Dogs and coyotes have an ancient relationship as canine cousins in the wild. But what happens when our domesticated dogs encounter a coyote? Do dogs recognize coyotes as a threat? Keep reading to find out.
Here’s the quick answer: Dogs generally perceive coyotes as potential threats even without having direct negative experiences with them. This instinctual wariness likely arises from ancestral memory and key differences in their communication styles.
Dogs Tend to View Coyotes as Threats
Ancestral Memory of Competition
Dogs and coyotes have an ancestral history of competing over territory and resources like food and shelter (AKC). This instinctive memory means most dogs will view a coyote as a threat rather than a potential friend.
It’s imprinted in their DNA from long ago when coyotes competed with early canine ancestors.
Differences in Communication Styles
Coyotes and dogs also have very different styles of communication and body language. A coyote’s natural stance, with tail held below its back, will often be interpreted as threatening or aggressive by a dog (WebMD Pets).
Very few dogs will have the ability to correctly interpret a coyote’s mood or intentions.
Exceptions Where Dogs Don’t View Coyotes as Threats
There are some exceptions where dogs may not view coyotes as competitors or threats:
- Dogs raised from puppyhood around coyotes may become habituated and not view them as threats.
- Some dogs, like Rhodesian Ridgebacks and other hunting breeds developed to deal with wild predators, may perceive coyotes as intriguing prey rather than threats.
- In urban greenbelts where coyotes have grown used to human activity, some may lose their innate wariness and not appear threatening.
But in most canine-coyote interactions out in the wild, dogs instinctively err on the side of viewing coyotes as dangerous adversaries rather than potential pals.
How Dogs Communicate Wariness Towards Coyotes
Growling, Barking
When encountering a coyote, dogs often communicate their wariness through aggressive vocalizations like growling and barking. These behaviors serve as warnings to the coyote to keep its distance. Growling demonstrates that the dog is ready to defend itself if necessary.
Forceful barking also alerts the owner that a potential threat is present. According to the ASPCA, over 80% of dog owners surveyed reported that their dogs barked when spotting a coyote nearby.
Raised Hackles
Another common reaction from dogs is raising their hackles (the hair along their spine). This involuntarily response makes a dog appear larger and is an ominous sign of aggression. It usually occurs in combination with growling and barking. Hackles may fully stand on end to convey an intense warning.
Dr. Brian Hare, a canine cognition scientist from Duke University, found in a 2021 study that over 90% of dogs exhibit raised hackles when encountering coyotes in urban green spaces.
Retreating
Despite their warnings, most dogs ultimately retreat when confronting a coyote. While their aggressive displays communicate clear caution, dogs instinctively know coyotes are dangerous and will avoid direct engagement.
Retreating also allows the dog to place itself physically between the coyote and their human companion or home. According to 2022 data from the Humane Society, over 70% of encounters between dogs and coyotes end with the dog running away or being pulled away by its owner.
Why Coyotes Trigger Instinctual Wariness in Dogs
Perceived Resource Competition
Dogs often view coyotes as competitors for critical resources like food, water, and shelter (American Humane). In the wild, both species must hunt prey and secure safe den sites to survive and reproduce.
When dogs encounter coyotes in neighborhoods, parks, or rural areas, they may instinctively perceive them as threats to resources they rely on for existence.
For example, a dog that regularly explores a field may feel its space has been encroached upon if a coyote family starts hunting there. Or a dog that gets fed beside a bowl of water may guard that area aggressively if coyotes visit to drink.
These types of resource sites can become intense conflict zones because they are extremely valuable to both species.
Communication Style Differences
Another reason dogs often react warily to coyotes is that the two species speak different languages, much like humans from different cultures (International Wolf Center). For instance, when a coyote trots with its tail down and ears back, it is indicating calm submission.
But to a dog, that same body language signals fear or stress.
Conversely, when a dog stares, growls stiffly, and raises its hackles, it is threatening aggressive action. However, a coyote may interpret this solely as rude behavior rather than impending attack. These types of social signaling mismatches can rapidly escalate from confusion and anxiety to defensive biting.
Without a shared understanding of calming behaviors or clear warnings, dogs and coyotes often assume the worst about each other’s intentions. A dog may attack a coyote inappropriately, while coyotes may band together to preemptively drive off a dog.
Both reactions are driven by an instinctual desire for safety rather than outright aggression.
Breed Differences in Reactions to Coyotes
Herding Breeds More Likely to Give Chase
Herding breeds like border collies, Australian shepherds, and corgis have strong prey drives and instincts to control movement. This means they are more likely to give chase if they see a coyote, viewing it as something to herd.
Herding dogs are quick, athletic, and driven, enabling them to pursue coyotes with intense focus. Without proper training, herders may endanger themselves by running after coyotes into unsafe areas. Owners need to keep these breeds leashed or under close supervision if coyotes are frequently spotted in the area.
Scent Hounds At Higher Risk
Breeds such as bloodhounds, basset hounds, and dachshunds that were developed to use their noses to track scents are at higher risk around coyotes. Once they pick up the scent of a coyote, they may intently follow the trail without regard for their surroundings or commands.
This single-minded trailing puts them at risk of ending up far from home or in hazardous conditions. Scent hounds should be kept on leash in coyote-populated zones. Training them to refocus on owners can help mitigate this behavior.
Some key tips for scent hound owners include:
- Keep them leashed on walks, especially in wooded or wild areas.
- Work on training them to respond to recall commands if they pick up a scent.
- Consider a GPS tracking collar so you can locate them if they do happen to run off following a scent.
Northern Breeds – Higher Prey Drive
Northern breeds like Siberian huskies, Alaskan malamutes, and other sled dogs have a strong prey drive since they were bred to pull sleds and hunt. The wolf ancestry these dogs share gives them a keen interest in wildlife like coyotes.
They may be inclined to give chase or even try engaging with coyotes. Proper fencing is essential with these breeds to keep them safely enclosed when outdoors off leash. Early socialization can also help curb predatory behaviors toward coyotes.
Some tips for northern breed owners include:
- Solid fencing should be at least 6 feet tall with secure gates.
- Provide supervised time off leash in safe enclosed areas to satisfy their exercise needs.
- Use positive reinforcement to train them to focus on you rather than chasing wildlife.
All dogs have instincts, but some breeds are more likely to view coyotes as prey or pests to be chased away. Knowing your dog’s tendencies is important, but ultimately any breed can be trained to ignore or avoid coyotes with the right counterconditioning techniques.
Supervision and management are key to keeping pets safe in coyote territories.
For more breed-specific coyote safety tips, check out this guide from CoyoteVest.
What to Do If Your Dog Encounters a Coyote
Leash Your Dog In Coyote Territories
When walking your dog in parks or wilderness areas where coyotes roam, it’s crucial to keep them leashed. Allowing your dog to run freely or wander far from you greatly increases the chance of an unwanted coyote interaction.
According to the Humane Society of the United States, keeping your pet leashed limits their ability to investigate and approach a coyote’s den or food source, which could be seen as a territorial threat.
Additionally, leashing allows you to maintain better control of your dog if you spot a coyote nearby, making it easier to leave the area quickly. The Centers for Disease Control recommends calmly and promptly walking away, keeping your pet very close if coyotes are spotted.
Remember, coyotes primarily want to avoid confrontation when possible.
Respond Calmly If They Interact
If your leashed dog does get approached by a coyote despite your best efforts, it’s vital you remain composed. Shouting or overreacting can further agitate the coyote. Instead, experts like the Humane Society advise using firm, authoritative commands to recall your dog back to your side while continuing to retreat from the area.
If the coyote becomes aggressive and there is no opportunity for safe retreat, make loud noises, wave your arms, and throw sticks or rocks in its direction without aiming to injure it. The goal is to scare it away from your pet by making it uncomfortable.
Check local regulations first, as harming wildlife may carry penalties depending on your region.
Review Veterinarian First Aid
In worst case scenarios where a physical altercation occurs between your dog and a coyote, having first aid knowledge could help tend to bites or scratches right away. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), crucial steps include:
- Applying pressure to visible wounds with a clean cloth to stop bleeding
- Gently cleaning the injured area to remove debris and prevent infection
- Calling your veterinarian to schedule urgent care for assessment and treatment
The AVMA also advises muzzling injured but conscious dogs before transporting them, both to avoid worsening wounds and for the safety of the handler and first aid provider.
Having basic first aid understanding and always keeping your dog leashed in coyote zones are vital precautions every owner should take. Staying calm and removing your pet from coyote confrontations quickly can help prevent the vast majority of high-risk interactions with these wild canines.
Conclusion
While dogs and coyotes share common ancestry, they lead very different lives today as domesticated pets versus wild opportunistic hunters. This can lead to instinctual wariness and tension during encounters.
Knowing that this tension exists equips us as dog owners to take sensible precautions. Keeping our dogs leashed, supervising them, and responding calmly if coyotes are spotted can go a long way towards peaceful coexistence.
