Phlaocyon was about 80 centimetres (31 in) in body length, and looked more like a cat or raccoon than a dog, but its skull anatomy shows it to be a primitive canine. Phlaocyon probably lived like a raccoon, often climbing trees. Its head was short, wide, and had forward-facing eyes. Unlike modern canines, Phlaocyon had no specialised teeth for slicing flesh. It is thought to have been an omnivore.