Detailed Explanation of the Four Major Characteristics of the Raccoon Dog's Living Habits

(1) Social grouping: Wild

raccoon dogs usually live in pairs in dens, with 1 male and 1 female per den, though there are also cases of 1 male with multiple females or 1 female with multiple males. The parents and pups of neighboring dens usually play and frolic together, and mother raccoon dogs sometimes even nurse each other's young indiscriminately. Under domestic rearing conditions, this characteristic can be utilized by grouping weaned pups into groups of 10~20 and raising them together in pens.

(2) Crepuscular and nocturnal

This characteristic is very pronounced in wild raccoon dogs; they sleep in their dens during the day and come out around dusk and dawn to move about and forage. Domesticated raccoon dogs can be active throughout the day, basically having changed the crepuscular and nocturnal habit. Domesticated raccoon dogs have a relatively small range of activity, mostly pacing back and forth in a straight line within their cages, and are dull-tempered and docile. When people approach, they show signs of wariness and timidity.

(3) Defecating at fixed locations

Whether wild or domesticated, the vast majority of raccoon dogs excrete their feces at fixed locations. Wild raccoon dogs mostly defecate near the entrance of their dens, which accumulates into piles over time. Domesticated raccoon dogs mostly defecate in a certain corner of their cage or pen. A very small number urinate and defecate in food bowls, water bowls, or nest boxes. Once such raccoon dogs are discovered, measures must be taken promptly, otherwise once the habit is formed, it will be difficult to break.

(4) Winter rest: In the wild

Under living conditions, in order to escape the severe cold of winter and endure the extreme scarcity of food, they often dwell deep in their dens, with their metabolic rate lowered, consuming the subcutaneous fat accumulated since autumn to maintain their lower level of vital activity, forming a non-continuous hibernation characterized by reduced eating, decreased activity, and a state of lethargy, which is why it is called semi-hibernation or winter rest. Under domestic rearing conditions, due to human disturbance and sufficient feed, hibernation is not very pronounced, but most have reduced activity and decreased appetite. When domesticated raccoon dogs overwinter in Northeast China, feeding can be reduced from twice daily in other seasons to once daily or once every 2~3 days.