We live on the western Rocky Mountain front, and see and hear coyotes fairly often. Sometimes we will hear them ‘yipping’ in the early evening hours. If I happen to be outside at the time with my Parson Russell Terrier he will go nuts trying to determine where the coyote is. Sometimes he will just bark, waiting for the coyote to respond, which they sometimes do.
I realize that a coyote is another type of canid, but unlike grey wolves, which also live around here, coyotes don’t run in packs, or hunt cooperatively. Much smaller than wolves, coyotes are normally less aggressive towards humans and don’t usually go after prey larger than they are.
So what would happen if when out hiking I run into either a single or small group of coyotes? My experience is that the coyote will take off at the first sight of me, but my dog will probably bark and try to chase the coyote. How likely is it that a coyote would go on the offense when faced with a small agitated and barking dog?
Anybody have any experience with small dogs versus coyotes?
While the coyote may be afraid of you, if the dog pursues it out of your sight I wouldn’t give it much of a chance. Coyotes regard domestic dogs as tasty snacks.
Coyotes accustomed to dogs will routinely lure a small dog away from his home where they can kill and eat it. Anthing under about 25# is at risk. They might think twice about a real game Jack Russel terrier, but my money would be on the coyote.
I think it boils down to motivation, skill, and size, in that order.
A coyote’s life depends on killing and eating other critters (as well as anything else it can scrounge up), and it has had a lifetime of practice doing so.
A pet dog is defending territory, and is probably better-fed and healthier.
Unless the dog is substantially larger than the coyote, I think the coyote has the advantage.
Your dog will be lunch. Even if he’s game enough to fight off a coyote, you don’t want your dog in that fight.
And coyotes WILL hunt cooperatively. A small pack of them stalked a friend and her VERY large dog the other day. And some relatives spotted a pair of coyotes pulling the ‘velociraptor’ move on their dog–one held its attention while the other was circling around to attack from behind.
This is Southern California. The coyotes here are getting pretty hungry because of the drought, I imagine; neighborhood streets are full of notices for lost cats and small dogs.
Even if the coyotes in your area are better fed and less desperate, keep your dog away from them.
A coyote leaped a six-foot fence to eat my mother-in-law’s dog. So keep your dog in at night, too.
I lived at the base of the Rockies on the Western Front, too…with my approximately 20# American Eskie, with coyotes, mountain lions, bears, and foxes. I only let him off-leash when on our enclosed patio; walks on our property and in the neighborhood were always on-leash.
I did it NOT because I was afraid he’d attack/chase them, but because I wanted him to always be close enough to me so any wild animal I hadn’t noticed would find it too much trouble with me so around a tasty snack.
Don’t know if it worked or if it was just pure dumb luck, but I never had an issue in the 6 years we lived there…even though we had each type of the animals right up to/on our patios, frequently.
Good luck with your choice/decision…and I envy you living there! I loved Colorado (Springs) and hope to return there for good, one day!
Agreed. My point was that nutrition and overall health are the dog’s only advantages, which IMO are far outweighed by the coyote’s motivation and skill.
Edit: and athletic condition, as you pointed out.
Coyotes are not afraid of people. A couple were out walking their dogs a few years ago out where I live and their dogs were attacked by a coyote while being walked on-leash. The people managed to fight the coyote off. The dogs needed some stitches, but survived. Even if a dog is too big for a coyote meal, coyotes are territorial and regard dogs as trespassers on “their” territory.
Also, @ dolphinboy, when out hiking with your dogs, carry a stout stick and be prepared to use it on the coyotes.
Coyotes will kill deer, sheep and other large animals.
I agree with the other posters who have said your dog probably wouldn’t do well against a coyote. Wild animals are tough and mean. A typical domestic dog would have its paws full in a fight with a coyote. A pit bull that’s trained for fighting could win, but not your Parson Russell.
Hopefully the OP won’t mind a minor hijack on the same subject:
Can coyotes jump a 6 foot fence?
We find coyotes in our neighborhood periodically, and I’ve been wondering if they can jump fences. Our backyard is completely surrounded by a 6 foot wooden fence, but I’m still leery of letting our small dog outside when I hear them howling. I always go out with her.
Based on what I’ve seen at our hunting lease, they do hunt cooperatively. But they’re very very skittish around humans and I’m not too worried about them when I’m out and about.
As previously stated small dog =coyote snack. A few years ago a pack of them baited my neighbors St Bernard into chasing them out into the pasture. She never came back.
Depends upon the Jack Russel, they are also used for hunting and killing - the ones used for this tend to be somewhat more sturdy than the pet ones, maybe one and a half to double the weight of the pet ones.
A coyote is going to have a hard time with a hunting game terrier.
When hiking I usually keep my dog on leash, and I always carry bear spray, a hiking stick and a loaded gun for protection.
My 20# dog has chased an adult black bear off our property and shows no fear whatsoever. I think he could hold his own, at least for a time against a single coyote, but if there is more than one I think he would be toast.
I have a pack of 7 large Jacks, 2 weight in at 50 lbs each. It would be lunch time alright but my jacks would be having coyote meat. They are very cooperative efficient hunters.
I don’t know what dogs you have, but if they weigh 50 lbs they are not Jack Russells. In any event your brag is useless as advice to dog owners who don’t want a pack of enormous fighting dogs.
If that bear had decided to defend itself instead of run, your dog wouldn’t have lasted ten seconds. I don’t see how this proves your dog would win in a fight against anything.