Okay, my pup has some mild issues with barking at other dogs on walks. We are working with him and he is getting much better.

There is a little 25 lb basket case of a dog that is always loose by this apartment complex/equestrian area (yes - horse friendly apartments in LA!!) and he loves to come out running and barking like crazy. He will get as close as about 10 feet and that is it. All it takes is one yell from me and he goes running never to return. I have been making my dog sit and praising him and giving him treats for not barking back at this dog who will stay there and bark for as long as 5 minutes and this is working well.

Last night, we (my wife and I) were walking our pup in the dark in the park, and a Coyote started following us. I think it was a pup because it was smaller about 30 lbs, and there was another one that was almost as big as my 55 lb pup that never approached staying far away and didn't follow (probably the mother).

The coyote followed us for about ten minutes and my dog kept pulling and barking at it. We would stop and my pup would be barking and the Coyote just sat down less than 20 feet from us. It must have been a curious pup.

Anyhow, I was wondering why It was so much harder to get him to stop barking at a coyote than a dog. Also, should I correct him for barking in this situation? A wild canine was following us? Isn't that a situation where a dog should be allowed to bark (or maybe he can't distinguish between a wild and domestic canine)? Is it okay, or should he being defering the matter to me since I am the pack leader?

Just my uneducated opinion, I think dogs can tell the difference between a wild canis and a domestic dog. My Max is not dog agressive and pretty calm around other dogs. someone at the park brought thier wolf/dog hybrid and Max went off. just a suggestion, that canis latrans was only curious about one thing. How it could get past you and eat your puppy.

Well I don't know about that. I am pretty sure it was a curious puppy.

My last dog ran after a Coyote and ended up running around the hills for a half an hour with coyotes playing. It made me really nervous but I swear they were playing! They crossed 2 valleys in like 5 minutes with me in tow trying to get him back. I am much more devoted to and knowledgeable (thanks to Ed)about obedience training with my pup and I don't let him run around on the trails (or anyhwere) off-leash.

People claim that females in heat will draw a dog out for the males to attack - I don't think this happens (maybe with wolves) and if it does the dog would have to be a lot smaller than my 55 lb pup. I am sure they could probably tell he was a pup, but a 55 lb pup would be a lot of work for even a few adult Coyotes. Don't worry I would never test the theory. There is an abundance of rodents, rabbits, frogs, etc. Much easier meals IMHO.

I could be wrong though?

Any thoughts on whether I should be controlling his barking when it involves Coyotes?

I'm not a trainer, but I have three kids. We had a coyote attack near here and I would not discourage any barking at large wild carnivors . Isn't it the very reason we domesticated dogs to begin with? A Self propeled dangerous animal warning device.

Don't underestimate the coyote. I've hunted them behind hounds and Lurchers. The hounds push them into the open ground and the lurchers finish them off. A 35-40lb coyote can do a lot of damage to a couple of 60lb hounds. I've also seen a Dalmation that had his nuts removed by a pair of coyotes that double teamed him. The Dal hasn't left the yard since it happened.

You can figure that an animal that has to kill to eat dinner can do a number on one that gets his from a bowl. Be careful!

Jeff, the "playing" that the coyotes were involved in actually is a pack manuever to wear your dog out so that the coyotes can attack and kill him for their dinner The coyotes take turns "playing" so they don't become tired, but your lone dog will. Also, coyotes living near humans are bolder than those you will see in the wild. Be careful!

Matt wrote: I have been making my dog sit and praising him and giving him treats for not barking back at this dog who will stay there and bark for as long as 5 minutes and this is working well.

LC: Matt I'd suggest that you be real careful with this. Unless you're terrific at reading what a dog is thinking from his body language, you could be training the wrong thing. If your dog is thinking, "If that little POS comes one step closer I'm going to kill him!" and that is when you treat and praise him, you've reinforced the exact opposite behavior you think you are. A dog who's sitting quietly can be thinking all sorts of things.

Late Feb and early March are breeding seasons for Coyotes. I have seen dogs that thought that there was no difference between them and a coyote, they rarely lived very long. Trust me, the coyote is not under any such illusions. I have shot about 70+ of them over the last 20 years, a coyote is not timid like a wolf, coyotes are smart, aggressive predators. Your pup is lucky that you were there, or else he'd be rubbing that coyotes belly, from the inside. During breeding season the females are particularly aggressive, and will lure dogs away from homes because they are in heat, the dog follows, and ends up being toast.

Coyote + .223 = Problem Solved