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How to Tame a Fox (and Build a Dog)

Visionary Scientists and a Siberian Tale of Jump-Started Evolution

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How to Tame a Fox (and Build a Dog)

By: Lyudmila Trut, Lee Alan Dugatkin
Narrated by: Joe Hempel
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About this listen

Tucked away in Siberia, there are furry, four-legged creatures with wagging tails and floppy ears that are as docile and friendly as any lapdog. But, despite appearances, these are not dogs - they are foxes. They are the result of the most astonishing experiment in breeding ever undertaken - imagine speeding up thousands of years of evolution into a few decades. In 1959, biologists Dmitri Belyaev and Lyudmila Trut set out to do just that, by starting with a few dozen silver foxes from fox farms in the USSR and attempting to recreate the evolution of wolves into dogs in real time in order to witness the process of domestication.

Most accounts of the natural evolution of wolves place it over a span of about 15,000 years, but within a decade, Belyaev and Trut's fox breeding experiments had resulted in puppy-like foxes with floppy ears, piebald spots, and curly tails. Along with these physical changes came genetic and behavioral changes, as well. The foxes were bred using selection criteria for tameness, and with each generation, they became increasingly interested in human companionship. Trut has been the lead scientist on this work since Belyaev's death in 1985, and with Lee Dugatkin, biologist and science writer, she tells the story of the adventure, science, politics, and love behind it all.

©2017 Lee Alan Dugatkin and Lyudmila Trut (P)2017 Tantor
Animals Evolution History Russia Genetics Wolf Dogs Dog Evolution
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Critic reviews

"The science is profound, but the authors write accessibly and engagingly - and their vulpine subjects are awfully cute, too. Of compelling interest to any animal lover and especially to devotees of canids of all kinds." ( Kirkus

What listeners say about How to Tame a Fox (and Build a Dog)

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the single best book I have read in a while

I might be biased because I love evolution and I love dogs. The story, pace and content of this book is delightful. I finished listening to the audiobook in a day!

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Great book

Listened twice. Great book. Fascinating subject matter. Well read and great account of the experiment. Would recommend

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very interesting

An interesting topic if a little dry in places. it is interspersed with enough anecdotal stories of the experiments that it doesn't get so wordy that it is boring. Definitely worth a read/listen

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Fantastic narration and intriguing story

The narrator of this audiobook is first class, he really added to an already fascinating story.
The story itself is absolutely fascinating and even more interesting if you are into foxes as I am.
At times, I felt the book was a little padded but it never took away from the overall story.
A must listen (or read)!

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This makes me want to get a Fox

I never thought an audiobook on animal genetics would make me so emotional,truly amazing

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Great Insight Into Genetics & Evolution

I thoroughly enjoyed this Audiobook. I am a professional dog trainer and this gave a great insight in not only fox evolution and genetics but also how it relates to all species. Its an excellent example of how researcher and science can yeild fascinating results. A must read for any animal lover or professional.

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Very captivating science and drama

It's not just about the foxes, it's about a history of a lot of things. Foxes. Domestication. Biology. The cold War.

Very captivating and I learnt a lot.

Only complaint is that at times they're a bit too complimentary of people, which sounds a bit propaganday

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even if you don't think its for you you'll like it

great story and the science is very fascinating but it doesn't go too deep into it so any layman can understand it

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