Sometimes there is no news. Sometimes we have to tell you about dog sweaters. Today we will tell you about the Raccoon Dog.
The Raccoon Dog is a member of the canid family but is not a true dog. It is called a raccoon dog because it bears a superficial resemblance to a raccoon. It is a basal genus of Canidae, meaning it branched off into it's own adorable subgroup earlier than others. It is believed that the Racoon Dog family Nyctereutes has been evolutionarily distinct for seven to ten million years.
Like most dogs, the Raccoon Dog is omnivorous, but is unique in the range of different foods it will eat, which includes pretty much anything including berries, seeds, crabs and other marine life - another similarity to true raccoons... It also has curved claws that allow it to climb trees making it the only canid capable of climbing trees other than the Grey Fox (this is debatable if the film Man's Best Friend is to be believed...). It also is the only canid known to go into a torpor in the winter. Finally, it doesn't bark and rarely fights, preferring to hide, play dead or scream when alarmed... On a side note, that's all those engineers that invented the Robo Dog need is to give the thing a dog scream...
Raccoon Dogs can be found throughout much of Japan, Korea, China and Siberia. In Japan they have cultural significance and can be found in legend, art, song, and video games! For real, both Mario's "Tanooki Suit (tanuki in Japanese)" and "Raccoon Suit" in Mario Brothers 3 were often misunderstood by ignorant American 9 year olds like my brother to be a bear suit and raccoon suit respectively! Not true! It was Mario taking on the less than intimidating defensive tactics of the Raccoon Dog!
In the wild, Raccoon Dogs also symbiotically infect violent Italians, have a penchant for gold coins and fight boomerang wielding anthropomorphic turtles.
Comments
I don't mean to be rude, but you forgot to mention that in Japanese folklore, the tanuki has enormous testicles.
Posted by: Hypatia | March 25, 2008 12:19 PM
thats about the least cute thing you could share about this critter. it is appreciated though.
Posted by: Andrew | March 25, 2008 12:39 PM
I found evidence for what Hypatia said: http://www.kuniyoshiproject.com/raccoon%20Dogs%20(R209).htm
Posted by: pough | March 25, 2008 12:54 PM
Wow! Whoever you are you're very smart. ^-^ and I really liked that, it was good. Maybe my mom will let us get a Raccoon dog if I convice her it really is a dog. xD
Posted by: Emily Kate | July 20, 2008 7:57 PM
Racoon Dog
Posted by: Sheri LaGrave | October 24, 2008 8:39 PM
cool raccoon dogs!i would put more info in this website oh and by the way visit pprrdd.city max.com and leave a comment
Posted by: paris | November 6, 2008 3:19 PM
visit pprrdd.city max.com
Posted by: paris | November 6, 2008 3:21 PM
This is just weird...
Posted by: Colorado Springs American Bulldogs are cooler... | November 10, 2008 1:00 PM
Ah yes, for an excellent example of the tanuki (and their giant testicles as Hypatia mentioned...) watch the movie Pom Poko (by Studio Ghibli).
Posted by: Monica | November 17, 2008 6:32 PM
Plz visit, www.doggie.com. You'll like it if you like dogs or raccoons (but mostly dogs) Hey, If you have any questions about the website, email me @ Kayladogz@gmail.com. K? Thanks.
Posted by: Emma | November 29, 2008 7:33 PM
Sadly, these animals are brutally killed by heartless people in China. They are skinned alive for fur.
Posted by: Richie | February 2, 2009 4:02 AM
Don't forget to mention that in China these sweet faced harmless creatures are slammed on the ground and then skinned alive so they can sell their fur. Check out a video if you can stomach, it will be your worst nightmare. The savages that inhumanely slaughter these sweet creatures should also be skinned alive. Don't buy anything from China.......
Posted by: Regina | February 18, 2009 10:37 AM
This is there life:http://video.hsus.org/?fr_story=3cd5ce39ab3f5cbde85e1b4121b06731d31f305
Posted by: Regina | February 18, 2009 10:41 AM
Regina and Richie,
In fact, American companies are part of the Chinese fur trade too and are profiting from the deaths of raccoon dogs.
To see images of fur farm raccoon dogs from Google's partners in China, check out http://furisevil.org
Posted by: Duke the Antifur Dog | May 3, 2009 3:38 PM
where can you find and buy one in the United States, thank you
jan telman
616-322-4185
Posted by: Jan Telman | May 30, 2009 7:15 PM
A friend of mine posted on facebook the most horrifying video i ever seen about the cruelty of Raccoon dogs in China farms...A shame to human race of what they were doing to the poor animals for money...Raccoon's were being torture and killed with pleasure alive...It made me sick...I can't take it off my mind of what i saw...I can't call these people humans...sorry they can been anything but for sure they are not humans...I SAY NO TO FUR!!!!
Posted by: AJ | October 9, 2009 7:17 AM
i want one. its pretty. i like pretty things. do u ? i do yayyy my hair is pretty today
Posted by: pinky | December 9, 2009 9:33 AM
i think that this crisis is not that serious, im sorry about the poor raccoon dogs i mean they look cute and everything but you people do know that there are some more important issues in the world. i know the animals are not being treated as they should but you have to wonder are people caring so much for the simple fact that it has the word 'dog' in its name. its not at all that i believe in animal abuse, i majored in zoology and all but c'mon people this is not the only issue facing the states..oh wait its not in the states...
Posted by: emina | December 16, 2009 2:40 PM
I can't believe china would kill such a cute fluffy thing like the racoon dog. =/
Posted by: Carmen | January 28, 2010 4:44 PM
Aww, there so cute. I love raccoons! And i want a raccoon dog! CHINA IS SO STUPID FOR KILLING THEM! China is so selfish and emotionless. haha
Posted by: kitty | March 29, 2010 12:47 PM
Over 50 million animals are killed in China each year for supply to the fur trade. Most are kept in appalling conditions and then brutally killed, often they are skinned while still conscious. Culturally the Chinese do look upon animals the same way as people in the West. Animals are seen as a resource to be used. While there is much work to be done in China to change attitudes and find alternative work for those involved there would be no fur trade if there wasn't a demand for fur. This demand is coming from the fashion industry which is telling us that its now OK to wear fur. Well nothing has changed and its not OK. SAY NO TO FUR.
Posted by: Linda | April 7, 2010 9:07 AM
I have cried every day for a week after seeing the video "Skinned Alive"Those Poor Poor Animals....never knew such Evil existed .....Shame on You China!!!
Posted by: Joan | July 3, 2010 1:33 PM
The chinese are absolute sickos and i hate them for what they are doing on the chinese fur farms-these gorgious raccoon dogs are beaten and tortured and then skinned alive if there was a god out there he would not allow for this to happen, i only hope and pray these sick people who commit these dreadful crimes will go to hell and suffer for there disgusting acts on innocent animals it breaks my heart it really does i just dont know what else to say i just hope these people burn in hell for this.
Posted by: Natalie Le Neve | August 22, 2010 3:49 PM
Animals are seen as a resource to be used. While there is much work to be done in China to change attitudes and find alternative work for those involved there would be no fur trade if there wasn't a demand for fur
Posted by: dog eat dog | September 21, 2010 2:56 PM
Not all chinese people are horrible, only the few. Also, Chinese aren't the only race who do it, they are just an example.
Yes, it is horrible and unethical. Lots of people around the word kill horses too. Search up how it is done. They are killed while conscious too while being hung from the ceiling, and the humans then leave them there until their blood drips out and eat them.
Posted by: asianprincess | October 14, 2010 9:41 PM
Also, don't completely blame the Chinese fur-traders. They are horrible, sick people, but the fault also goes to the buyers of fur.
No demand, no need for supply.
Posted by: asianprincess | October 14, 2010 9:44 PM
Yeesh, guys... what about the cows that died for your sneakers? Or your wallet? Your cell phone case? How about the pigs that tried on your eye-shadow to make sure that it wouldn't blind you? Let's not be hypocrites, folks... The fur trade is a terrible thing, but how many of you bother to make sure your laundry detergents or cold/flu medications weren't tested on "OMGSOCUTE!!1!1" lab rabbits, mice, chimps, etc.? People do bad things to the (*gasp!*) not-so-cute/furry animals too. Do your homework before you demonize an entire culture for things that are also happening in your own back yard... or on your feet, for that matter.
Posted by: DocRed | October 19, 2010 2:39 AM
Yes I agree, these sadistic people should truly know what it feels like to be on the receiving end of the torture,they inflict on these poor animals----maybe one day they will wake up or maybe there will be a holodeck ,where they can get a virtual taste of the agony imposed .
Posted by: annie statton | January 6, 2011 10:59 PM
I don't mean to be rude, but you forgot to mention that in Japanese folklore, the tanuki has enormous testicles.
Posted by: poker oyna | January 7, 2011 6:00 AM
This demand is coming from the fashion industry which is telling us that its now OK to wear fur. Well nothing has changed and its not OK. SAY NO TO FUR.
Posted by: capsiplex | January 8, 2011 6:17 PM
'mister raccoon. mister raccoon. won't you talk to me somehow.'
POM POKO: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pom_Poko
a whole animated movie about raccoon dogs.
it's amazing.
and they use their 'pouches' for a great many things.
worth seeing.
hilarious.
Posted by: shoukichi | January 31, 2011 2:09 PM
Regina, you are right! ...they do skin them alive in China. It can be seen on the PETA.org site... it's horrible! I can't believe the Chinese are so barbaric! China will NEVER get my tourism dollars and I always try not to buy anything from China anymore. Who wears real fur anymore??? These Raccoon Dogs are suffering by the millions right now and I am confused as to why the author of this article would leave that out when they should be speaking out about how they are really treated in modern times!!! Please go watch the PETA.org video everyone, and you will see what kind of a life these dogs lead! Please, let's help save them, PLEASE!
VIDEO: http://www.peta.org/issues/animals-used-for-clothing/fur.aspx
Posted by: Kimberly | March 3, 2011 9:27 PM
Yes I agree, these sadistic people should truly know what it feels like to be on the receiving end of the torture,they inflict on these poor animals----maybe one day they will wake up or maybe there will be a holodeck ,where they can get a virtual taste of the agony imposed .
Posted by: v-boom | March 4, 2011 3:14 PM
I agree with asianprincess and DocRed and would like to comment further. It appears that most of the comments are made from assumptions and one video, yes one video, which in my opinion is staged, of the Chinese fellow beating a raccoon. Why I say this is staged is because it is the only video clip showing this kind of treatment on the whole internet. It is the same clip shown on all the so-called animal rights sites and is being flooged to death. Joe public see's the clip and then demonises the Chinese nation without first putting brain into gear. Animal rights groups, like peta do little for animals other than promote propaganda so that they can use well meaning donations for their own benefit and luxury lifestyles. I urge the readers to actually think about what they are being fed and not to jump to conclusions. If the treatment of skinning animals alive was common practice, there would be thousands of different videos showing this including giving the locations, dates etc.
Posted by: Truth | May 10, 2011 2:36 PM
I watched the video and that is the most heart wretching video I had ever watched I cry every time I even think of it. What I cant understand how these people who are taping it dont try to stop it.And the sickos that are, trust me will suffer in the end once they die.Maybe what they should do is these people who are buying these furs should witness what they are doing to them by tortering them and all as their doing it and see if their still interested in buying it if they have any ounce of humanity .all for vanity that what it is.
Posted by: Debbie | May 27, 2011 7:26 PM
I guess what really hurts about this at least for me is why for Gods sake are they keeping them alive when they do all this to them when if it has to happen (which I dont condone) to do it the humane way and kill them quick before having them suffer through it when you know they wont servive, but I already know the answer for that they must get their enjoyment out of doing it by keeping them alive as long as possible which is sick!I dont know how they live with themselves, I hope its a wake up call for these people who buy their fur and whatever else they torture I know it is for me not just for that, dont know how they get away with it.
Posted by: Debbie | May 28, 2011 5:49 PM