Dog vs. Coyote — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 3, 2023
A dog is a domesticated mammal often kept as a pet, while a coyote is a wild canine native to North America known for its adaptability.
Difference Between Dog and Coyote
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Dogs and coyotes, while both belonging to the canine family, possess distinct differences in their behaviors, appearances, and habitats. Dogs, having been domesticated for thousands of years, vary greatly in size, color, and temperament, thanks to human breeding practices. Coyotes, in contrast, are wild animals found primarily in North America, exhibiting a more uniform appearance with tawny fur and a slender body.
Although dogs have been bred for specific roles, such as hunting, herding, or companionship, coyotes have evolved in the wild, making them adept hunters and scavengers. Another distinguishing factor is their behavior towards humans.
While dogs are typically friendly, loyal, and trainable, coyotes are more elusive and tend to avoid human interaction. However, due to urban expansion, encounters between humans and coyotes are becoming more frequent.
Lastly, while dogs communicate with a variety of barks, growls, and whines, coyotes are renowned for their haunting, nocturnal howls.
Comparison Chart
Domestication
Domesticated
Wild
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Distribution
Worldwide
Primarily North America
Size & Appearance
Varies greatly due to breeding
Generally slender with tawny fur
Behavior
Often friendly, loyal, and trainable
Elusive, avoids humans
Communication
Barks, growls, whines
Howls, yips
Compare with Definitions
Dog
The domestic dog (Canis familiaris or Canis lupus familiaris) is a domesticated descendant of the wolf. The dog derived from an ancient, extinct wolf, and the modern grey wolf is the dog's nearest living relative.
Coyote
A wild canine native to North America.
The coyote howled under the moonlight.
Dog
A domesticated carnivorous mammal (Canis familiaris syn. Canis lupus subsp. familiaris) occurring as a wide variety of breeds, many of which are traditionally used for hunting, herding, drawing sleds, and other tasks, and are kept as pets.
Coyote
An opportunistic predator.
The coyote waited patiently for its prey.
Dog
Any of various carnivorous mammals of the family Canidae, such as the dingo.
Coyote
A person who smuggles Latin American people into the U.S.
The migrants were brought over by a coyote.
Dog
A male animal of the family Canidae, especially of a fox or a domesticated breed.
Coyote
A small, wolf-like animal known for its adaptability.
The coyote can be found even in urban settings.
Dog
Any of various other animals, such as the prairie dog.
Coyote
A symbol in Native American folklore often representing trickery.
The tale spoke of Coyote, the clever trickster.
Dog
A person
You won, you lucky dog.
Coyote
The coyote (Canis latrans) is a species of canine native to North America. It is smaller than its close relative, the wolf, and slightly smaller than the closely related eastern wolf and red wolf.
Dog
A person regarded as contemptible
You stole my watch, you dog.
Coyote
A wild dog that resembles the wolf, native to North America.
Dog
A person regarded as unattractive or uninteresting.
Coyote
A person who smuggles people from Latin America across the US border, typically for a very high fee
At the bus station, there were coyotes offering to drive us to Los Angeles
Dog
Something of inferior or low quality
"The President had read the speech to some of his friends and they told him it was a dog" (John P. Roche).
Coyote
A wolflike carnivorous mammal (Canis latrans) of North and Central America, having grayish-brown or yellowish fur, large erect ears, and a drooping bushy tail. Also called prairie wolf.
Dog
An investment that produces a low return or a loss.
Coyote
A firefighter who is sent to battle remote, usually very severe forest fires, often for days at a time.
Dog
Dogs(Slang) The feet.
Coyote
(Slang) A person who smuggles undocumented immigrants into the United States, especially across the Mexican border.
Dog
See andiron.
Coyote
Canis latrans, a species of canine native to North America.
Dog
(Slang) A hot dog; a wiener.
Coyote
A smuggler of undocumented immigrants across the land border from Latin America into the United States of America.
Dog
Any of various hooked or U-shaped metallic devices used for gripping or holding heavy objects.
Coyote
To prospect for gold by manually digging holes into overlying earth, as into a hillside.
Dog
(Astronomy) A sundog.
Coyote
A carnivorous animal (Canis latrans), allied to the dog, found in the western part of North America; - called also prairie wolf. Its voice is a snapping bark, followed by a prolonged, shrill howl.
Dog
Totally; completely. Often used in combination
Dog-tired.
Coyote
Small wolf native to western North America
Dog
To track or trail persistently
"A stranger then is still dogging us" (Arthur Conan Doyle).
Coyote
Someone who smuggles illegal immigrants into the United States (usually acress the Mexican border)
Dog
To hold or fasten with a mechanical device
"Watertight doors and hatches were dropped into place and dogged down to give the ship full watertight integrity" (Tom Clancy).
Coyote
A forest fire fighter who is sent to battle remote and severe forest fires (often for days at a time)
Dog
To be persistently or inescapably associated with
Questions about his youthful indiscretions dogged him throughout his career.
Dog
To be recurrently or persistently in the mind; haunt
Despair dogged him in his final years.
Dog
A mammal of the family Canidae:
Dog
The species Canis familiaris (sometimes designated Canis lupus familiaris), domesticated for thousands of years and of highly variable appearance because of human breeding.
The dog barked all night long.
Dog
Any member of the family Canidae, including domestic dogs, wolves, coyotes, jackals, foxes, and their relatives extant and extinct; canid.
Dog
A male dog, wolf, or fox, as opposed to a bitch or vixen.
Dog
The meat of this animal, eaten as food:
Did you know that in South Korea, they eat dog?
Dog
A person:
Dog
A dull, unattractive girl or woman.
She’s a real dog.
Dog
(slang) A man, guy, chap.
You lucky dog!
Dog
(derogatory) Someone who is cowardly, worthless, or morally reprehensible.
Come back and fight, you dogs!
You dirty dog.
Dog
(slang) A sexually aggressive man.
Dog
A mechanical device or support:
Dog
Any of various mechanical devices for holding, gripping, or fastening something, particularly with a tooth-like projection.
Dog
A click or pallet adapted to engage the teeth of a ratchet wheel, to restrain the back action.
Dog
A metal support for logs in a fireplace.
The dogs were too hot to touch.
Dog
(cartomancy) The eighteenth Lenormand card.
Dog
A hot dog: a frankfurter, wiener, or similar sausage; or a sandwich made from this.
Dog
Underdog.
Dog
Foot.
Dog
(Cockney rhyming slang) (from "dog and bone") Phone or mobile phone.
Dog
One of the cones used to divide up a racetrack when training horses.
Dog
(informal) Something that performs poorly.
That modification turned his Dodge hemi into a dog.
Dog
(film) A flop; a film that performs poorly at the box office.
Dog
(transitive) To pursue with the intent to catch.
Dog
(transitive) To follow in an annoying or harassing way.
The woman cursed him so that trouble would dog his every step.
Dog
To fasten a hatch securely.
It is very important to dog down these hatches.
Dog
To watch, or participate, in sexual activity in a public place.
I admit that I like to dog at my local country park.
Dog
To intentionally restrict one's productivity as employee; to work at the slowest rate that goes unpunished.
A surprise inspection of the night shift found that some workers were dogging it.
Dog
(transitive) To criticize.
Dog
To divide (a watch) with a comrade.
Dog
(slang) Of inferior quality; dogshit.
Dog
A quadruped of the genus Canis, esp. the domestic dog (Canis familiaris).
Dog
A mean, worthless fellow; a wretch.
What is thy servant, which is but a dog, that he should do this great thing?
Dog
A fellow; - used humorously or contemptuously; as, a sly dog; a lazy dog.
Dog
One of the two constellations, Canis Major and Canis Minor, or the Greater Dog and the Lesser Dog. Canis Major contains the Dog Star (Sirius).
Dog
An iron for holding wood in a fireplace; a firedog; an andiron.
Dog
A grappling iron, with a claw or claws, for fastening into wood or other heavy articles, for the purpose of raising or moving them.
Dog
An ugly or crude person, especially an ugly woman.
Dog
A hot dog.
Dog
To hunt or track like a hound; to follow insidiously or indefatigably; to chase with a dog or dogs; to worry, as if by dogs; to hound with importunity.
I have been pursued, dogged, and waylaid.
Your sins will dog you, pursue you.
Eager ill-bred petitioners, who do not so properly supplicate as hunt the person whom they address to, dogging him from place to place, till they even extort an answer to their rude requests.
Dog
A member of the genus Canis (probably descended from the common wolf) that has been domesticated by man since prehistoric times; occurs in many breeds;
The dog barked all night
Dog
A dull unattractive unpleasant girl or woman;
She got a reputation as a frump
She's a real dog
Dog
Informal term for a man;
You lucky dog
Dog
Someone who is morally reprehensible;
You dirty dog
Dog
A smooth-textured sausage of minced beef or pork usually smoked; often served on a bread roll
Dog
A hinged catch that fits into a notch of a ratchet to move a wheel forward or prevent it from moving backward
Dog
Metal supports for logs in a fireplace;
The andirons were too hot to touch
Dog
Go after with the intent to catch;
The policeman chased the mugger down the alley
The dog chased the rabbit
Common Curiosities
Are coyotes dangerous to dogs?
While many coyotes avoid larger dogs, they might see smaller dogs as prey or threats to their territory.
Which is larger, a dog or a coyote?
Dogs vary in size due to breeding, so some are larger than coyotes, while others are smaller.
Why do coyotes howl?
Coyotes howl for communication, marking territory, and bonding within packs.
Is it legal to keep a coyote as a pet?
Generally, it's illegal and not advisable due to their wild nature.
Can dogs and coyotes communicate?
While they might understand some basic cues, their communication methods and behaviors differ.
Can dogs and coyotes mate?
Yes, they can produce hybrids often called "coydogs."
Why are coyotes often associated with trickery in folklore?
In Native American tales, the coyote often plays the role of a clever, adaptable trickster.
Do coyotes travel in packs like wolves?
While they can form packs, coyotes are often more solitary or travel in smaller family units.
How did dogs become domesticated?
Dogs evolved from wolves and were domesticated by humans over thousands of years.
Are dogs and coyotes related?
Yes, both belong to the canine family, but dogs are domesticated while coyotes are wild.
Are there different breeds of coyotes?
No, but there are regional variations in size and appearance.
Why are dogs considered man's best friend?
Due to their long history of domestication, loyalty, and companionship with humans.
How can I protect my dog from coyotes?
Supervise your dog outside, use a leash in known coyote areas, and avoid feeding wildlife.
How can you tell a dog from a coyote at a distance?
Coyotes typically have a more slender build, tawny fur, and a bushy, black-tipped tail.
Do dogs have a common ancestor with coyotes?
Yes, both dogs and coyotes share a common ancestor in the gray wolf.
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Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
