All About the Coyote Dog Mix AKA the Coydog

Fast, agile, and with a touch of the wild in his eye, the coydog is a breed that shouldn’t be owned by the faint of heart. This is a breed that is as quick of thought as he is quick on his feet, and he requires a strong owner who can keep up with him.

The coyote dog, also known as the coydog, is a cross between a coyote and a type of dog breed, often huskies or other spitz-type dog breeds.

The breed is known for retaining that fun, wild and wilful spirit that makes them exciting to own.

They are often excellent jogging companions and thrive as a hunting companion, agility, or flyball competitor or simply as an active companion.

Coydog History

The history of the coydog is not well known, and many people believe that the breed is a myth, despite several breeders producing coydog puppies.

The breed is believed to have been created for centuries, and some evidence has pointed to the people of Teotihuacan breeding coyote dogs to produce a powerful and loyal hunting companion.

Coyote Dog Appearance

The appearance of the coyote dog can differ depending on the dog parent breed; however, in general, you should have an athletic-looking dog with a rectangular body. 

They should have a medium to large build with triangular ears and a long muzzle. Eyes are usually brown and can be quite piercing. The tail should be bushy and held in a downward manner.

Coyote Dog Mix Size

The size of the coydog will vary depending on the parent dog, but they are usually a medium to large size dog that ranges in weight from 60 to 120 pounds.

Height varies as well, with most coydogs being between 22 to 27 inches tall.

Coydog Coat

As with everything about the coydog, the coat will vary depending upon the level of the coyote in the puppy and the breed of dog used for the cross.

Generally, coydogs have a medium double coat with a thick undercoat and waterproof topcoat.

They are usually sable, brown, or white in color and can have markings that are similar to a husky.

What Colors Do They Come In?

You will find this breed in a few different colors they are:

• Brown
• Tan
• White
• Stable
• Gray

Coyote Dog Grooming

Grooming the coydog is very easy, as they tend to not require a lot of everyday maintenance to keep their coats looking great.

However, it is important to note that coydog grooming needs will vary depending on the coat type and the parent dog breed.

Brush the coat only when it is necessary but check them daily, so they are used to being handled, and you can catch any skin irritations early. Nails should be trimmed about once per month.

Coydog Personality and Temperament

When it comes to the temperament and personality of the coyote dog, owners should be aware that temperament will vary between coydogs, even from the same litter.

Overall, coyotes are not pack animals and tend to not be family-friendly. This trait has often extended to the coydog, and the breed is not always that predictable.

Overall, coyote dogs tend to be less cooperative than other breeds, and they do not often do well in multi-animal homes.

Coydogs are usually very hyper and energetic and do well when they have a job to do, such as agility training or jogging.

The breed is known for being shy and territorial and can flip between hiding from visitors to being aggressive toward them.

They are often difficult to housebreak and are better kept in enclosures with proper shelter.

They are often very clever, and the coydog is known for having a rich personality, often being clown-like in their play.

However, they are often opportunistic and will switch alliances in the home, so a firm pack leader is needed with this breed.

When there is a low level of a coyote in the coydog puppy, the breed is often fun, loving, and silly and tends to be not as intense as high-level coyote dogs.

Coydogs tend to be one person pets, although they will be loving to their entire family if socialized properly.

Coyote Dog Life Span

The coyote dog mix can be a very long-lived breed; however, the dog parent can affect the lifespan of the breed. For this reason, the lifespan of a coydog can range from 5 to 15 years.

Coyote Dog Mix Health Problems

Overall, the coydog is a very hardy breed with few health problems. One thing that should be noted is that the breed of dog used as the non-wolf parent breed can affect the health problems that a coydog is susceptible to.

For this reason, it is important to understand the breed or breeds that went into your coydog puppy since it can affect their personality, lifespan, and the health problems they could have.

With that being said, coydogs can be prone to a few health problems, including:

• Hip Dysplasia
• Elbow Dysplasia
• Arthritis

Coyote Dog Litter Size

As coydog refers to any dog breed crossed with a coyote, litter size can vary depending upon the dog parent that is used for the crossing.

In general, the coyote dog has an average litter of 4 to 6, however, larger litters up to 10 and smaller down to 1 puppy are not uncommon.

Living Conditions

The coydog is not a breed that should live in urban centers or apartments. This is a breed that requires a large space with plenty of room in a fenced yard to exercise.

Coydogs can be aggressive, territorial, and their wild instincts often lead them to have wanderlust, which makes it dangerous for the dog in urban centers. Rural homes are better suited to this breed.

Coyote Dog Training

Coyote dogs are a very intelligent breed and can take to training quite quickly. However, that doesn’t mean that they are an easy breed to train.

In general, coyote dogs are independent and have their wild instincts that make training difficult. Owners need to be firm pack leaders, but they cannot be cruel or harsh in their corrections.

In addition, it is very important to keep training short—usually 5 to 10 minutes at a time—so the coydog does not become bored with the training.

Socialization is necessary from a young age and throughout the coydog’s life.

Coydog Exercise

Coydogs are an active breed, and they require a lot of time when it comes to their exercise. On average, expect to exercise your coyote dog about two to three hours a day.

They make excellent jogging partners since they enjoy the vigorous exercise; however, make sure that you limit jogging until they are closer to a year old and adulthood.

The breed does require exercise off-leash; however, make sure that it is in a secure area. It is not uncommon for coydogs to escape their yards and leave for days at a time. They are very intelligent and will need to have access to toys and activities that make them think, and problem solve.

It is also important to keep an eye on their enclosures as they will find any weakness in it and will escape their yards if their owners are not watching them.

Overall, a coydog that is properly exercised is a happy coydog; however, improper exercise without a high level of activities will result in aggressive or destructive behavior.

Coyote Dog Feeding

Since coyote dogs tend to have a high energy level, they need a portion of high-quality food that has high protein and fat. They do okay on dry kibble; however, the coydog thrives on a RAW diet with a large quantity of raw meat.

Since the coyote parent is a scavenging parent, it is important that you keep things up that could be harmful to him as he may eat it.

They do well with a range of raw foods and love raw bones, so it is good to add them to his daily meal plan.

Feeding should be done two or three times a day with access to large bones throughout the entire day. Water should be offered all day as well.

Although some breeds can be prone to obesity, coydogs are often difficult to keep at an optimal weigh due to their high energy, so there is no need to include their daily treats into their daily calories.

Coydog Puppies

There are very few coydogs in captivity; there is not much information on coydog puppies. What we do know is that coyote dog puppies should be energetic puppies with a solid body.

They often have prick ears at adulthood, but young pups will have folded ears. They can range in temperament from shy to very outgoing, but it will differ depending on the dog parent of the puppies.

When you bring a coydog puppy home, it is important to start training and socializing quickly. Coydogs are not usually very social, but if they are started at a young age, it is less likely to see aggression in the breed.

They do need a firm pack leader from the start, and it is important to have firm rules that are consistently kept. Training should start at 8 weeks of age and should be a lifelong activity for the coyote dog.

Coyote Dog Mix Suitability

This is not a breed for the faint of heart, and it is important that owners have an understanding of canine behavior before they own a coydog.

Coyote dogs should only be owned by experienced owners who are also very firm and confident. New or weak owners will often deal with severe aggression with these dogs.

Finally, the coydog is not suitable for apartments or suburban settings. They need room to roam and are better in rural areas and a secure fenced area for exercise.

Coydogs are not recommended for families, especially those with young children.

Close Relatives of the Coyote Dog Mix

There are a few breeds that closely resemble the Coyote Dog Mix, they are:

• Coyote
• Saarloos Wolfhound