Meet The Raccoon Dog Or Tanuki

We would all love for our favorite animal to have the characteristics of a dog so we could have it as a pet. This may seem impossible, but we have good news for raccoon lovers. Today, we’re going to talk a little about Tanuki, a very fun Japanese raccoon dog with curious characteristics.

We wouldn’t be able to tell if it’s a dog or a raccoon when we see it. In this article, we’ll analyze in depth and learn some fun facts about this very peculiar species.

Origin

The raccoon dog is native to the East, more specifically to China and Japan.  However, over the years, this animal was introduced in the Caucasus region, and can be found in some parts of Russia and Europe.

This animal seems to be the oldest dog in existence and has been part of popular sayings and Japanese folklore since ancient times. His name, Tanuki, was formerly used to name medium-sized mammals such as wild cats.

Knowing Japanese folklore through Tanuki

This animal is mischievous and playful and seems to be able to change shape and “disguise itself”, pretending to be another animal, as a method of defense. In Japan, many statues of Tanukis were erected disguised as turtles, that is, with hooves on their backs.

In these statues, the belly and testicles of the Tanukis are exaggerated. This created a comical and funny image that became part of Japanese culture and folklore.

In some of these statues, the Tanukis carry the testicles on their backs or use them as drums. The tradition of creating these fun and cartoonish raccoon dog images began during the Kamakura Period. However, over time, the representations of the animal became more sinister.

Legends and tales emerged in which the Tanuki deceived monks and hunters with their disguises. The animal also came to be known as a symbol of fortune, having 8 special characteristics:

• Hat to protect from problems and bad weather
• Big eyes to see circumstances and help make decisions
• Sometimes they carry a bottle of sake as a symbol of virtue
• Its long tail, which brings security and success
• Big Testicles for Money
• A letter to trust
• Big belly that represents decisions taken with courage and calm
• smile that demonstrates friendship

For all these characteristics, the Tanuki has become a highly valued and beloved animal in eastern countries.

Curiosities about Tanuki

In addition to all the folklore created around the Tanukis statues, this animal has many curiosities. Know some of them:

• Reproduction. They are monogamous animals, a trait that is not so common in the animal kingdom. They choose a life partner. For not being aggressive, males do not start fights for the females’ love, but rather a competition of scents to know who will be chosen. When the females give birth, they go out hunting while the daddy takes care of the puppies, usually 5 or 7 per litter.

• They are fearful. Fear paralyzes them and can kill them. For example, if you are crossing a road and a truck turns on its headlights, the Tanuki may be unable to move. Because of this, thousands die on the roads in traffic accidents.
• Hibernate. Unlike dogs, Tanuki hibernates during the winter. During the summer, it accumulates enough fat to survive the coldest season of the year.
• They are not related to the raccoons. Despite appearances and name, raccoons and Tanukis are not related in any way. These animals are direct relatives of dogs and wolves. Curious, isn’t it?
• Appearance. They are like big foxes, weighing between 4 and 9 kilos and measuring up to a meter and a half. Their fur is thick to protect them from the low temperatures of the cold regions where they live. Its tail is thick and long (like a raccoon’s) and its ears are small.

As you can see, the Tanuki is a very curious and fun animal, which is still wild and living in its natural habitat, although their amiable and peaceful personality allows them to be pets.