The Raccoon Dog

This is not a raccoon. This is not a raccoon. This isn't either. This is a dog. This is a raccoon. This is a raccoon and a dog. It is not a raccoon and a raccoon dog.
Now this. This is a raccoon dog and a raccoon. Feeling a little confused. Well, that's understandable. This is in fact a raccoon dog. While the raccoon dog looks remarkably like a raccoon, it is in fact a member of the canine family. The raccoon dog is native to Japan where they are called tanukis.
Tanukis can be found all over Europe but not in North America. Reason did can also be found in Russia and China. If you really want to see one, you will have to travel to Zoo Atlanta in Georgia which has two of them. In Europe there are plenty of them and they have sort of before a problem and are considered as an invasive species. Their numbers in China have dropped dramatically because of excessive hunting for their furs.
Raccoon dogs are omnivores and will eat just about anything. In the wild they feed on insects, rodents, amphibians, birds, fish and reptiles. But like their doppelgangers, the American raccoon, they have learned that human food is pretty delicious and often become a problem digging into dumpsters and trash cans in search of human leftovers.
Raccoon dog is closely related to the fox. You may not know it but a fox can climb a tree. As you can see here. A raccoon dog can do this also.
Raccoon dogs are very unique canines. They are the only dog-like mammal that hibernates through the winter. Raccoon dogs don't bark. They give of a kind of a howl. They also don't eat their tail and sleep most of they day.
Male raccoon dogs have a reputation of being good fathers and they keep their mate for life. They bring food to the pregnant females after birth. They are active partners in parenting their pups.
So you may be thinking, wouldn't it be great to get a raccoon dog as a pet. Well, you can't. At least not if you live in the United States. Raccoon dog ownership has been banned in North America because it is believed that they could quickly become an invasive species like they have in Europe. But they are not the typical dog anyway. Reason dogs don't listen. They are useless as guard dogs. They don't learn tricks an I guess they are not easily house-trained. Then again, that sounds like some of the dogs I've owned.