I Have three very big dogs will coyotes mess with them try to attack them?

Question

Yes I have three of thee biggest breed of dogs and they are a akita, rottweiler mixed with great dane, and a great pyrennees. I was told by a friend that coyote or a even like a bunch of coyotes would not stand a chance unless the coyote is rabid, as matter of fact my friend even told me that not even wolves are a mach for my dogs. Can you answer my question please

Answer 1

Most likely a lone coyote would not attack your dogs unless it has rabies, but a pack of coyotes might attack them.

Coyotes are becoming more accustomed to humans and therefore braver around humans. They have learned that human food, garbage, pets, and livestock can provide them the basics for survival.

Pet cats and small dogs have been killed and eaten by coyotes in Washington. WDFW just recently started keeping records of reported incidents, and so far the rate is increasing with our human and pet population.

Coyote attacks on humans are so rare in Washington that none have actually been documented to date. Prior to 1981, coyote attacks on humans throughout North America also seemed to be rare.

But in 1990, 56 coyote-related human health and safety incidents nationally were reported to USDA. From 1988 to 1997 in the west's most densely populated area -- southern California -- 53 coyote attacks on humans, resulting in 21 injuries, were documented by a University of California wildlife extension specialist; a study of those incidents indicates that attacks on pets may be a predictive precursor to more serious coyote-human conflicts, and that human behavior may be contributing to the problem.

Other research in national parks suggests that coyote attacks are related to coyotes losing their fear of humans once they associate them with food.

I hope this helps.

Answer 2

Coyotes more then not will not attack your dogs as long as they are together. One coyote cant take on a dog of there size. BUT if one of your dogs should ever stray off by itself and a pack of Coyotes detects it then Yes your dogs could get hurt. Why am i telling you this because i have a friend who had a 130 german Shepard which was very mean and wandered off at night into the woods when it came back home it was badly hurt and had to be put down by the Vet,*** Note his Dog was attacked by a pack of Coyotes not by just One individual Coyote.

Good Luck

Answer 3

I can see that the answers are all over the map, so I will try and be concise. As far as one on one the coyotes would probably not harass your dogs. However coyotes often hunt in packs and are adept at tactics that a domestic dog would never encounter. Coyotes are wily and often use tricks like using a female in heat to entice domestic dogs into situations where they can be over whelmed and killed or injured. Even a bite will mean that your dogs will have to be quarantined for rabies, so the best bet is to keep the domestic dogs separated from the wild dogs at all times. Use heavy fencing, and restrict where your dogs go on their own.

Answer 4

Coyotes are usually scavengers or go for weaker prey much smaller than them, but they are also very opportunistic creatures. If they sense a dog is weak or if they're in a pack they can attack but that usually isn't the case. If your dog is alert and a good guard dog it might even scare them away. I wouldn't have any pet walking around in an unfenced area at night when coyotes are out though.

Answer 5

A coyote would not be anywhere near a match for your dogs. However, remember that coyotes are pack animals. It is possible that if their pack was big enough they could try to gang up on one of your dogs. However, since you have three I doubt you have much to worry about.

If you live in an area with a lot of coyotes be sure to have you dogs vaccinated for rabies. Even if they are not attacked by coyotes there are plenty of other smaller critters that they can catch it from.

Answer 6

We have many coyotes that live in the wood behind us, and we have several Newfies. The coyotes WILL NOT come in our yard or anywhere near where our males have maked the territory. I highly doubt they would attack one of the dogs. I never leave the dogs alone in the woods or anything, so I cannot imagine there would be a chance. we walk in the woods with the dogs all the time and I have never even seen a coyote.

Answer 7

It depends if your dogs will stay and fight or will two of them run away leaving one left? A pack of coyotes would certainly bring down anyone of your dogs but against all three probably not. But to tell you the truth a pack of coyotes would not even bother with your three dogs, they like to go after small dogs, and smaller animals. I don't know about wolves though, They are able to take down very large animals, probably about 5 times larger than your biggest dog. the coyotes probably not, But if you ask me the wolves would take down your dogs easy. But I don't think either would mess with your dogs, unless your dogs start the fight.

Answer 8

I agree with "yes_its_me", but keep one very important thing in mind. Dogs for the most part have been domesticated, not saying they can't fight or would run, but they don't have the "drive" in them instilled to survive in the wild and the skill learned in the wild to fight for survival, and food, and survival of the pack. For the most part a lone coyote may be a scout for the rest of the pack.

Answer 9

I have not heard of coyotes bothering large dogs. But I would be cautious about wolves. They have been known to attack each other even. I live in Michigan and there are plenty of reports of wolf attacks on dogs and livestock

Answer 10

I'm not psychic, so I can't tell you if a coyote would mess with your dog in the future. If you are concerned about coyotes, don't leave your dog anyplace where he would be subjected to them and certainly don't leave them outside alone. Coyotes aren't always well understood by humans, so the possibility is always there. Be safe.