Coyote Attack

 Wow, just wow!  I can't imagine what you are going through.  It must have seemed like an eternity in a split second.  My dogs sniffed out something under my deck last night, but it was too dark to see what, they calmed down fairly quickly, but my heart was pounding for hours afterward.  Geez.

And for what its worth, I would have been proud of my dogs too had they done something like that for me.  AND this would have been the first place I would have come after they were taken care of.  Who else would even come close to understanding?

How scary!  I'm glad everyone is on the mend.  Based on his size, is it possible he was a coydog?  I think you did what you could.  It's so hard to know exactly what to do when events are swirling around you. 

I doubt it was sick. The coyotes around here are totally unfraid of people OR dogs. They are huge, size of a big GSD. We had one really scarey incident at the barn- one coyote strutted around in broad daylight attracting all of the people and dogs to chase it while another one snuck around back and made off with one of the barn cats. The coyote had its own agenda, thought it could handle the dogs, and mis-calculated. I've never heard of a coyote attacking a person, though.

Mudpuppy thats strange that you mention how bold they are, I never knew them to be so bold but the cop who first showed up says they learn to mimic behaviors of domestic dogs to entice the domestics to come closer. I'm not saying thats what happened but I cant help going back to the fact that he didnt just retreat the way he came at first sight because Primo definitely paused to see what he was gonna do.

Side note: I am at work until 6 pm and you all are doing a amazing job of keeping me from thinking about her too much. DH and my mom are in and out checking on her so I cant tell each and every one of you how thankful I am. Truly......I am blessed to have all of you caring about us.

Hewwo,

Iz Teddi heere. Dat iz skeery guyz!! I am happie bof of yu are safed and sounded!! Primo, yu take goods care of yer sizter k? Dats wat us men iz supoosed ta do!!  

Hugz and Lickz,

Teddi 

mudpuppy

I doubt it was sick. The coyotes around here are totally unfraid of people OR dogs. They are huge, size of a big GSD. We had one really scarey incident at the barn- one coyote strutted around in broad daylight attracting all of the people and dogs to chase it while another one snuck around back and made off with one of the barn cats. The coyote had its own agenda, thought it could handle the dogs, and mis-calculated. I've never heard of a coyote attacking a person, though.

 Yes yes yes!

I'm in coyote country too. Coyotes are very bold. They hunt in packs, too. Did you know that? I thought they were loners, but they aren't. My dog who is about 16" at the withers was chased by not one, not two, but about SEVEN coyotes. She got to me first but we had a stand off over my dog. They weren't leaving just because I was there. They waited until I had my dogs leashed and then they left.

 They absolutely positively will go into a back yard and kill and eat a dog. It happened to a dear friend of mine. My other friend had her sixty pound dog surrounded by coyotes in the day time and had to beat them off and had to chase them them off of a big fat lab whose owner wasn't paying attention.

 I have also heard of coyotes luring dogs out of yard through chase only to have a pack waiting to tear them apart.  Dogs make great prey. They're generally kind of stupid about that sort of thing and think "hey! friends!" and get eaten.

 It's sad that the coyote died and it's sad that the dogs were injured but I can promise you, the coyotes intentions were not to go in the backyard to scavenge garbage or make friends--he thought it would be an easy meal and made a huge mistake. If you think he couldn't smell the two dogs well, you don't understand how canines work very well.


 

Aurora... I am so sorry your babies are hurt... those poor babies! You snuggle with them and give them lots of love!!!!!

Kelliope... i believe that anyone would have been scared... i mean i don't think she could have done anything better in the situation... she called her dogs off, but when they are in protect mode, thats a little different... you say a coyote doesn't go after humans, well i wouldn't chance it .... period... its a dogs instict to protect their property and their humans... our labrador would have done the same thing and she is no pit bull... i guarantee 100% no doubt she would have gone after a coyote... labs are not labeled as vicious animals either, and believe me, she is a protecter and NO DOUBT would have gone after a coyote....

you think its sick that Aurora couldn't control mother nature?? if it is because you are upset with the way pit bulls are labeled, that is purely disgusting because if you have followed Aurora's posts and seen pictures of these sweet babies, you would know that these are no vicious animals... they were doing what i believe ANY dog, ANY size, ANY breed would most likely do if a wild animal was inside their fenced yard, where they live - every single day... they see it as an intruder... its mother nature, sad the way things happen, but its mother nature.  watch the discovery channel... it happens. 

UGH... anyways... Aurora, send those babies love from Bailey... lots of it! i was just wanting to see some pics of your babies too... when they get better, i demand lots and lots and lots of those handsome little devils!!

I'm PROUD of what your dogs did Aurora! And I have been in your shoes with the coyotes. I had one come into my yard with Maze and Cameo in the front playing in BROAD daylight. I tried to call Maze off but I couldn't fight with instincts.  In the end Cameo and Maze chased the coyote out of the neighborhood and back in to the woods. Yes she was bitten (thankfully not that bad) but there was NOTHING I could have done.

So lots of snuggles (gently of course) from Maze and Cameo, fellow coyote control. 

Wow your dogs have some serious injuries Rory you stay nice and calm and let everyone fawn over you so you heal up nice and quick.  You too Primo, I'm glad you didn't get as badly injured. 

As for prey drive - I wish I could guarantee that I could call Bugsy off but I can't.  Strangely he doesn't seem interesting in killing things but catching them and then 'having' them is way above anything else in his world.  He would have gone after the coyote - guaranteed.  I'm not saying this anything but a fact.

As for fighting with and injuring the coyote - I don't really see that as different then catching and killing rodents, birds, reptiles or what have you that we often hear about here.  The fact that it is larger and the fight is more intense doesn't change that it is an instinct, that many of us have seen in our dogs.

Lastly we had a coyote here last summer.  One cul de sac was losing all its small dogs and cats - in fact by summer's end they were all gone.  One day out walking with Bugs we saw it.  Bugsy and it stared right at each other for a time and then the coyote retreated into a wooded area. I had a lot of difficulty restraining Bugs.  And he is a dog that has NEVER shown even the slightest aggression towards another dog.  Coyotes are wild (even in the 'burbs) and IMHO that is why any dog with a significant prey drive is going to get excited.  Trapped in the same place - on home turf - with their human - I don't think it should be shocking that the dogs did what they did.

How scary!!  I hope Rory and Primo heal up fast!  Sending some good healing vibes from all of us here! 

yeah, my dogs have torn up foxes and raccoons and rabbits, and would happily have gone for a coyote (neighbor shot them after they ate all of his pets), but I'm not proud of it- it's gross and the prey animal suffers pain. I figure once the dogs "get" the animal it's better to just let them finish it quickly.

Your story had me glued to my chair.  The wildlife our suburban setting are bold as hell.  I have had a coyote run past me while driving several times.  And deer everywhere.  Last summer we had a tag team opposum and skunk that came into our yard, small townhouse backyard....every evening.  They didn't care that I have a large dog.  I was afraid to let him out at night because of it.  I have a feeling Dublin would suffer the most damage going after anything except maybe a mouse!  He is all bark.  Your breed of dog is bred to protect aren't they?  They did the job that is instinctual to them.  I doubt you could of called them off even if they were trained perfectly.  Nature took over.  And in nature these things happen both ways.  I for one did not mind your posting.  It was enlightening and made me think what I might have done.  I only hope the other animal didn't suffer to badly.  And that your dogs heal quickly.

 oh my gosh! That is so scary! I'm so happy to know that the dogs are gonna be okay though. I think you did the best you could! I would've done nothing different.

And as a side note... as much as we humanize our dogs we cannot expect them to totally be rid of their instincts. I'm sure both of my boys would've went after it hard too. Kudos to rory and primo for doing what they thought they needed to.

malnmutt

I have also heard of coyotes luring dogs out of yard through chase only to have a pack waiting to tear them apart.  Dogs make great prey. They're generally kind of stupid about that sort of thing and think "hey! friends!" and get eaten.

I thoroughly believe this.  We used to live on 10 acres outside of Brenham, Texas.  There were coyotes all over the place, scary buggers...especially at night hearing them howling.  I knew there were many coyotes in our direct vicinity, whether they were A pack or several packs, I dunno.

But, more than once, a lone coyote would make its way to our back pasture and just stand there watching my dogs and my horses. I had otuside cats too.   Of course, my dogs would have fits wanting to get to it, but they were fenced in and couldn't.  I witnessed one walking, just walking towards my dogs while I was looking out my kitchen window.  I didn't hesitate when I saw this behavior.  I got my gun, walked outside, walked out to the pasture towards it and shot over it.  I didn't hit it (intentionally).  I just wanted to scare it off.    That worked.

AuroraLove, bless your heart.  I am so sorry you had to experience such an incident; I know you are sickened by the whole experience.  But, your dogs did what nature intended.  They love you and they were protecting you and their territory.  I am glad that you have a place such as this forum to vent and journal experiences, as we all do.  Unfortunately, you will have people with differing opinions.  Kelliope should really have thought twice before she wrote. You were in obvious distress, and needed to journal.  I, for one am glad you did.  It helps.

I am so sorry about your dogs injuries, but I know that you will nurse them back to health...they will be just fine very soon. 

mudpuppy

I'm not proud of it

There's not a thing wrong with being proud that one's dog endangered its own life to protect itself, it's people or its property. IMO, that's something to be proud of. Not ashamed of. Not at all.