coyotes

 ONE:

Coyotes don't live in packs, so you don't need to worry[] We have a million out here also.

TWO:

I'm not sure if you have a PetSmart around your house, but usually near the training ring they have a large column full of training supplies. One of the great tools they have there is mad dog pepper spray, except it;s pepper spray AND citronella. If you bring the can out with you everytime your outside and one of the coyotes are coming close, tell it to go home in a deep growling voice and stand up real tall. If it advances, spray in the air. If it wants to attack you, spray it. But the chances of that aren't very likely.


THREE:

Take in berserkers size and defendability. My Malinois Knox is not only pretty big, but he can tear a coyote to shreds.

FOUR:

Always keep him on leash, with you with him. A coyote will run if it sees you in the window, so upclose is WAY different.


Hope that helped

Unless conditions are extreme and starvation is impending, you dog should be safe on lead with you.  I would check any secure fenced area (like the backyard) before letting him out at night>  Getting a spot flashlight or  permanent lighting.  Motion sensor lighting set for small animals might even be worth it if they are problematic.  I would not trust off lead dogs to be safe regardless.  Coyotes have been know to lure dogs away and kill them when food or territory issues are at work.

ORIGINAL: gaylemarie

i never really thought much of it as i've always heard they are flighty, until i was checking out some coyote hounds that are bred not to far from here and saw one of their kills, it was HUGE. i always thought they were shabby little things, but it looks nearly like a wolf to me.

Just because it's an interesting tidbit of info:  the coyotes around the Eastern chunk of the country are half wolf which is why they're so much bigger than their Western cousins.  The theory is that as coyotes spread Eastward they bred with Canadian wolves which gave them the wolfy characteristics they have now.  There are a few other things that are more wolf about them too, I don't remember exactly what they are but I remember reading about them.  There's a really interesting book written by a Massachusetts writer about 'yotes that explains all of it...excellent book. 

My cat was killed by coyotes in OK after he zipped otu the door and we were unable to catch him.   Then after that, a pair of them came to visit our house and howl outside our fence.  We were in a subdivision at that time!  I think if your yard is not securely fenced, I wouldn't leave berserker outside unattended.

Coys DO work in packs around breeding season and around peak feeding seasons (usually when livestock is having babies). But, unless they are desperate they should not bother your dog. However, a mother with whelps may attack if you get near her den. Just FYI on depending on your dog's size as a defense, they kill adult sheep very easily - they are wily, efficient, and persistent when they are determined to do the deed.

Ecologically, they are desperately needed as the top predator in most areas where we've killed off the large canids and felids. So it's up to us to be responsible and never make our livestock or pets a temptation.

Our coyotes (TX/OK) in urban areas and rural definitely work in packs or family groups numbering 2-6....it's common in areas where other large predators are eliminated...they are adaptable...so they fill the wolf's niche. I've had as many as 3 at a time outside my back fence and I live in suburbia.
 
I would not put a domestic dog (aside from a LGD) of any size up against a coyote pair....because coyotes are a wild species with wild reflexes and instinct and IMO they'd make mincmeat out of most any dog that lives as a housepet....esp in numbers. Large dogs, have been lured out and killed by coyotes.
 
[linkhttp://texnat.tamu.edu/symposia/coyote/p13.htm]http://texnat.tamu.edu/symposia/coyote/p13.htm[/link]

I wouldn't leave him out alone for any extended periods. I live in California suburbia, and despite our lack of squirrels and other foresty creatures we have tons of coyotes. They tend to prefer cats and small dogs out here, but that could simply be because there are plenty of them and they're easy prey. I agree with everyone else - your dog is most likely safe as long as you're nearby.

 he is never unsupervised, thats not the issue, and im not too concerned about them at my own house, there is a stream seperating my yard from the woods, i cannot see them crossing it. when we go out to my parents house though, they are right in the middle of the woods, and the coyotes howl all night and sound like they are right in the backyard. i hate taking him outside there at night. all the coyotes i have ever seen have been two-three at a time, so i am fairly positive they do run in pairs at least.

i had never heard of them luring dogs out to attack, eeek! berserker is not big by any means,and i have never seen him get in a fight with another dog, but i have a feeling he would lose.he needs a coyote hound to protect him, haha, i wish. they are really neat dogs though, they look like mostly treeing walker and various hound mix.some of them look like giant berserkers, wouldn't that be hilarious.

so anyway, i have added coyotes to my list of things that are keeping me from going back out to the woods at night, fabulous.

ORIGINAL: belgmal_girl

 ONE:

Coyotes don't live in packs, so you don't need to worry[] We have a million out here also.


THREE:

Take in berserkers size and defendability. My Malinois Knox is not only pretty big, but he can tear a coyote to shreds.

FOUR:

Always keep him on leash, with you with him. A coyote will run if it sees you in the window, so upclose is WAY different.


Hope that helped

 
Coyotes don't normally live in packs, however they will live in extended family units which can comprise upwards of ten individuals.  Also Coyote groups will work cooperatively at times.  So it is not unusual to see a small group of unrelated individuals (4-10.)
 
Your Mal may be big and strong, but coyotes are wily and street smart, they would never engage your dog head-on.  They would, however, lure him to a place where they have the advantage of numbers or terrain or surprise or all 3 of the above. 
 
Coyotes are wild animals and care must be exercised when they are present or there is a threat of them being present.  Don't ever underestimate this canines.  These are wild animals that are highly adaptable and opportunistic.
 
 

Coyotes like there wolf relitives can be pack hunter or can be loaners. As to why the coyote you saw was so big.... Here in the east coast we really dont have a lot of PURE bread coyotes. Most of the ones here are a hybrid of wolf, dog and coyote. I interned in NC and was very suprised at the size of our coyotes compard to the ones that I had seen in arizona.  They were the one who told me this. They dont like humans and are more than likely going to run the other way when  they hear you comming. Your pup should be fine as long as you have them on a leash, other wise they might think them fair game.