Raccoon dog (Ussuri): photo of the animal, description of the species, where it lives and what it eats, interesting facts

More and more people are turning into pets as exotic animals, wild animals that have been found only in nature for many years. And among the popular species, one of the first places is a raccoon dog. The outlandish animal attracts with its beautiful view, it looks like a raccoon, resembles a fur ball on short legs. We will talk about this animal in detail in our publication.

Description of the raccoon dog

• The animal is a medium sized dog. Its length is from 60 to 85 cm, not considering the tail. The latter reaches no more than a quarter meter.
• The weight of the animal does not exceed 10 pounds.
• Such a dog looks larger than it actually is, due to the voluminous coat. Its length, on average, is 12 cm, rigid. The undercoat is plentiful, soft, thanks to it, the fur rises upward, and the dog looks tousled, shaggy, fluffy.
• In color, the Ussuri fox (another name for the animal) resembles a striped raccoon. There is a “bandit” mask on the muzzle, and a black strip, which is narrow at the tail, and expands to the head, “crawls” along the back.
• The fur is light or dark brown, on the tummy is lighter, and can reach dirty white.

There is a very rare color of the Ussuri raccoon - completely white. Such a beast resembles a polar wolf. The albino animal is the result of selection, and it can not be found in nature.

• The head of the animal is small, the muzzle is narrow, and the ears are neat, upright (always black, white only in the albino).
• The legs are short, completely covered with wool, not as long as the body, but thick.
• By winter, the animal brightens in several tones, and therefore the black muzzle and strip on the back appear more clearly.

An animal mammal belongs to the canine family. Some believe that it is predatory, but they are mistaken. Ussuri fox is omnivorous, can absorb food of both animal and plant origin. We learn about the lifestyle, habits, character and nutrition in the further contents, and the proposed short description of the dog will allow you to imagine how it looks.

Canine family habitat

A raccoon dog lives mainly in forests near rivers and swamps. For living, the animal chooses burrows and gorges in the rocks. Raccoon is extremely rarely involved in housing construction when there is simply no choice. He evicts the rightful owners from burrows and small caves, settles down there with his family.

Today, the animal is found in many regions and countries, but its initial habitat was in the mountains of Indochina, Korea, China, Japan and Primorye. On the territory of our country, the animal lived only in the Amur Region and the Ussuri Territory.

In the middle of the last century, work was carried out in the USSR to enrich hunting grounds with animals, and Ussuri foxes were brought into the regions. From the Asian side the dogs could not take root, but they really liked the European side. Animals began to breed actively, and soon settled in the forests of Finland, Sweden, Estonia, Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, Latvia, France, Romania and Latvia.

Character and lifestyle

Despite the awkward appearance, this dog is quite nimble and agile, but lazy! She knows how to climb trees, swim long distances for fish. Playful, kind, cowardly, she gets along well with people and children, but reluctantly gets along with other pets. Like a real dog, it can drive cats, treats other dogs leniently.

If you decide to take a puppy of the Ussuri fox, then it will become a good "bell", will be yapping and squealing, protecting the house from strangers!

In nature, the dog leads a quiet and measured lifestyle. She prefers to stay in the house during the day, and after dark she goes to get food. In the winter months hibernates. In search of food, the fox travels up to 10 kilometers, and the lack of light does not bother her - excellent vision and sense of smell allow them to make their way into the wilds, and they will lead them back home without error.

Raccoon dogs settle in pairs, choosing a permanent life partner in October and November. “Weddings” take place from February to April, and with the advent of offspring the animal changes, it becomes even aggressive, can bite anyone who tries to encroach on puppies.

The nature of the raccoon dog is simple, it lends itself to training simple teams, but it’s worthwhile to understand that this is not a domestic dog in our understanding, and he will not bring slippers to the owner. A devotee, treats a person as a parent, and, frightened, will cling to his feet, squeak, asking for protection.

What do dogs eat?

In the natural habitat, the diet of the animal is diverse. A raccoon dog eats everything that comes in its way: birds, small animals, frogs, reptiles, insects, fish, roots, berries, even dead animals. Since the fox can settle near human settlements, it does not disdain food waste.

When keeping the beast at home, you need to try to bring the diet closer to a full-fledged natural. It will be necessary to feed the pet with meat, fish, vegetables and fruits, cereals. Proper nutrition will guarantee the health of the animal, its strong teeth and shiny coat.

The menu is as follows:

• 40% of the daily norm - protein foods: meat, poultry, eggs;
• 20% - fruits and vegetables;
• 20% - cereal cereals.

You can give food to the dog both boiled and raw.

It is important to understand that ready meals from a person’s table are poison for an animal.He must not be salty, fried, sweet, sour!

An alternative feeding option will be the medium-sized dog food purchased at the pet store. Choose premium products so that the meat base is at least 40% of the total.

Population and breeding

Raccoon dog due to human intervention was common in many countries. The animal multiplies rapidly, and its population in many regions has become so large that artificial reduction is performed. Hunting for this animal is allowed, it is not under threat of destruction.

A raccoon bears offspring, on average, 2 months, all this time the future dad is caring for his wife, offering the tidbits. From one litter appears from 6 to 16 puppies, and the number depends on the size of the mother. Both parents take care of the young. They bring food to the children, teach everything that they themselves know: the search for food, hunting, fishing, excavating roots.

Until the fall, babies manage to turn into animals the size of an adult, and they mature at the age of 8 - 10 months. Next, new couples begin to line up, they start their house, leaving their parents.

In the natural environment, the animal does not live long, only 3 - 5 years. With proper maintenance and care in a person’s house, an animal can live up to 12 years or more.

The value of raccoon fur

It is very easy to hunt a raccoon fox, because it is almost not afraid of people and allows you to approach yourself at a distance of a shot. Therefore, many hunters let the animal go, let it go. They hunt these animals with dogs, they easily drive a fox. In turn, the raccoon dog begins to pretend to be dead, which confuses the hunting dogs, they leave, and the animal "comes to life" and hides.

The fur of the Ussuri fox is valued for its lightness, warmth and beauty. The coat is tough, but with proper processing it becomes soft, endowed with water-repellent properties. The fur's habitat affects the value of the fur. The most popular is the one that was obtained from a raccoon dog from Japan and Russia. Korean and Chinese foxes are not so fluffy, the remaining hairs are coarser, so this fur is not in demand.

Combing your pet, you can get a lot of wool, it is very similar to a goat. Many raccoon dog owners knit warm socks, scarves, hats and sweaters!

The meat of the animal is not suitable for food, it is tough and tasteless.

Features of keeping at home

If you live in an apartment and want to make yourself an Ussuri fox, think about it well. The animal needs a lot of space, it will take a lot and a long walk.

Most of all, a private house is suitable for keeping a raccoon dog. He loves to live in the open air, he needs to make a spacious aviary, a kennel must be installed in it - there the animal will feel safe, like in a hole.

Many people sterilize animals, because this is the only way to get rid of fetid marks. Castration of dogs should be done at an early age - up to 10 months.

• The Ussuri raccoon does not tolerate heat, its place of residence should be ventilated and dark. If you keep the beast in the apartment, take care of installing the air conditioner, because overheating can cause the death of the pet.
• The hair of the animal is thick, it needs to be combed out stably, maintaining the beauty and well-groomed appearance. Despite the fact that the animal is not a raccoon, it loves water procedures, and it needs to be allowed to swim in the river, pond or in the pool from time to time.
• In nature, a raccoon dog sleeps during the day, and begins an active life from evening to morning. When living with a person, the animal is rebuilt at a convenient time for him. As for hibernation, the fox will simply become less active at home in the winter, it will require more time to sleep and rest.

To tame a wild beast is obtained by a few.It is best to purchase a puppy from a breeder who has domesticated pairs. Toddlers are still very small taken away from their parents, and fed artificially, because if they are raised by animals, they may not recognize the owners in people and behave aggressively.

Unlike simple dogs, the raccoon is simply and easily accustomed to the tray. It lends itself to upbringing, behaves in a manner appropriate for a pet, but only the simplest ones can learn from teams.

The animal needs to be trained on time, before it reaches 6 months. It is difficult to adult to teach something, to educate.

The disease is not terrible for the Ussuri fox, it is distinguished by good health and immunity. Recommended to be vaccinated against plague, rabies.

When choosing a puppy, pay attention to his behavior, there should not be aggression in him. Look at the neatness in the aviary, at the nature of the parents, because the offspring adopt at the genetic level the habits of their ancestors. You need to buy a pet at the age of 2 months - this is the most optimal period: the dog already eats on his own, easily gets used to the new situation and has a lot of time to educate.

Differences raccoon dog from raccoon

Despite the resemblance, raccoon and Ussuri fox are completely different animals.

The differences between a raccoon dog and a raccoon are as follows:

• The Ussuri fox, in contrast to the beast resembling it, settles near swamps and rivers, its burrows are in the ground, in extreme cases it will live in crevices and ravines. A raccoon likes to live in the forest at the edges, in the hollows of trees, on the rocks.
• A raccoon dog can swim far while fishing, and a raccoon is engaged in fishing from the shore, or does not go deep into the water.
• Raccoons are afraid of people, prefer to settle away from villages and cities. The described beast can safely dig a hole even in your garden.
• A raccoon dog is more awkward than a raccoon looking like her.
• The Ussuri fox has a richer fur coat, its fur is longer and thicker.

Here is such an interesting animal - neither a raccoon, nor a dog, even though it is similar to both!

Interesting facts about the animal

If you want to get a raccoon dog in your house, then first read the interesting facts about the beast.

They are not only entertaining, but also help to understand the new pet:

• The Ussuri fox is difficult to tolerate loneliness, she needs a couple. Therefore, the animal is recommended to be sterilized if you get one individual.
• Dog offspring are raised together - a couple. If for some reason the female is left alone with the cubs, then, most likely, the litter will not survive.
• These are the only representatives of the canine family, hibernating in the winter. But their dream is sensitive, and the first thaw is interrupted.
• If the animal is in danger, it will not run away, but pretend to be dead.
• In Japan, such a dog is a symbol of prosperity, happiness.
• The main carrier of rabies is not a fox at all, but a raccoon dog.

The Ussuri raccoon is a beautiful and interesting animal. He will become an excellent pet, friend, but not a toy! Remember that this is a wild beast that requires love and care, children should handle it carefully. Do not demand from a raccoon dog what ordinary dogs easily do. If you need an animal that brings slippers, runs after a stick, implicitly executes commands, then get a simple dog.