Will Coyotes Attack Dogs? 8 Vet-Approved Ways to Protect Your Pup
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View 1 More +When you think of coyotes, you might imagine them out in the wild, but the truth is that as coyotes’ natural habitats shrink, they are moving closer to where people live. And while they might go for chickens or other livestock first, if they are hungry enough, coyotes will absolutely try to make a meal out of dogs and cats, too. This means if you have pets, they could be at risk.1
However, there are ways to protect your pup from a coyote attack. Most ways to keep your dog safe are simple and, combined, are very effective. Below you’ll find eight ways to protect your favorite canine companion from coyotes!
Coyote Attacks on Dogs
You may have heard rumors about coyotes, such as that they only hunt at night or that these animals can lure your dog away from you to attack. Well, not all the rumors are 100% accurate.
While coyotes do hunt most often at night, they can and do hunt during the day as well.2 As coyotes get used to humans, they’re more likely to come closer to homes and neighborhoods during the day. And if there aren’t many people around (such as in a rural area), a coyote will take advantage to go day hunting. So, your pup may not be entirely safe being tied up in the yard during the day if you live in a rural area. Also good to know is that coyotes are more likely to attack other animals during winter,3 in preparation for their breeding season.
When it comes to whether coyotes lure dogs away from their owners, that’s a myth. That doesn’t mean, though, that your dog won’t pick up on a coyote that’s nearby and give chase! And if they chase them to the forest, they may find themselves surrounded by a pack if this is not a solitary coyote. So, ensure your pet knows to come when it’s called and stay when it should in order to stop this from occurring.
And one thing you might not know about coyotes is that not all are fighters; some are lovers. So, they will sometimes mate with dogs—although this is rare due to how limited a coyote’s mating season is. The result is a Coydog,4 which is a bit different from other dog breeds due to its coyote parentage. For example, these dogs can make a hissing sound when threatened, which is definitely not a typical dog trait!
The 8 Ways to Protect Your Pup from Coyotes
Though coyotes tend to go for smaller dog breeds more often than larger ones, that doesn’t mean they will never attack a large breed dog. So, use these tips for any size dog if you are worried about coyote attacks in your area.
- Don’t leave your dog alone outside! A coyote attack can happen in an instant, so always keep an eye on your pet when it’s outdoors.
- Use a shorter leash when on walks. Coyotes are wary of humans, so the closer your dog is to you, the better off they'll be.
- Use motion-sensing lights in your yard. With these, you’ll see if a coyote approaches during the evening (and most coyotes will turn back from a yard being lit up, too).
- Be loud. If a coyote approaches while you’re out with your pup, be loud, as this can scare them away. You might want to bring a horn or loud noisemaker out with you while walking your pet.
- Invest in a coyote vest for small-breed dogs. What is a coyote vest? It is the invention of a family who lost their small dog to a coyote. It features a collar made with Kevlar and lots of spikes, all of which make it more difficult for a coyote to bite a dog.
- Secure garbage. Much like raccoons, coyotes will happily dig through your trash for a meal, and if they know you leave garbage cans out routinely, they’ll come back again and again. Using animal-proof garbage cans and only taking cans out to the road on trash day will make your yard safer for your dog.
- Keep your yard clean. Know what else attracts coyotes to your yard? Dog poop. Make sure you’re picking up after your pet even when they do their business in your yard.
- Put up coyote-proof fencing. Coyotes are athletic and incredible diggers on top of that, so regular fences aren’t going to keep them out. Aim for a fence at least 6 feet tall and 18 inches into the ground. Then, put something on top of the fence that will thwart even the most determined coyotes, like coyote rollers.
Conclusion
Coyotes can and, on rare occasions, will attack dogs, especially if they are hungry. And because coyotes’ natural habitats and food sources are shrinking, you are more likely to find a coyote in your neighborhood these days.
However, you can easily protect your dog from a coyote attack by not letting them run out in the yard by themselves and installing coyote-proof fencing. You can even invest in a coyote vest for smaller pups! As long as you’re cautious and aware, your dog should be relatively safe against coyotes.
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Sources
Featured Image Credit: Frans van Heerden, Pexels
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Misty Layne lives out in the woods in small-town Alabama with her two Siamese - Serafina & Jasper. She also has an array of stray cats, raccoons, and opossums who like to call her front porch home. When she’s not writing about animals, you’ll find her writing poetry, stories, and film reviews (the animals are, by far, her favorite writing topic, though!). In her free time, Misty enjoys chilling with her cats, playing piano, watching indie and foreign films, photographing abandoned places, and catching up on her never-ending TBR list.
3 Responses
It is not a myth. An animal that looked in the dark to me like a dog, wined outside my little house in Pauma Valley this past friday night. My dog is 14 yrs. old and almost completely deaf. Anyway. I went out and saw what looked like a dog on my porch. I tried to give it food and water, but it ran away. An hour later that night it came back to my porch wining again. I went outside again but when it saw me it ran away again. The next night This animal came right up to my door and was peering through the screen at me. This time my dog smelled it and growled at it. My dog is a large Pit about 110 lbs. The screen is a snap back screen. My dog ran through the screen trying to chase it, but the animal ran to the left and my dog ran to the right. My dog stopped about ten feet from me. Then this animal came from the left and b lined it right to my dog. I thought it was going to try to fight my dog. But instead it stood right in front of my dog for a few seconds and trotted away wanting my dog to follow which he did. My dog finally stopped from me yelling or from him just being too tired and old to chase anymore. I am convinced that it was luring him into danger. It was terrified of me, but not scared of my big growling dog???? On the third night I put my motion light on the porch and it is bright. The next morning I found poop on the front porch right in front of the door. When I first saw this animal it was very late and dark. But I thought it to have a cropped tail not long and bushy. It had old tired eyes and was patched color gray tan and black It came only at night about the same time each night. This happened this past labor day weekend 2024. Are there wild dog packs that would lure pets away. I know there are Rez dogs. But i never knew them to attack and eat pets????? it must been a coyote. Regiwrites@live.com
my medium size dog (small poodle mix) had a bad encounter with a possum who was trapped between my dog and a felnce. the possem tried to attack the dog. fortunately I heard this commotion and was able to get my dog"to come" and give the possum a way out. I now have a larger dog and lock her doggie door when I know there is either a possum or coyote in the yard. I live in a very populated area In the suburbs, but NOT in the country at all. I want the possum because they keep out other unwanted pests. The coyotes are new to me and scare me a little. Will they harm the neighborhood outdoor cats and our friendly squerrals?
Hi Lynn! It sounds like you've had quite an experience with that possum encounter! I'm glad you were able to get your dog to safety—possums can definitely cause some damage if they feel threatened. It seems like you're taking the right precautions to keep your dog safe now. Dogs are so curious, so it’s understandable that they’d want to get closer to a wild animal and check it out. As for coyotes, they’re generally wary of humans and will tend to keep their distance. Unfortunately, I can’t say the same for squirrels and cats. Luckily, they’re very aware of potential predators and have the speed and ability to escape if they need to. :)
