Dog Community

Just adopted a dog.... is she vulnerable to coyote attacks???????

Posted : 12/19/2006 8:53:47 PM

She is a 12 month old Shephard/Beagle mix. She weighs only about 20 pounds and is about 2 feet long and 1 feet high.

We had a 4 month old puppy taken by a coyote and killed just a few weeks ago. So we are worried that they might come after this new dog. There are lots of coyotes where we live.

So should we keep her inside a cage (kennel) at night or is she old enough and big enough to defend herself?

We live on 10 acres and it's surrounded by 6 feet high fence all around but I heard coyotes can jump the fence as high as 6ft????

We also have a 50 pounds Australian shephard puppy and he's wild and he keeps jumping on her and she gets angry and tries to bite him numerous times already.

Violetta Madej

Posted : 12/19/2006 9:05:15 PM

Do your dogs have to be outdoor dogs in the first place?
I would never risk my dog's safety by leaving them outside, especially if I knew there were wild animals around on the premises..that would be irresponsible and neglectful. A 20 lb dog isn't a big dog...why are you leaving it outside in the first place?

My dogs are part of the family..they stay with me in the house.

As for your other dog, it seems like he/she is unsocialized and untrained...looks like it needs some obedience training. How often do the dogs interact with people, with other dogs, with each other? This is very important..keeping a dog doesn't mean having a large property, letting the dog roam, and feeding and watering it...there are alot of other responsibilities of a dog owner...

seashell

Posted : 12/19/2006 10:15:59 PM

I think your dog should be inside with its family. Dogs are soclal animals who need love and training.

ottoluv

Posted : 12/19/2006 10:23:14 PM

My parents live in an area with a large amount of coyotes, they have a pen outside for my brother's pit mix which they use when they are not at the house. It is quite large with a "roof" so things can't jump in

Their dog lives inside the house when they are there and at night. Although coyotes aren't that large, they run in packs remember.

jones

Posted : 12/20/2006 12:32:53 AM

I am very surprised that a dog was adopted out to you as an "outside dog," particularly when you have recently lost a puppy to coyotes. Without a doubt you should do something to protect your dog from coyote attacks... I'm not even sure why you're asking when you have just lost one dog... is the new one packing heat or something?

sallya

Posted : 12/20/2006 12:42:20 AM

You need to protect the dogs for sure. Let them be inside with you, safe. If you can't, at least have a very safe pen with a roof. They deserve to be safe.

gayle

Posted : 12/20/2006 1:33:53 AM

We also have a 50 pounds Australian shephard puppy and he's wild and he keeps jumping on her and she gets angry and tries to bite him numerous times already.

they need to be seperated until you have implemented some good training.

as for the coyotes, bring your dogs inside, they dont just need to be with the family they want to be. is there any specific reasons you dont want them in the house? if so, just tell us what they are and you will get tons of suggestions on how to remedy whatever the issue may be.

i hope the best for your new pup, it is really unfortunate the last one was snatched, that was completly avoidable and i am glad you are making an effort to stop it from happening again.

jeano

Posted : 12/20/2006 3:33:41 AM

All dogs are vulnerable to coyotes, wolves, moose, and other large animals. My mother let our lab get killed by coyotes. You don't want this to happen, trust me. They tear them apart.

Everyone else is correct, your dogs should be inside. It sounds like you only keep them outside and this is not a good thing. They are pack animals and you are their pack. They need you! They need training and socialization. The rewards are a great and loyal companion. [

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And.....a FIFTY-pound PUPPY? That's awfully big for a australian shepherd puppy. Wow!

marynh

Posted : 12/20/2006 8:11:53 AM

all it took for me was losing one cat to wildlife for me to keep all my cats inside - if I lost a dog/puppy to a coyote I wouldn't be leaving mine outside.
We get lots of coyotes too and when my former dog was getting old and ill we would notice a couple of coyotes hanging around. Sadie loves to go lay on our deck in the evenings...just knowing those coyotes were out there and could potentially tear my old girl apart was enough to make me not let Sadie lay on the deck.
Living with the guilt of allowing something like that to happen (and yes since we have control of our dogs knowing the potential is there and yet doing nothing about it we have allowed it to happen) is more than I can live with.

Firestorm

Posted : 12/20/2006 8:39:48 AM

Dogs really should live inside with their families. I don't think any dog should have to fight off coyotes or anything else. That is rather cruel. Why do you want a dog to only have it live outside?

spiritdogs

Posted : 12/20/2006 8:54:30 AM

No dog is safe from coyotes if she's left out alone. Even a large dog can be set upon by several coyotes. A dog can be lured by one coyote into the woods only for a couple more to grab it. Two dogs may not be able to fend off four coyotes. Coyotes regard dogs as competitors and will kill them. Keep your dogs indoors when you aren't there to directly supervise them.

Susan Chandler

Posted : 12/20/2006 9:38:52 AM

A 20 lb. beagle is no match for a full grown coyote. Keep her inside.

Xerxes

Posted : 12/20/2006 2:19:21 PM

Yikes...

Well if you won't bring your dog inside, at the very least a secure kennel with a roof is necessary.

HKdog

Posted : 12/20/2006 2:30:23 PM

I really think you should keep them inside, we had an inside dog when I was a child, we had a big yard, (about 10 acres) my parents let her out during the day and she got in a scrap with a coyote, they can really put a hurtin' on a dog!! This was just one and she was a 75lb dog. I know 2 or more would have killed her.
The only match for a coyote on your property is a 12gauge. Don't expect a dog to take care of it or be safe if they are in a kennel. Especially if you live in a place where the winters are bad, food is food, even if it is a dog or a cat.

brookcove

Posted : 12/20/2006 3:07:24 PM

I have dogs whose job it is to keep coyotes at bay. They weigh over 100 pounds and have very heavy coats and "fighting" loose skin and still last year I had one of them get a pretty bad bite during the height of lambing. This year I will keep the lambs and mamas in the front of the house where I can help the dogs watch them. Next year when I have more lambs and have to spread out, I'll add another dog to the crew. My neighbor has lost some young calves to coys and added a crew of guard donkeys to his pastures. Please don't take coyotes lightly. They will take your Aussie, too, if they think he's a threat. Your Aussie may be jacked up on adrenaline from the constant danger of coyote incursion, and this could be leading to his aggression. Really, the betst thing would be to bring them both in where you can keep an eye on them most of the time and correct behavior and protect them.