What are the common characteristics and habits of raccoon dogs?

Raising special economic animals, especially special fur animals, is highly profitable. However, the domestication and breeding time of special fur animals is relatively short; they not only retain strong wildness but also keep many wild habits. Those engaged in special animal breeding must fully understand the characteristics and habits of these animals so as to carry out targeted feeding and management.

The raccoon dog resembles a fox in appearance, but has a small body, short legs, and long, fluffy fur. With the Yangtze River as the boundary, it is divided into two varieties, the southern raccoon dog and the northern raccoon dog, and by specific place of origin it is further divided into 7 subspecies: the Ussuri raccoon dog, Amur raccoon dog, Korean raccoon dog, Jiangxi raccoon dog, Fujian-Guangdong raccoon dog, Hubei raccoon dog, and Yunnan raccoon dog.

The raccoon dog is a highly adaptable omnivorous animal and can feed on various slaughterhouse offal, various miscellaneous fish, various grains, and vegetables.

Raccoon dogs reach sexual maturity at 8 to 10 months of age. The breeding season is from mid-February to mid-April each year, with the peak estrus period from late February to early March, but they come into estrus only once a year. The gestation period is 54 to 65 days, with an average litter of 6 to 8 pups. To increase the whelping rate, 3 repeated matings should be carried out.

Raccoon dogs molt once a year; they begin molting their underfur in spring, finish molting by mid-November, and their fur matures in late November.