasmanian Devils be far behind?

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**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\
**Post date:** [December 12, 2015, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-pets-100-years-from-now/740175/22 "2015-12-12T06:34:45Z")

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> [@thelurkinghorror](#):
>
> Miniature Giant Space Hamster.

Good gawd, I miss Spelljammer…

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**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\
**Post date:** [December 12, 2015, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-pets-100-years-from-now/740175/23 "2015-12-12T14:13:04Z")

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Sheep, goats, and miniature horses.

They can mow your lawn.

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**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\
**Post date:** [December 12, 2015, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-pets-100-years-from-now/740175/24 "2015-12-12T15:06:23Z")

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> [@drewder](#):
>
> If animal activists get their way all the cats and dogs will be spayed and neutered so they won’t survive the next 100 years.

If you really think dogs and cats can’t out-fuck ASPCA and the Human Society, I will take that bet in a heartbeat.

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**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\
**Post date:** [December 13, 2015, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-pets-100-years-from-now/740175/25 "2015-12-13T21:23:06Z")

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Now, back to reality…

Human population will be forced into smaller and smaller spaces - the American back yard is a luxury. As population increases, humans will be in high-rise boxes.  
This will result in small pets. And those pets will need to stay indoors 7/24.

The Great Dane, St. Bernard, Irish Wolfhound, et. al. are going to be as common as the Clydesdale horse.  
Attempts to ‘miniaturize’ various breeds will result in inbred morons.

The Siberian domesticated fox is the result of 60 years of professional geneticist breeding. I suspect the breed is still too fragile to allow random mating.

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**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\
**Post date:** [December 13, 2015, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-pets-100-years-from-now/740175/26 "2015-12-13T21:40:21Z")

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> [@usedtobe](#):
>
> … will result in inbred morons…

You’re describing most of my neighbors. 😛

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**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\
**Post date:** [December 13, 2015, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-pets-100-years-from-now/740175/27 "2015-12-13T22:55:19Z")

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Well, at least those in-bred miniaturized moronic neighbors will fit in smaller and smaller boxes, as intended.

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**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\
**Post date:** [December 14, 2015, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-pets-100-years-from-now/740175/28 "2015-12-14T01:11:13Z")

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Although sometimes certain small breeds make terrible apartment dogs, while some big dogs are lazy.

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**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\
**Post date:** [December 14, 2015, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-pets-100-years-from-now/740175/29 "2015-12-14T01:13:07Z")

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I’m thinking … some kind of fungus or mold.

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**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\
**Post date:** [December 14, 2015, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-pets-100-years-from-now/740175/30 "2015-12-14T01:25:53Z")

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Has anyone mentioned AI android pets yet?

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**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\
**Post date:** [December 14, 2015, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-pets-100-years-from-now/740175/31 "2015-12-14T01:47:25Z")

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Posts 7 & 8.

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**Author:** ![Enola\_Gay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3ab097/32.png) [@Enola\_Gay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Gay)\
**Post date:** [December 14, 2015, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-pets-100-years-from-now/740175/32 "2015-12-14T02:08:48Z")

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Chinchillas. They’re low maintenance, hypoallergenic and can’t get fleas.

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**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\
**Post date:** [December 14, 2015, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-pets-100-years-from-now/740175/33 "2015-12-14T02:09:34Z")

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> [@Boyo\_Jim](#):
>
> Posts 7 & 8.

Thanks! Missed those.

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**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\
**Post date:** [December 14, 2015, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-pets-100-years-from-now/740175/34 "2015-12-14T02:11:26Z")

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> [@Boyo\_Jim](#):
>
> I’m thinking … some kind of fungus or mold.

Google “slime mold maze.” Not really a fungal mold, though.

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**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\
**Post date:** [December 14, 2015, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-pets-100-years-from-now/740175/35 "2015-12-14T02:20:08Z")

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> [@usedtobe](#):
>
> Now, back to reality…
> 
> Human population will be forced into smaller and smaller spaces - the American back yard is a luxury. As population increases, humans will be in high-rise boxes.  
> This will result in small pets. And those pets will need to stay indoors 7/24.
> 
> The Great Dane, St. Bernard, Irish Wolfhound, et. al. are going to be as common as the Clydesdale horse.  
> Attempts to ‘miniaturize’ various breeds will result in inbred morons.
> 
> The Siberian domesticated fox is the result of 60 years of professional geneticist breeding. I suspect the breed is still too fragile to allow random mating.

I hate overpopulation as much as anyone but the U.S. is in no danger of running out of space even at 2x the current population. Have you ever really driven across it or looked at the American landscape? Outside of parts of the Mid-Atlantic and West Coast, it is wide open with no danger of overcrowding. Every American could have many acres of personal land if they wanted. Raw land area is not an issue in the U.S. or Canada.

The real answer to this question is that the pets will be largely the same as they are today just as they were 100 years ago. There might be some new variations on dogs but they won’t be that significant. I got my daughters a Golden-Doodle (half Golden Retriever, half Poodle) recently but the source stock comes from very well known breeds. My house pet is an awesome male Chinchilla who is sweet as can be and will live longer than all dogs and most cats at 20 years+.

I am not sure I completely understand the question because the range of pets that some people have is quite varied. I have had a pet alligator, raccoon, rabbits, armadillo, various large snakes, hamsters, gerbils. fancy chickens, ducks, geese, frogs, a mourning dove, a very large iguana, cows, horses, donkeys and much more. My father also had pet monkeys and two pet Timber Wolves.

I have been eyeing some of those domestic foxes and new breeds of exotic cats myself but I think I am more of a window shopper on those.

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**Author:** ![John\_Bredin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@John\_Bredin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Bredin)\
**Post date:** [December 14, 2015, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-pets-100-years-from-now/740175/36 "2015-12-14T16:23:35Z")

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> [@usedtobe](#):
>
> Now, back to reality…
> 
> Human population will be forced into smaller and smaller spaces - the American back yard is a luxury. As population increases, humans will be in high-rise boxes.  
> This will result in small pets. And those pets will need to stay indoors 7/24.
> 
> The Great Dane, St. Bernard, Irish Wolfhound, et. al. are going to be as common as the Clydesdale horse.

I don’t own a dog and I live in a no-pets building, but I can assure you from living in Chicago that dogs are **not** inside 24/7 and plenty of people in high-rises have large dogs. Very … large … dogs. Yes, a backyard is a luxury in certain neighborhoods, but cities have these common yard-like things called “parks” :rolleyes: and in particular dog parks. [Chicago’s public dog parks.](http://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/facilities/dog-friendly-areas/)

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**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\
**Post date:** [December 14, 2015, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-pets-100-years-from-now/740175/37 "2015-12-14T19:27:16Z")

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That’s nice.

Now, go check out large cities in Asia - Hong Kong, Singapore, Beijing, et al.  
100 years from now, that is going to be what Chicago looks like.

Yes, you COULD have 10 acres all to yourself - in the middle of nowhere. A really big TV is not the same as real people. You may be able to telecommute, but telesocialize and telemate are not going to be real popular.

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**Author:** ![drewder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@drewder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewder)\
**Post date:** [December 14, 2015, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-pets-100-years-from-now/740175/38 "2015-12-14T19:43:07Z")

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> [@usedtobe](#):
>
> That’s nice.
> 
> Now, go check out large cities in Asia - Hong Kong, Singapore, Beijing, et al.  
> 100 years from now, that is going to be what Chicago looks like.
> 
> Yes, you COULD have 10 acres all to yourself - in the middle of nowhere. A really big TV is not the same as real people. You may be able to telecommute, but telesocialize and telemate are not going to be real popular.

You seem to imply that people with big yards don’t get to see people. I have had more friends and good neighbors since moving to rural Idaho than I had in all the big cities I’ve ever lived in combined.

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**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\
**Post date:** [December 14, 2015, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-pets-100-years-from-now/740175/39 "2015-12-14T19:49:58Z")

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> [@usedtobe](#):
>
> Now, go check out large cities in Asia - Hong Kong, Singapore, Beijing, et al.  
> 100 years from now, that is going to be what Chicago looks like.

Why? If current economic trends continue in the same direction they’re going now, it’s more likely that in a hundred years the large cities of Asia will look like Chicago.

At a certain level of development, people stop trying to just make more money and decide to begin enjoying the amenities that they can now afford.

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**Author:** ![Arrendajo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Arrendajo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arrendajo)\
**Post date:** [December 15, 2015, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/common-pets-100-years-from-now/740175/40 "2015-12-15T03:32:22Z")

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> [@Enola\_Gay](#):
>
> Chinchillas. They’re low maintenance, hypoallergenic and can’t get fleas.

Does anyone remember a home business chinchilla raising fad, maybe from the late 1950’s or early 60’s? It seems like they were raised for fur, not pets. Or food.

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