To the untrained eye, coyotes can easily be mistaken for certain dog breeds. This is understandable, given they both belong to the canine family. Coyotes (Canis latrans), however, are wild canids native to North America, closely related to the gray wolf but notably smaller. When considering a Coyote Compared To Dog, one of the first questions that arises is size. Are coyotes actually bigger than dogs?
The answer isn’t straightforward. The size comparison between a coyote compared to dog largely depends on the specific dog breed and the coyote subspecies in question. Both dogs and coyotes exhibit considerable size variation within their respective species. Let’s delve into a detailed comparison to understand these differences better.
Coyote vs Dog: Dissecting the Size Factor
While it’s obvious that small dog breeds like Chihuahuas are dwarfed by coyotes, the comparison becomes more interesting when considering larger breeds such as Rottweilers or Labrador Retrievers. To accurately compare a coyote compared to dog in terms of size, we must consider the size range within both species.
Coyote size is significantly influenced by subspecies. The largest coyotes are generally found in Eastern and Northeastern North America, specifically the Canis latrans thamnos and Canis latrans frustor subspecies. These can reach weights of up to 40 pounds (18 kg), considerably larger than smaller subspecies that average around 25 pounds (11.5 kg).
The following chart provides a clearer picture of how larger coyote subspecies compare to various dog breeds:
| Animal | Average Weight | Average Height |
|---|---|---|
| Coyote (all subspecies) | 25–40 pounds | 18–23 inches |
| Dachshund (standard) | 16–32 pounds | 8–9 inches |
| Greyhound | 60–70 pounds | 27–30 inches |
| Newfoundland | 100- 150 pounds | 25–28 inches |
| Standard Poodle | 40–70 pounds | 18–24 inches |
| Rottweiler | 80–135 pounds | 22–27 inches |
| English Setter | 45–80 pounds | 26–27 inches |
| American Water Spaniel | 25–45 pounds | 15–18 inches |
| Whippet | 25–40 pounds | 18 -22 inches |
| Finnish Spitz | 20–33 pounds | 15–20 inches |
As you can see from this coyote compared to dog size chart, some dog breeds, particularly smaller to medium-sized ones, overlap in weight with coyotes. Breeds like Greyhounds, Rottweilers, and Newfoundlands significantly outweigh coyotes. However, when comparing a coyote to a Whippet or American Water Spaniel, the size difference becomes less pronounced.
Coyotes and Other Animals: A Broader Size Perspective
To further contextualize the size of a coyote compared to dog, it’s helpful to look at how coyotes measure up against other animals, including other canids and even larger mammals:
| Animal | Average Weight | Average Height |
|---|---|---|
| Coyote (all subspecies) | 25–40 pounds | 18–23 inches |
| Wolf | 50–180 pounds | 26–32 inches |
| Fox | 5–30 pounds | 9–12 inches |
| Lion | 250–420 pounds | 36–48 inches |
| Tiger | 140–700 pounds | 30–42 inches |
| Human | 100–180 pounds | 62–67 inches |
This table highlights that while a coyote compared to dog may be similar in size to some breeds, they are considerably smaller than wolves, lions, and tigers. Foxes, on the other hand, can be smaller or within a similar weight range to coyotes, depending on the fox species.
Distinguishing Features: Beyond Size in Coyote vs Dog
While size is a key factor when considering a coyote compared to dog, there are other crucial differences. Despite sharing a common ancestry and exhibiting some similarities, coyotes and dogs have distinct characteristics:
-
Physical Traits: Coyotes generally possess a more pointed snout compared to the broader snouts of most dog breeds. Additionally, coyote paws are more elongated and less rounded than dog paws. This difference in paw shape is a useful indicator when distinguishing between dog and coyote tracks in the wild.
-
Dental Structure: A notable anatomical difference lies in their teeth. In coyotes, the upper canine teeth (fangs) extend beyond the mental foramina, a feature not typically observed in domestic dogs.
-
Domestication: Perhaps the most fundamental difference when comparing a coyote compared to dog is domestication. Dogs have undergone millennia of domestication, leading to a dependency on and affinity for humans. Coyotes, being wild animals, remain undomesticated and generally avoid human interaction, even when inhabiting areas near human settlements.
In Conclusion: Coyote Compared to Dog – A Matter of Breed and Subspecies
In the coyote compared to dog debate, size is not a simple matter of one being definitively larger than the other. Coyotes exhibit size variations across subspecies, and dog breeds range dramatically in size. While some dog breeds are significantly larger than coyotes, others are comparable in size, and some smaller breeds are considerably smaller.
Ultimately, when considering a coyote compared to dog, it’s crucial to recognize that they are distinct species with different physical characteristics, behaviors, and levels of domestication. Coyotes are fascinating wild animals that, while sometimes confused with dogs, occupy a unique niche in the natural world.
See Also:
Sources
Featured Image Credit: MoniCh647, Pixabay
