Coydogs

image Coydogs. Are they real creatures, or just the stuff of urban legend? As the name implies, a coydog would be a cross between a coyote and a dog. But according to Chrissie Henner, a biologist at the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, they're an urban legend. She says that "there has never been any physical evidence of a half-dog, half-coyote animal." Not that it would be impossible for the two species to mate and produce an offspring, just very unlikely. Though Henner also points out that the mating cycles of the two species differ: "Coyotes go in to heat between January and March and have pups in May or June, while dogs have their pups in winter." So if animal experts such as Henner are correct that there's no physical evidence of the existence of coydogs, then what exactly is the Sundance Coydogs site selling? Are these coyotes, or dogs that look coyote-like, or real coydogs?

Animals

Posted on Tue Dec 21, 2004



Comments

It is true enough that natural coydogs are rare, and their population is as close to negligible as you can get. It is likely that most coydogs are either bred in captivity or had mixed parents who were bred in captivity. They are different species, however, and rarely associate with each other (coyotes and dogs), so you don't really have to worry about your bitch coming home bearing a litter of coydogs. Many of those who protest that natural coydogs don't even exist may do so at least partly because admitting their existence or the possibility of their existence could legitimize thinning to coyote population. If this is so, their fears are unjustified because natural coydogs are likely to be so rare as to be a negligible risk except in areas that have an unreasonably high feral dog population.

Coydogs generally make poorer pets than wolfdogs because coyotes are generally solitary animals whose social relations are usually limited strictly to immediate family. This puts them at a disadvantage to wolfdogs as domesticatable animals because wolfdogs, while difficult to control and sometimes (though not as often as one would expect) dangerous to humans, are at least highly social animals and, therefore, trainable in the hands of a HIGHLY EXPERIENCED OWNER who has an EXOTICS LICENSE and KNOWS WHAT HE'S DOING. Taking in a wolfdog without at least these qualifications is nothing short of imbecilic.
Posted by Bill Mutz  on  Mon Jan 10, 2005  at  09:58 AM
So possibly I was "an imbicile" for those 19 years, since I have never had/thought of having an "exotics license". Basing my "training" of her only on some (then) 35 years experience of knowing/living with/raising canines of numerous shapes, sizes and
(often) highly mixed ancestry must have been insufficient, in your view, since she remained a loyal, protective companion for nearly 19 years until she died. Once, she saved my life by disarming an
attacker, but did not pursue the matter excessively.
Maybe both of us were imbeciles.
Posted by Harrison Stone  on  Mon Jan 10, 2005  at  08:58 PM
Harrison: it depends entirely upon the laws of your state or province and how well they are enforced. That you'd had plenty of experience with dogs of mixed ancestry probably contributed much to your success, but I do think that wolf-dogs, handled responsibly, can be among the best creatures you can possibly have on your side if you really want to know the truth.

I was merely trying to underline that toying with animals that one knows nothing about is generally a bad move, and I also tend to consider breaking the law a bad move. If you disagree, then I would like to hear why.
Posted by Bill Mutz  on  Tue Jan 11, 2005  at  05:50 PM
You are making a bunch of assumptions, somewhat insultingly. First: She was not considered an "exotic" under the laws in that time and place,
according to 3 different veternarians. Secondly,
you are assuming that I advocate breaking laws, and
have done so habitually. Third, you have no knowledge whatsoever of what my educational/training/experience
might have been. Therfore I must consider you more than a bit arrogant, supercilious, and more than a little obnoxious.
Posted by Harrison Stone  on  Tue Jan 11, 2005  at  08:27 PM
Try actually listening for a change:

The first post wasn't even directed at you. It was written without forknowledge of your posts. I was commenting on the article at the top. Regardless of any faults you may find in my character, whether or not they exist, answer the following questions if you're interested in bringing this thread of conversation to a peaceful close:

1. Do you think that it is in the best interests of everyone, including the animals, that people interested in adopting exotic animals of any kind should follow the laws regarding them?

2. Do you think that it is generally wise to avoid adopting animals that one has little familiarity and no prior experience with?

3. Do people who adopt hybrid animals such as coydogs and wolfdogs as a status symbol without giving much regard to the well-being of the animal being adopted annoy you?

If we're in agreement on those three things, then we are completely in agreement, and if I expressed or appeared to express any sentiment other than the above, then just consider it void. I didn't make any assumptions about you. You're the one who decided to take offense and get all confrontational. I've been trying my best to be polite and have avoided attacking you, so if you want to get all piqued at someone, you've picked the wrong person.

If I said something that offended you before, then I'm sorry. I had absolutely no intention of hurting your delicate feelings. All I intended to do was voice the opinion that people shouldn't rush unprepared into adopting exotic pets without giving any regard to the animal's well-being or the law. You did no such thing, of course, but here's a clue for you: you don't live at the center of the universe. There are hordes of people out there who have millions of misconceptions about wolfdogs and coydogs, most of them in the government, and I was referring to people who rush into adopting exotic animals thinking it will make them 'cool' as imbecilic. You didn't even know that your late companion was a mix when you got her, so you are so far from this category that it's incredible to me that you could possibly think that I was referring you. I was referring to people who treat animals as ornaments, and if you'd turn on your malfunctional brain for a minute, I have a feeling that you'd find you feel the same in spirit if not completely.

I'm an aspiring writer, so sometimes what I write comes through sounding bombastic. It's unintentional, and I have absolutely no intention of being mean-spirited.
Posted by Bill Mutz  on  Wed Jan 12, 2005  at  12:32 PM
I'm not sure if they are still there, but a few years ago there was a display of stuffed Coydogs in the Illinois State Museum in Springfield, IL.

They looked like a cross between the coyote and some of the larger Walker hounds that were often used to hunt both coyotes and foxes.

I've also seen quite a few coyote (brought into the fur buying stations in our area) that were probably mixes. Most of them were a fair bit larger (esp. heavier) than a coyote, with reddish-brown fur that was somewhat "blotchy" especially on the back and shoulders. I vividly remember one pickup truck loaded with 10-12 of them and the negotiations over the price of their fur.

I can say that we had a coyote as a "pet" back in the 1960's and it was not a very endearing animal. It would only allow one neighbor boy and myself around it, though it was very friendly with us. The darn thing never used it's dog house, and instead dug a large burrow under the shed it was tied to. A good pet, but I released it after a couple of years, so it could go about living the wild life.

Also, my sister in law used to live with a man (in AZ) who raised "Wolfies" that were Shepherd/Wolf mixes. They didn't look anything like the coydogs, and were pretty good pets. Large and scary as hell though. LOL

So yeah, coydogs do exist. I've seen them first hand on quite a few occasions...

Hope I don't offend "The Reverend Muntz" who posted previously, but I'm sure that most everyone here do not care to consider his "aspiring writer" excuse to backhandedly insult others, to be anything more than the bleating of a loudmouthed, hybridized, buttmunch... LOL
Posted by Tom Kilver  on  Sat Jan 29, 2005  at  11:44 PM
(((I can say that we had a coyote as a "pet" back in the 1960's and it was not a very endearing animal. It would only allow one neighbor boy and myself around it, though it was very friendly with us.)))

This makes sense. In the wild, coyotes are either solitary or travel with their immediate families (mates and offspring).

(((The darn thing never used it's dog house, and instead dug a large burrow under the shed it was tied to. A good pet, but I released it after a couple of years, so it could go about living the wild life.)))

I wouldn't have advised releasing it. When wild animals get used to thinking as humans as a possible source of food, they are more likely to become dangerous. Fortunately, coyotes are cowards and unlikely to attack a full-grown human under most circumstances, so perhaps it wouldn't hurt anything in this case. Besides, I assume you have more experience with this than myself.

(((Hope I don't offend "The Reverend Muntz")))

You do. For starters, you spelled my name incorrectly.

(((who posted previously, but I'm sure that most everyone here do not care to consider his "aspiring writer" excuse to backhandedly insult others.)))

The thing is, I haven't backhandedly insulted anyone. You're reading too much into what I say. Try taking what I've written at face value. Harrison assumed incorrectly that my original post here was referring to his actions, and I have made it clear that I don't have the least problem with his actions in regard to the wolfdog. If anything, I consider them admirable. I was referring to a completely different sort of person.

Your comments about the volume of my voice and regarding my sexual practices are discarded on the grounds of at once being uncharmingly crass and possessing a complete absence of wit, and they make evident little more than an intellectual vacuum.
Posted by Bill Mutz  on  Tue Feb 01, 2005  at  08:16 AM
Actually in the right environments coyotes form rather wolflike packs.

Don't generalize from one coydog to all coydogs (or all coyotes!). I've met perfectly domesticated Canis familiaris that were just as standoffish as this animal. Heck, my mom had a Doberman as a girl that would only tolerate her.
Posted by Carl Fink  on  Tue Feb 01, 2005  at  07:01 PM
Actually, from what I've heard, coyotes generally do prefer to hunt alone. They have been known to form small packs on occassion, but it remains that the species is less socially inclined than lupines. I would suspect, given compatibility, that any large pack of coyotes might be a result of occassional interbreeding between them and their red wolf relatives. I don't know how much substance there is to it, but I read somewhere that some have thought that red wolves might have arisen from interbreeding between coyotes and some other species of wolf. Has this been discredited?
Posted by Bill Mutz  on  Fri Feb 04, 2005  at  02:00 PM
There are also lone wolves, Bill. Canines in general are fairly flexible in social behavior (as species). Individuals aren't necessarily flexible, but they vary a lot.

And yes, the red wolf has been demonstrated by DNA testing to be no closer to coyotes than any other wolf (in North America).
Posted by Carl Fink  on  Fri Feb 04, 2005  at  08:12 PM
Although I don't like to engage in personal discussions, I have to say I'm with Bill Mutz on this one, so """"I'm sure that most everyone here do not care to consider his "aspiring writer" excuse to backhandedly insult others"""" does not apply to me and I think it was a rather rude and arrogant thing to say.
On a more interesting subject, I would like to say that I agree with Bill when he says that Tom Kilver shouldn't have released his animal in the wild. Bill says that they become more dangerous because they are used to be around humans (please don't call them "cowards", animals are not cowards, that is typical of people trying to explain animal behaviour by comparing it to human behaviour). I can see how that can be possible, but the first thought that came in to my mind was how they become less frightened of humans and can be killed more easily. I don't know the reality of coyotes in America, if they suffer human persecution, if they are shot, etc. I am a biologist working with wolves in Portugal and here we have a big struggle to keep our wolves alive since shepherds and hunters try to shoot or poison them. There were stories of wolves being raised in people's houses and they were taken to a "wolf shelter" because if they were released to the wild they would not fear Man and they would be the first to get a bullet because they'd get curious if they saw people on the wild and approach them, when those people might just be trying to get them... (I just want to say that here it is illegal to kill wolves as well as raise them as pets).
Posted by corax  on  Wed Feb 09, 2005  at  12:23 PM
Dog and Coyote bitches may come into heat at different times of the year, but, I'VE NEVER KNOWN BITCHES TO BREED WITH BITCHES! I don't think the males care what time of year it is.
If my male pitbull finds a female coyote in heat, he's going to breed with it, and no coyote is going to stop him.
Posted by Jeff Goven  on  Mon Mar 28, 2005  at  07:20 PM
"I'VE NEVER KNOWN BITCHES TO BREED WITH BITCHES!" - Jeff

Never seen "Basic Instinct"?
😕
Posted by Rod  on  Mon Mar 28, 2005  at  07:41 PM
Coyote dogs are no urban legend!I work on a reservation in Southern Alberta where there are ferrel (sp?) dogs and coyotes running around everywhere. Some of these dogs are certainly part coyote, judging by their disposition and their appearance. I've shared my lunch with a coydog. Band members shoot them when the populations get too high, or they become a menace. Someone come out here and do a DNA test, I'd bet my ass that you'll find that these wild dogs are a good part coyote!
Posted by Jeff  on  Wed Apr 20, 2005  at  11:30 AM
Ths is a very strange topic, to be sure...
Regardless, the Sundacer coydogs ARE real coydogs. Most are F2 50%'s though which means they may look more like dogs than coyotes. They are NOT mixed with wolves (wolf hybrids look much different than these animals). I was recently reading a book called "The Dog: Its Domestication and Behavior" and it describes experimental breeding that was done between Coyotes and Beagles--it showed pictures of the resulting pups through 4 generations of breeding--so YES breeding between coyotes and dogs is entirely possible, ESPECIALLY in captivity.
Plese visit http://www.ucc.uconn.edu/%7EPSYCADM7/pres1.htm for more info on the beagle/coys.
Check out http://science-research-canid.itgo.com/coydog.htm for a picture of a beautiful F1 coyote cross (See the one blue eye? Coyotes don't have blue eyes--this proves that the animal is part dog)
Here is another article on Coydogs:
http://www.coydog.us/alune.html

~Seij
Posted by Seijun  on  Wed Apr 27, 2005  at  10:45 AM
I don't think anyone denied that it's possible to cross coyotes and dogs in captivity -- in captivity you can cross lions and leopards, for instance, but there is only the most insubstantial evidence of this happening in nature. One doubts that coydogs exist outside a lab or breeding farm.
Posted by Carl Fink  on  Wed Apr 27, 2005  at  07:49 PM
I was camping in in our 24 foot motorhome at a National Forest in Prescott, AZ this past summer (June 2004) - along with my husband and my border collie, Vera. It was dusk/early nightfall and I was washing dishes in the motorhome. Vera was on a tie-out outside the motorhome to allow her some freedom to roam about the campsite without running away. I heard noises outside the motorhome and I went outside to investigate.

What I saw was a very nervous Vera "sniffing tails" with a coyote - she most definitely did NOT look like a happy camper but it was a coyote, never-the-less and they were most definitely sniffing one another. Vera looked rather distressed. The the coyote, by contrast, did not look particularly upset by the whole interaction but then he took off when he saw me approach.

Since Vera was obviously too big to be prey and since he was clearly "getting personal" with her, I would have to assume that if she were unspayed and in season, he would likely have mounted her.

One can only imagine what border collie-coyote puppies would have looked like but one thing is quite certain - they would have been very bright animals, indeed. Then again, one wonders would they have herded the sheep or eaten them? The whole thing sort of reminds me of the Gary Larson cartoon where a love-struck and rather foolish looking wolf is holding a bouquet of flowers behind his back and ringing the doorbell of a home where a sheep is about to answer the door. I can't recall the caption but it was something very ludicrous and amusing.

As for all this bru-ha-ha about whether they can or cannot mate or whether they are or are not inclined to do so, I can advise that it is most definitely possible for them to interbreed and, moreover, I am given to suspect that such is exactly what this young fellow had in mind.

I am quite sure that if Vera were in heat and then if I left her out there unattended on a tie-out that Mr. "One-Night Stand" Coyote he would have most definitely gotten the job done - and, worst of all- NOT brought her any flowers to boot!
Posted by Lois E Brenneman, MSN, APN  on  Thu May 05, 2005  at  12:33 PM
Lois, male coyotes are only fertile in late winter, so even if he had wanted to, the coyote you saw could not have fertilized your dog (had she been in heat). Also, coyotes tend to be a bit more "formal" about things. A male dog will typically mount any in-heat female, whether he knows her or not. On the other hand, a coyote will court a female for several months before mating with her (at least, from what I have read). So in theory, if the coyote HAD wanted to carry on a relationship with your dog, he probably would not have tried mounting her on their first date, lol. (Although, here I am only assuming--I do not know why a male coyote courts the female for so long before mating. If it is ONLY because the female will not let him mount unless they have courted first, then perhaps a dog WOULD let a male coyote mount on the first meeting, since female dogs typically don't seem to care if they know the male participant or not).

~Seij
Posted by Seijun  on  Thu May 05, 2005  at  01:01 PM
It is reassuring to know that Mr. Coyote was not just "using" my dog or seeking to take advantage of her innocence. Actually, Vera is not all that innocent, anyway. It seems that before we adopted her from the shelter she had been on the lamb (pardon the phrase) and managed to conceive and deliver a litter of nine puppies. Sadly, I do believe that if Vera was in season, she might well have been a very "easy date" for Mr Coyote although I could not testify to such fact with certainty. It seems that Vera was already spayed when we got her and all the puppies had been previously adopted out. I could not say for certainty how long she knew her puppies' father before she permitted certain liberties.

Actually, not totally unlike coyotes, female dogs are known to have distinct preferences in this regard, as well. Prior to Vera, I had acquired a golden retriever on a breeding contract from the breeder from whence we got her. When she came into season, on multiple occasions, no matter which stud dog the breeder would bring over, Seara was having no part of it. She would mercilessly tease and lead-on the various male dogs then viciously bite their face when they would actually attempt to mount her.

Seara, however, was exceedingly receptive to, Sammy, a neighbor's (rather coarse and uncoothed) large coon hound who was, in fact, quite successful in tieing her - fortunately, he was "fixed" so no coonhound-retriever puppies ensued.

One of the aspiring golden retriever stud dogs did, infact, give up on trying to breed her but settled instead to eat up all of her food, drink all her water and then move in - lock, stock and barrel - into her doghouse. When the breeder came to take him home, he absolutely did not want to go home - it seems he had planned to move in to Seara's spacious run.

Apparently this particular dog was not the top dog at the breeder's home (she had numerous other male dogs, one of whom was the Alpha dog). I supect that he figured he could elevate his status by starting a new pack of his own at my house. Perhaps he felt that Seara would eventually come around and he could start a new pack once the puppies were born (just what we needed). This fellow was most unhappy about returning home and even jumped out of the rear window as the breeder was pulling out of the driveway to drive him home
Posted by brennele  on  Thu May 05, 2005  at  07:33 PM
I recently, dec. '04, took in my brother's 15 year old dog, he's on a long term sailing trip, and she was afriad and shook while on the boat. My brother found her on the side of the road when she was a puppy. When I got her I started to think of what her possible mix was. Through discussions with dog park people and others, coydog came up. I have done much research and there are several reasons which make me almost certain that Angel is some sort of coyote mix.
She is the right size and shape for a coyote. The notable dog parts are the nose and ears. However her body and tail are coyote looking. She is tall, 21" at the shoulder, and only 38 lbs. This is a very strange combination for a dog but is just about the perfect size for a coyote.
She howls more then she barks. which would suggest she is either part coyote or a dog closely related to a wolf, but she strikes me and almost anyone who sees her as having nothing similar to a husky or german sheperd , except the tail.
Being found in the wild, and healthy which is rare, also leads to thic conclusion. She is now 15, and there is nothing wrong with her. She is in perfect health. Coyote life expectancies are 15 years or more in the wild, and I imagine that domesticated coydogs could get that gene from either parent and would live longer in a home protected from the elements and with good healthcare and exercise.
As far as behavior, Angel is a gentle old lady, but very active, she seems to have some herding dog behavior. She is also very protective of me. If a fight breaks out at the dog park she comes to sit at my side, and reacts only if the fight reaches us. She neverr lets dogs mount her or play box with her, she reacts to over agression with an agressive display of her face that usually keeps them from trying the same thing again. But generally she is happy to just follow other dogs around and always keep moving (herder? coyote?)
Despite being fifteen she is always energetic. For example at the dog park on a hot and sunny day, when even one year olds lay down in the shade, she doesn't, she keeps on jogging and entertaining herself for the entire time we're there. Other people that see this are always impressed by this.
I did research on the difference between the tracks and gait of dogs and coyotes, what you would use to tell if there was in your backyard or if you were hunting. Here are two websites with info on this
http://www.naturepark.com/coyinfo.htm
http://www.gpnc.org/tracks.htm
I can assure you that everything in her foot print is coyote like. Her front paw is bigger then the back. She leaves only two sets of prints (she places her back paw into the print of front paw). Even her pad shapes and width of paw (space between pads and claws) say coyote. This is the best scientific test I can afford. I saw that someone was offering to sponsor a genetic test, and I would take them up on that as long as it was done properly.
Posted by Julie  on  Sat Jun 04, 2005  at  12:36 PM
Since I know them personally, I can tell you that the owners of Sundance Ranch would never perpetrate a hoax. Their dogs are a true coydog cross between a coyote and a Sibe. They are the most honest people I know and will not sell a dog to just anyone. There are many other breeders selling coy crosses that don't admit to it and the consumer gets more than he bargained for when he thought he was buying a rare breed dog.

The dogs at Sundance are studied very carefully for temperment and are handled by humans from day one. They are very careful about who buys their dogs and keep in touch with the owners. They also would take back a dog at any time that does not work out for the buyer.

Coyotes in the wild come into heat once per year. A low content coydog may have two heat cycles per year but the higher content coydogs only have one cycle per year.

If you interested in a rare breed dog, this is the only place to buy one that truly does guarantee that you can return the dog.

Since this discussion is so interesting and there are such varied opinions I would love to know what all of you think about the American Indian Dog and all the claims by their breeders?
Posted by mick  on  Tue Jul 05, 2005  at  12:35 AM
Tell us more about these Americnan Indian Dogs. What are the claims being made by the breeders?
Posted by Lois E Brenneman  on  Tue Jul 05, 2005  at  06:52 AM
The AID (American Indian Dog) breeders basically try to pass off mix breed dogs as the dog's the Indians had. These are false claims, and all the AID's I have ever seen were really either random mutts or coyote mixes.

~Seij
Posted by Seijun  on  Tue Jul 05, 2005  at  10:29 AM
If you want to know about American Indian
Dogs, just type in American Indian Dog Hoax
here.
You'll find some info about it.
Posted by annie oakley  on  Sat Jul 23, 2005  at  11:57 AM
Just to let you know Coydogs are not an urban legend, I happen to own one.Lisa
Posted by Lisa  on  Sat Jul 23, 2005  at  01:13 PM
I'm not sure what you would like to know about American Indian Dogs. There is another discussion going on in this site that discusses different points of view on them. The truth is they are mutts and the mix changes frequently. The truth is the breeder in Oregon who controls all breeding of these dogs claims he has been breeding them for 40 years but I have seen a letter from a vet dated in 1978. It seems Mr LaFlamme went to him and asked him what breeds of dog he could mix to get a dog that looked like the dogs the Indians had. They are a total recreation and not some breed brought back from extinction. His story changes often and when the dogs change in look or size he has some story about a different line he started to use. His foundation dogs were a coy/sibe mix and he added many other things after that but it is a secret what. There is proof that he bought kelpie/border collie crosses and added them to his lines several years back. But there are so many mixes you don't know what you will get. Buy one now and buy one later and they will not be the same mix.
The people on the Indian Dog Hoax site are far more accurate than any of the breeders of American Indian dogs.

Many people have been duped by this con man and when they find out the truth he tries to ruin their reputations by posting things about them on his website.

There is an Indian Dog site in the Netherlands called American Indian Dogs/Europe run by a woman named Wendy Schrivers. She is perpetrating the same hoax in Europe. Although most of her dogs have the original look of the Sibe, she has also added coydogs to her lines but denies it.

What isn't fair, among other things about all of this, is that you don't know you are buying a coy or wolf mix from these people and it is illegal to own them in many places.

They tell you that if the dog doesn't work out, you can return them but try doing that. They require you spay/neuter your pet but then they don't want them after that. They are of no use if they can't make money from breeding them.

Another thing the buyer needs to know is that they are not taken to vets and the first thing you need to do with your puppy is get it to a vet and get it wormed and get the puppy shots. They are often illegally shipped before they are 8 weeks old, too young to be weaned.

There is also a woman in Michigan who sells Native American Indian Dogs. I will give her credit for one thing. If you ask her a lot of questions, you are more likely to get an answer closer to the truth than you will from LaFlamme.

One more thing before I quit ranting. Don't believe the breed standard for the American Indian Dog. The female is supposed to be 35 or less and the male 45 or less. A lot of them weigh closer to 70 pounds and the females often weigh in about 55 pounds. So, if you are looking for a small dog, this isn't the way to go.
Posted by MICK  on  Sun Jul 24, 2005  at  05:48 PM
Although I seriously doubt this thread is still active, I have to say:

1. I've lived in Texas almost all my lives and commonly observed coyotes behaviour. I have seen what appeared to be domestic dogs, or cross breeds in their packs.

2. I have had wolf/shepard cross breeds most of my life and find them to be be wonderful protectors. yes, they are pack animals, very much so. That's why they make great family protectors. I've never experienced any problem with any of them, and never had any problem calling them off of whoever they were chewing up at the time.

3. I found Mr. Muntz's remarks to be in an offensive and arrogant vein myself. Possibly he should move down here where he would learn some civility and not a small degree of humility. Perhaps he will spend a little time expounding on my sentence constructs, mis-spellings, and so forth and give you people some peace 😊
Posted by Clay  on  Tue Jul 26, 2005  at  04:13 PM
I think it is important to remember though, that as a general rule, wolf hybrids do not make good "protetors" or house pets. That is great if your's are, but certainly don't expect all or even most to be like that. Lower content animals are almost always the only ones that turn out to be good guard dogs and/or house pets. Mid and higher content animals don't make good guard animals at all, and although they can be taught to live indoors while supervised, it can be expected that they will start to tear things up once they get bored.

~Seij
Posted by Seijun  on  Tue Jul 26, 2005  at  05:11 PM
I have a husky, coyote, norwegian elkhound cross. Several vets have examined her teeth and told me they are more consistent with coyote dentition than dog dentition. Her behavior is definitely not normal dog behavior, either.

Her mother was a husky who ran away in the Sandia Mountains of New Mexico (where I used to live) while she was in heat. Apparently her father was a coydog, which avoids the whole "coyotes breed only at certain times" argument, which as a former New Mexican I can say is baloney, too--there's a reason coyotes are so successful, and flexible breeding is one of them.

I have heard and seen coyote packs killing dogs. My family labrador (a male) was killed by coyotes. Perhaps a female in heat has distractions to offer that may keep her alive.
Posted by Jean  on  Sun Aug 07, 2005  at  08:35 AM
I picked up a puppy on an Indian reservation this summer. It was living in the wild on the rodeo grounds in central oregon with about 5 full grown dogs and one other puppy. The Indians call these dogs "Res" dogs and they swear they are Coyotee German Shepard mixs. My dog has mostly German Shepards colors but many traits of a coyotee, fur, ears tail even his teeth are bigger and sharper then any german shepard pup anyone has seen. He howls like a coyotee does. He is extremly smart and well behaved. My vet didn't seem to think I was crazy when i told her what he was.
Posted by wesley  on  Wed Aug 31, 2005  at  11:25 AM
Umm...people are still commenting on my posts? Oddly, the negative remarks seem to come mainly from people who take a cavalier attitude toward crossbreeds. Folks, I said specifically that I feel it's irresponsible to take in exotic animals as pets without knowing what they're all about, whether from experience or from proper research, and this includes their habits, any special needs, and so forth. If you're competent and capable of caring for such an animal, wonderful. Most people aren't. Most people, judging from what I've seen, aren't fit to own animals at all. If nothing else, take an animal you don't have any familiarity with to a veterinarian; it's a noble profession in my opinion, and I'd generally trust their judgement.

I don't approve of encouraging a casual attitude toward any kind of exotic and won't be persuaded on it. This is how I feel about any kind of pet, but it applies doubly for those we have no right to expect to behave like their domesticated relatives.

By the way, I have family from here in the South going back to before the Revolution, Clay, and I've rarely stepped out of my home state.

(((My dog has mostly German Shepards colors but many traits of a coyotee, fur, ears tail even his teeth are bigger and sharper then any german shepard pup anyone has seen. He howls like a coyotee does. He is extremly smart and well behaved. My vet didn't seem to think I was crazy when i told her what he was.)))

It sounds like you love him. I've heard of coyote dogs being a bit on the skittish side in comparison to other types of dog. Is this true in your case? Also, is there anything special your vet recommended you do for your pet? Any special meds or living arrangements or anything? I'd just like to know so I'd be able to tell as much to someone who needs the info.
Posted by Bill Mutz  on  Thu Sep 01, 2005  at  07:50 PM
Bill, It sounds like you are not a pet lover. I can tell you from experience that most vets know nothing about dealing with a pet that has wild blood in it. You have to go to a vet that has training in pet psychology. Even dog trainers don't know how to deal with them. Yes, coydogs tend to be skittish. They don't like strangers and tend to bond closely with their human. They expect the human to keep them safe. I don't have a problem with my coydog other than that I had some trouble understanding him until he was taken to the proper vet which meant travelling to another city and going to a University Clinic that specializes in animal behavior. Life is much different now that I know what is going on but he went through three vets that didn't have a clue. I couldn't ask for a better companion and he actually behaves better than my other dog who does not have the coy in her. However, they are a little more fearful than most dogs.
Posted by MICK  on  Thu Sep 01, 2005  at  08:19 PM
Thanks for pointing that out, MICK. I was mostly going on the assumption that the average veterinarian would be more likely to know what to do with a coydog than the average person, and I'd like to think that one would have the sense to direct a person who just came into the possession of a coydog to the appropriate specialist. Perhaps I'm just putting too much faith in them, but my main point was that letting one's veterinarian know that one hasn't had any experience with a particular type of animal would be at least ten times better than letting them go on the assumption that one's had experience with such animals and knows what to do. To be clear, I agree with you.

Anyway, be well.
Posted by Bill Mutz  on  Fri Sep 02, 2005  at  09:58 AM
I can assure you that Coy-Dogs are very real. I have owned two of them. We just had to put the oldest one down (cancer) at the ripe old age of 15 (human years). He was such a wonderful pet that I was always searching for another one of the same breed. He was half Coyote and half Chow. His mother was a pure bred Chow and his father was a Coyote. He had all the markings and fur of a coyote, as well as a Coyote's gate, but he had the purple tongue of the Chow. I've seen Coyote's in the wild and, aside from the size, they looked identical to my dog. My dog was a bit more muscular, probably because he was fed regularly and didn't have to hunt for food. He was wonderful with people as long as he knew them, but made a great guard dog as he was always wary of strangers. My wife got him in New Mexico, when she was driving tractor trailers for a living. He spent the first 3 years of his life with her on the road. He would sleep in the back while she was driving and sit in the passenger seat and guard the truck at night while she slept.

My second Chow-Coyote mix came from Las Vegas. His mother was a pet Coyote, and his father was a Chow. He looks nothing like a Coyote, possibly because the males tend to take the characteristics of the father (I don't know this for a fact, it's merely speculation.) He has more of a Chow type face and is black in color. His tongue is purple spotted. He doesn't have a viscious bone in his body. While he will bark at strangers, it's only to atract their attention because they are someone who hasn't had the good sense to pet him yet. I am currently in the market for another Coyote-Chow mix (male un-neutered) because the young one is somewhat lonely. He could use a playmate. If anyone knows where I might find such a dog, I would greatly appreciate any info you might have.
Posted by Michael Welch  on  Sun Oct 23, 2005  at  08:43 AM
Michael: http://www.coydog.us/ - Only genuine coydog breeders I know.

~Seij
Posted by Seijun  on  Sun Oct 23, 2005  at  10:29 AM
Michael,

I don't know where you can find that mix but I know where you can find a coy/sibe mix and they have many right now of all ages. Sundance Ranch in Oregon. Their dogs have wonderful temperaments.
I will definitely have one of theirs one day.
Mick
Posted by MICK  on  Fri Oct 28, 2005  at  09:35 AM
It is foolish to say that coydogs are an urban legend. There are many wild dogs that have crossed with cyotes in the wild in the CA mountains. I have a true coydog and my vet was the one to tell me about her. She started growing a second fuzzy tan/grey coat over her pitch black coat at 2 years old. She shows her cyote ways in her submisivness and spazness quite often. It offends my beloved dog to say she does not exsist. I am proud of her and what she is.
Posted by Tiffany  on  Thu Dec 15, 2005  at  07:50 PM
There's a great story in Of Wolves and Men about a scientist studying wolves who manages an interview with an old Eskimo. Anxious to impress the old guy, the scientists reels off his knowledge of wolves and at some points asks, "Do you find this to be true of wolves?" The old man replied, "Which wolf?" Many of the posting I've read refer to the behavior of hybreds as if it were a concrete and predictable thing. When we consider the great variety of behaviors among humans can we honestly say, "This and oly this is how humans behave." Certainly, we cannot. For example, I have trained many German Shepherds. As anyone who has trained animals will tell you, the personality of each animal is unique. Now a Lab is a lot more likely to chase a stick than a Huskie, but within these genetic tendancies there lies a universe of individual differences. And this is so with hybreds. I owned a high content wold hybred and certainly she was a hunter. She preferred a hole to a dog house and believed that if she froze when I caught her stealing a thawing fish of the counter that I would not be able to see her in the brush of our tile kitchen. But she was an individual. I will agree that people who know nothing of hybreds should not own them. However, there are millions of dog owners who should not have dogs. I have tried to train the pets of people who shouldn't be allowed to have house plants. We cannot prevent the ownership of animals by such people. There are no books or classes at the local junior college that will make you a good owner for a poodle, a pit bull or a hybred. You are a good owner when you can observe, care for and communicate with animals. There are animal people the way there are people people. It takes care, understanding and the willingness to interact with the animal. As the human in the relationship, of course, you must take the lead. And so it is with the owning of hybreds. There are no fast rules or formulas. It does take common sense. A hybred, for example, is likely to eat the cat he's chasing and male hybreds are quite often unable to curb the instinct to mark your couch. But the key to safely owning one- just as it is the key to safely owning a Rott- is that you are an intelligent, caring, adaptable human being. If you bring that to the table, you can do it. Myself, I don't think I'd do very well with Poodles.
Posted by David Wagstaff  on  Fri Dec 30, 2005  at  02:55 PM
Hi David,
I respect your opinion BUT
I think you misunderstand all of this. We are not saying don't own one. We are saying beware because you don't know what you will get with these dogs. Too many end up in rescue and too many are put down. I personally have two of them. I am a very caring owner and have had dogs for over 30 years. But I wasn't prepared for an aggressive dog, one that bites the other and generally makes life miserable for the other dog. And I am not the only one. I know at the very lest ten people who have these dogs and most of them have issues from chasing cars to biting their owners. I agree you need to have a strong alpha personality to have an aggresive dog, especially a large one but it isn't easy. And it is not always safe. I am thankful to still have mine since he bit someone and they didn't report it. But it has taken a lot of work and a lot of training to get through this. Still, life is very strained because you have to be on guard every minute. And the problem with these dogs is that you are more likely to get an aggressive one than you would with a lab or golden or poodle for that matter. I am not saying those dogs can't be trouble because I personnally know of a small child whose face was ripped wide open by a poodle. I think they are nasty little dogs yet I wouldn't tell someone not to buy one. We are just saying the percentage of AID's and Naid's that turn out to be aggressive is very high. And you need to be fully aware of what you are getting into before you take on the challenge. Respectfully, Mick
Posted by mick  on  Fri Dec 30, 2005  at  04:27 PM
Actually, I've never known a pittbull to attack a human with any intention other than covering him with slobber, which they have in plenty. They're one of the friendlier breeds. Strangely, their playful nature has played a role in earning them their bad reputation. They tend to frequently engage in agonistic play with other dogs, but this isn't at all the same as viciousness or mean-spiritedness. To my knowledge, their worst quality is that they're complete clowns and don't know their own strength. And it really hurts when they step on your toes.

Chow chows, however, are a nightmare. They're mean, and they do it on purpose.

None of this is to be taken as a rule. Dogs differ in personality as much as people. Different breeds do have different tendencies, though, and one should be aware of them.
Posted by Bill Mutz  on  Tue Jan 10, 2006  at  04:22 PM
hiya. i was told my 9 pond dog is part coyote, and i must say i doubt it.
so i showed up here and elsewhere to check it all out.
good reading! thanks all!
however, i remain equally unconvinced that coydogs are a nonesuch due to the differing estrus periods [mating seasons] for the different species.
i say this scheduling difference implies an _incentive_ for the creation of coydogs.
what are coyotes gonna do all those months when their ladyfriends arent in the mood and worse smell wrong?
just a thought.
imput from people who know something much appreciated.
jay sheckley and her weird lil dog romeo
Posted by jay sheckley  on  Wed Jan 18, 2006  at  12:04 AM
Coydogs do exist and as a matter of fact, I have one. But you can find out all you want to know if you visit the website of Sundance Ranch in Oregon. They breed a coy/sibe mix and you are correct, they breed once per year. Her dogs are lovely and they are real.
http://www.coydog.us
Posted by MICK  on  Wed Jan 18, 2006  at  09:53 AM
BTW, coydogs weigh about 45-55 pounds in most cases. Mine weighs 72, so it depends on what else they are mixed with.
Posted by MICK  on  Wed Jan 18, 2006  at  09:55 AM
"what are coyotes gonna do all those months when their ladyfriends arent in the mood and worse smell wrong?"

Go about living I suppose. Remember, the males can only breed once a year too.

~Seij
Posted by Seijun  on  Wed Jan 18, 2006  at  12:34 PM
fair enough, Seij! Since yesterday I've looked at more more pix and I'm jollywell convinced despite opinions to the contrary that my 14 month old pet furbaby is in fact ::gasp!:: a genuine dog!
love jay and romeo
Posted by jay sheckley  on  Wed Jan 18, 2006  at  01:05 PM
Actually, unless I recall incorrectly, a domestic male can breed at any time of year. I don't imagine a coydog would be likely to end up as someone's pet unless picked up as a "stray" and taken to be a nondescript mutt...which...wouldn't be entirely inaccurate.
Posted by Bill Mutz  on  Wed Jan 18, 2006  at  02:21 PM
mr mutz writes< I don't imagine a coydog would be likely to end up as someone's pet unless picked up as a "stray" and taken to be a nondescript mutt...which...wouldn't be entirely inaccurate.>>

my guy _did_ come from the shelter, was a stray found stumbling around rather well with one broken foot. nobody knew where he came from, which is likely common enough. he's said to be part chihuahua, which in coyote is pronounced "snack", no? the shelter refuses to speculate what else.

i was stopped in the street and told he's surely part coyote- but probly less than half.howzabout none?

the guy said a coydog probly mated with a chihuahua.

romeo _is_ pretty strange-looking. exotic. when i first saw him even though i wanted a dog so much i wasnt sure i wanted him. everyone else says he's cute but at first i felt put off in an odd way. i didnt take to his look at all. then they put him in my arms, and boy he liked it there! hate to say this but he sorta hypnotised me. :D the broken foot was the clincher.

romeo looks a LOT like a fox, he really has a somewhat coydog look pelt i admit. he hasnt got that cold expression. does that matter?

he may well be a Pomchi. his toes look normal to me but i havent accessed the online toe data yet. he is fast, with a bizarre gait. his forepaws happen to be 2-3 dogshoe sizes bigger than his back feet. he's either completely mellow or crazed, often somewhat devious. he burrows and hides things. he's _quiet_. the trainer says he's a "thinky" dog and therefore a good match for me.... hmmm...

ive looked at pictures and read all this. i really appreciate your input, rather feel we are undeserving of your expert attention.

yet continually people say, what IS that?

i really dont know what he is but i am hooked on him.
romeo doesnt care what you call him unless it's late for dinner.

he resembles a pygmy fox. [?]
he could be a dog!

thanks again,
jay and her weird lil animal romeo
Posted by jay sheckley  on  Wed Jan 18, 2006  at  09:38 PM
i just looked at the coydogs mick sent me to. yes my guy romeo does have the face and body shape though not the husky size.

though very brown-eyed, he _does_ look like that, the snout the stance the smile even. thankyou!
this is fun.
jay, his coy mistress

-----

mr mutz writes< I don't imagine a coydog would be likely to end up as someone's pet unless picked up as a "stray" and taken to be a nondescript mutt...which...wouldn't be entirely inaccurate.>>

my guy _did_ come from the shelter, was a stray found stumbling around rather well with one broken foot. nobody knew where he came from, which is likely common enough. he's said to be part chihuahua, which in coyote is pronounced "snack", no? the shelter refuses to speculate what else.

i was stopped in the street and told he's surely part coyote- but probly less than half.howzabout none?

the guy said a coydog probly mated with a chihuahua.

romeo _is_ pretty strange-looking. exotic. when i first saw him even though i wanted a dog so much i wasnt sure i wanted him. everyone else says he's cute but at first i felt put off in an odd way. i didnt take to his look at all. then they put him in my arms, and boy he liked it there! hate to say this but he sorta hypnotised me. :D the broken foot was the clincher.

romeo looks a LOT like a fox, he really has a somewhat coydog look pelt i admit. he hasnt got that cold expression. does that matter?

he may well be a Pomchi. his toes look normal to me but i havent accessed the online toe data yet. he is fast, with a bizarre gait. his forepaws happen to be 2-3 dogshoe sizes bigger than his back feet. he's either completely mellow or crazed, often somewhat devious. he burrows and hides things. he's _quiet_. the trainer says he's a "thinky" dog and therefore a good match for me.... hmmm...

ive looked at pictures and read all this. i really appreciate your input, rather feel we are undeserving of your expert attention.

yet continually people say, what IS that?

i really dont know what he is but i am hooked on him.
romeo doesnt care what you call him unless it's late for dinner.

he resembles a pygmy fox. [?]
he could be a dog!

thanks again,
jay and her weird lil animal romeo
Posted by jay sheckley  on  Wed Jan 18, 2006  at  09:46 PM
"Actually, unless I recall incorrectly, a domestic male can breed at any time of year"

Yes, that is correct. A domestic dog can breed any time of year, but both male and females of wild candids only breed once a year.

~Seij
Posted by seijun  on  Thu Jan 19, 2006  at  09:43 AM
I JUST learned about this coydog bread and was doing a little online research and came across this site. I got my dog, Chilly, about a year ago from a shelter. They said he was just picked up as a stray dog when he was a puppy and they guessed his mix as huskie/border collie. He looks IDENTICAL to a fox and is about the same size, except he has black and white fur. A person was over at our house during a party the other night(I'm an OSU college student) and she asked me if he was a Coydog. I had no idea what a coydog was, but she told me her friend had one that looked exactly like my little buddy Chilly. She also mentioned something about the way he walks, which is more of a trot, as a characteristic of a Coydog. I looked at pictures online and saw one that looks EXACTLY like my dog and claims it as a Coydog
Is there anyway of knowing if my dog is actually a Coydog. Who ever has one let me know if these would be characteristics along the line of a Coydog: looks exactly like a fox, large pointed ears, tail looks like those of the sundance huskies, larger and sharper teeth than dogs his size, unbelievably agile, can easily clear my futon when he jumps which is annoying when I try to catch him, trots or somewhat skips when he walks, very friendly or very submissive around some people though he loves biting my hand and our other dog, he is VERY attached to me. Also when I first got him he couldn't bark until about 7 months he always made more of a howling/whining noise and still does so when he wants something and especially when he sights other animals, mostly dogs. If anyone wants to give me their opinion or tell me how I could find out if he is a Coydog that'd be great, this coydog thing is pretty interesting.
Posted by Mark  on  Tue Feb 07, 2006  at  01:25 PM
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