Why haven't we tamed foxes?

In Minecraft, players have the ability to tame many animals, but foxes have not been given the "sit" or "command" mechanics that some other tamed animals like wolves and cats have. Here's an exploration of why foxes haven't been fully tamed in the same way:

1. Foxes Are Designed to Be Skittish and Independent

• Foxes in Minecraft are designed to be skittish, meaning they naturally avoid the player unless they are approached cautiously (by sneaking).
• This reflects the real-life behavior of foxes, which are generally independent animals. In the game, this skittishness means that players have to work harder to tame them, requiring a bit more effort than just using a bone or fish to tame them.

2. Foxes Have a Unique Taming Mechanic

• Unlike wolves or cats, foxes are not as simple to tame. You need to feed them sweet berries while sneaking to avoid scaring them.
• Once tamed, they will follow the player but won't sit. This is likely intentional, as it makes them more unique and not just another companion with standard sitting behavior.

3. Foxes’ Natural Behavior is Different

• Unlike wolves, foxes do not have the same pack mentality, which is a key part of their behavior in the real world and in Minecraft. Wolves are social animals that can be trained and made to sit, while foxes are more solitary and do not require the same level of interaction.
• In Minecraft, this is reflected by the fact that foxes do not have the sit command, which is primarily intended for animals that are more willing to be trained or command-following.

4. Foxes’ Item Pickup Feature

• While they don't sit, foxes can pick up and carry items such as food or totems of undying. This is a unique feature that makes them more interactive in different ways compared to other tamed animals.
• The fact that they can pick up and carry items adds a layer of complexity to their behavior, but it also makes them more independent, aligning with their real-life counterparts.

5. Game Balance and Design Choices

• It's possible that the developers at Mojang chose not to allow foxes to sit in order to maintain balance and provide variety in the way different mobs behave in the game.
• Foxes are meant to be more elusive and less predictable than wolves, and giving them the ability to sit or follow commands might take away from this aspect of their design.

Conclusion

Foxes haven’t been fully “tamed” in Minecraft in the traditional sense because of their skittish and independent nature, both in real life and as designed in the game. While they can follow players and pick up items, they don’t sit or perform other actions like other tamed animals. This makes them more unique in terms of gameplay mechanics and aligns with their real-world behavior.