Fox vs Dog: Can A Fox Outrun A Dog?

Fox hunting is not a fair game. The dogs have humans on their side, and even the largest fox is one against a pack! In the debate of Fox vs Dog, it is no question about who often wins. It is a question of if the dog can catch the fox!

Do dogs have a one-on-one advantage against the fox? Or does the fox’s famed wiliness tip the scales? Its brains against brawn, and winning will depend on whether the fox gets away!

The Key Factors In Determining If A Fox Can Outrun A Dog

The key factors in determining if a fox can outrun a dog are physical advantages, intelligence, and behavior.

Let’s discuss these factors in detail below!

Fox vs Dog: Physical Advantages

To even the odds, we look at characteristics found in all dog breeds and all species of fox. For example, the red fox has a significant size advantage over a Chihuahua! Therefore, we will surmise that both creatures are comparable in size and weight.

Physical Advantages That Apply To Dogs

Dogs have the advantage of having more muscular bodies than foxes. While both are canines, dogs have superior bite strength. Stronger jaws, more muscle, and high endurance give dogs the advantage one-on-one.

Dogs also have an acute and advanced sense of smell. This factors into the hunting breeds and their ability to track down prey with ease. To avoid losing this dangerous race, the fox must have equally keen senses.

Physical Advantages That Apply To Foxes

What foxes may lack in raw strength, they make up in speed and agility. Some can run up to thirty miles an hour. Winning for foxes is getting away, and they are masters at evading predators.

Foxes have advanced senses, with acute hearing and vision, particularly in the dark. While dogs track foxes through scent, foxes can predict movement through sound. Their vision is motion-based, with vertical pupils like felines, and they can spot a dog in pursuit long distance.

Fox vs Dog: Intelligence And Behavior

In this battle of the species, the fox’s speed and agility appear to match the dog’s strength and endurance. The dog’s keen sense of smell might not suffice when pitted against superior sight and hearing. We still do not have a clear picture, but the key might lie in the intelligence and behavior of each species. Legends and fables have praised the fox’s cunning, but dogs have social intelligence and can work as a team.

Whether the dog will capture the fox depends on more than just physical traits. Does it boil down to the intelligence and behavior of each species? Are foxes smarter than dogs, or will the dog’s social skills win?

Dogs Are Intelligent, But Reliant On Humans

Dogs of all breeds are smart, and hunting breeds are intelligent creatures. The smallest dog in the hunting classification is still an accomplished tracker. Dogs are also social and comfortable hunting in packs. While this may seem unfair, the natural behaviors of each animal must be considered.

We also must take the dog species’ reliance on humans into account as well. Most dogs are domesticated and look for human guidance. While wild and feral dogs are prevalent in many areas, most take their commands from humans. Without relying on a specific breed, it is reasonable to consider this a hindrance. The dog will abandon a chase on human command.

Foxes Are Cunning, But Lack Backup

Foxes are intelligent, cunning, and not dependent on humans. They have a well-established ability to evade predators like dogs. Most species of fox have several dens within their habitats to store food or seek shelter. They are excellent at adapting to terrain and skilled at predicting the direction of prey and predators.

Provided that a fox has a decent lead, evading dogs is often a simple matter. Foxes are even known to tease dogs near human dwellings. They will run across fences, leap over walls, and seem to vanish.

However, due to their solitary nature, against multiple dogs, the odds are stacked in the dogs’ favor.

Dogs vs Foxes: The Deciding Factor

The deciding factor comes down to strength and endurance versus agility and speed. If the fox has a good lead against a solitary dog, the fox will always escape. However, the dog has a natural advantage in a pack.

Thankfully, without human interference, dogs and foxes seldom come into close conflict. Foxes avoid dogs in the same way they do coyotes and wolves. Foxes are nocturnal and prefer to hunt when diurnal predators like dogs are inactive.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © iStock.com/Svetlana Belkina