German Shepherds are at the top of that heap. They’re the pre-eminent breed, really, but it’s their intelligence that sets them apart from all other breeds. What is the most dangerous animal in North America? The answer being coyotes. Considering both these facts together should make our answer a slam dunk. Can a German shepherd kill a coyote? And yet, the answer turns out to be no.
- Dogs have been bred for many different purposes, and although there are some breeds purposely bred for hunting purposes, they generally aren’t going to be as good at it as let’s say, a coyote. So when a coyote sees a feral dog or a German shepherd charging at it, it’s going to make itself scarce, not attack. Because of this, the German Shepherd will usually catch the Coyote off guard and kill it with a bite to the neck or head. But even if the German Shepherd catches the Coyote off guard, it’s still not going to be able to kill it.
- And yet, it’s even more amazing that German Shepherds will often end up killing coyotes despite these facts. This isn’t because they’re out for blood and trying to kill and eat as much as they can (which is generally their only thought process), but because the Coyote will often come into contact with a German shepherd family. The males of the family, usually the dominant ones, will look for leadership within the pack. And since feral dogs aren’t generally considered pack animals, this creates some major issues.
German Shepherd Vs. Coyotes
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There is no proper answer to the issue of who would win in a fight between a German Shepherd and a coyote. However, depending on several conditions, the outcome of a fight between a German Shepherd and a coyote might go anyway.
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Age
The age of the German Shepherd, for example, can have an impact on the outcome. When a fully developed adult male GSD (German Shepherd Dog) faces a young coyote, the Shepherd has a better chance of winning. This is because shepherds are larger than coyotes when fully grown.
Keep Your Dog Close Through On All Time
Between 45 minutes before sunset and sunrise, follow your animal inside or secure him in an enclosure that can’t be pulled open or pushed over by coyotes. This doesn’t have to be expensive; the garage will do just fine.
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Install Motion-Activated Lighting
Coyotes don’t like bright lights. The one instance they will come out in the dark is to get food out of a trashcan or pet dish. Don’t leave this where they can get to it.
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Feed Your Dog Inside
It’s usually a good idea to feed your dog indoors anyway for health reasons, but it also helps prevent intruders from getting close enough for an attack.
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Keep Them On A Leash
At night, coyotes are more active and eager to make contact with their prey. Keeping your pet on a leash at all times can prevent them from running after coyotes that might be lurking at the edges of your property or in the shadows.
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Don’t Let Them Linger In The Yard.
Coyotes are clever, but they can be spotted by their powerful sense of smell more than their eyesight. So keep your dog on a leash when you let him out of the house at night.
Which Other Dogs Can Attack And Kill A Coyote?
Some other breeds of dogs have been known to kill coyotes, so it can be important to study their behavior before you decide to take one in as your pet. Some of the breeds that have been known to kill coyotes are Great Pyrenees, Akita, German Shepherds, Pit Bulls, and American Bulldog. This makes them an excellent choice for families who want a dog with some bite left in its bark. However, if you’re looking for a small-sized dog with less chance of being able to hurt an adult coyote, then the Chihuahua is probably your best bet.
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The Chihuahua
Chihuahua can often be found in the same yards as coyotes and typically doesn’t get along with them very well. Like most small dogs, they will typically escape if a coyote attacks them. However, the Chihuahua has enough bite to kill a younger coyote, but not an adult one. You should be careful with the Chihuahua, especially around larger animals like deer or bears, since they tend to dig at everything in their territory, so if there are horses in the area, you should keep them on a leash for their safety. They can also chew through nylon leashes, so keep that in mind too when buying them toys or leashes to play with.
Will A Coyote Attack A German Shepherd?
It’s dangerous to leave your dogs outside when you’re not home. Especially in the summertime, when there are more coyotes than normal, they’re more hungry than ever before. Dogs are often targeted because they look like easy prey that most predators will probably ignore.
But even if your dog is a German shepherd, the odds of being attacked are slim due to their nature of aggressiveness with strangers and their ability to deter most predators with their intimidating appearance. One thing you should do is keep them on a leash when you’re outside so that if they don’t see any coyotes or other dogs, they can’t chase one either.
Also Read: German Shepherd vs. Coyote: Everything You Need to Know
Would A German Shepherd Kill A Wolf?
Many people believe that dogs are too small to harm the much larger wolves. A German shepherd cannot kill a wolf. Because GSDs are substantially better and include strong jaws among a much stronger bite force and sharp teeth, a hungry lone wolf away from its pack may easily kill them.
Can A German Shepherd Dog Kill You?
A German shepherd can kill you. To be fair, practically any dog can murder you. That isn’t to say they aren’t looking forward to the opportunity. While full-fledged dog attacks aren’t common, it’s a good idea to know what to watch for and how to respond if one does occur.
German Shepherds kill one person every single week. That’s approximately 40 people per year, which doesn’t include pets and other animals. While many of these deaths may be accidental, the fact remains that there are still preventable deaths that could have been prevented if those who had owned these dogs hadn’t neglected to do so.
Final Words
A German shepherd is a medium-sized dog traditionally bred for herding and guarding livestock and capable of performing many tasks such as tracking, search and rescue work, police work, competitive obedience. Although some breeds may purposefully be bred down in sizes, such as the miniature poodle or Chihuahua dog, large dogs come with challenges of their own without eliminating their size requirements. In addition, those raised with large, intense dogs as family members will maintain a healthy relationship as long as it is supervised and well socialized from an early age.
