'kay. Domestic = final pinicle of development? Then I fear dogs aren't, nor are cats. Neither are the rabbits my freind breeds. Nor the mice. You see, all of these animals, we are still adjusting behaviors, looks, strengths and weaknesses. For example, was the dog domestic when it was finnally able to fetch for us? Or herd? Or what exactly? My significant other, for example, used to breed ferrets for small, agile traits. He felt this made them better, and desired intellegence in his animals. Another local breeder prefered large, rolly ferrets that were cuddly and not as smart. Niether of these would wait until they bred the 'perfect' ferret and then stop. The only way you can get a pinicle animal, the perfect of it's kind , is to only have one. And now of course we relise trying to get uniformity also causes problems, which is why all these dog breeds are now being bred out by people concerned with genetic problems. Well, here's a defenition that I hope helps: Domestic animal Animals selectively bred for temperament or other traits, either as pets, guardian animals, wool production, egg or meat production, fur production, entertainment or public/private educational animal collections. USDA defines a domestic animal as any animal bred for more then 3 generations in captivity. American Humane Society - Any animal that is for the companionship and well being of mankind is domestic. I'd say ferrets fit in all these definitions. Pets, bred for temperment and often colour, which have most certainly been bred for more than three generations in captivity, unless anyone here has been smuggling polecats into their breeding stock again. Ferrets are definatly for the companionship of humans, as well as the well being, as many people on this list will profess. So let's stop arguing. Mel [Posted in FML issue 2577]