Are coyotes common in your area, but you also would like to get a dog? Although I do not doubt that you would do all that you can to protect your dog from coyotes, if your dog ever found themselves face to face with a coyote, they should be able to defend themselves.
Fortunately, we have gathered information about 15 dog breeds that can kill coyotes so that you do not have to. Let’s get to it!
List Of 15 Best Dog Breeds For Killing Coyotes
1. Kangal
The Kangal is a reserved breed of large dogs. They originate from Turkey, where they were bred to guard livestock and their owners’ properties.
Although Kangals are generally reserved, they are not suitable for novice dog owners. The Kangal’s large size, along with their independence and tendency to be stubborn, can easily overwhelm an inexperienced dog owner.
Kangals are survival geniuses. Anyone familiar with the Turkish landscape would know that it is not very hospitable. As a native breed, the Kangal had to develop high-level survival skills to handle their environment.
2. Irish Wolfhound
Known for their impressive hunting abilities and height, it is no surprise that the Irish Wolfhound can kill a coyote. Their mobility and speed are exceptional even when compared to other hunting dogs, and Irish wolfhounds can reach a top speed of about 35 miles per hour.
Despite their size and impressive hunting abilities, the Irish Wolfhound looks to be shown affection. They are also relatively sensitive, so I suggest exercising some patience while training your Irish Wolfhound, or you may not find much success while training them.
3. Dogo Argentino
Easily recognizable by their smooth and snow-white fur coats, the Dogo Argentino is another breed that can kill a coyote. Dogo Argentinos are among the bravest dogs driven by their sense of duty and need to protect their owners.
For this reason, Dogo Argentinos are used as rescue and search, police, and military dogs by the authorities. Dogo Argentinos can become aggressive if they are not trained accordingly; hence I suggest getting some professional help from a dog trainer to train your dog.
4. Sarplaninac
The Sarplaninac is a large and watchful dog, and they are highly alert to their surroundings, which makes them the ideal guard dogs. Male Sarplaninacs are typically 24 inches tall and weigh between 77 to 99 pounds, while females are 22.5 inches tall and weigh between 66 to 88 pounds.
Independence and intelligence are two words that are commonly used to describe Sarplaninac’s temperament. They are not affectionate and generally tend to be suspicious of strangers, and they also do not get along with other pets.
5. Tosa Inu
Also known as the Japanese Mastiff, the Tosa Inu originated from Japan. Historically, they were commonly used as fighting dogs, and to this day, they are still legally used as fighting dogs in Japan. In other parts of the world, the Tosa Inu is used as a companion breed or watchdog.
Although the Tosa Inu is quite big, they are surprisingly calm and obedient. If trained by a caring individual, their affectionate nature may be pretty evident. They are affectionate toward their family and are also protective of them.
6. Akbash
The Akbash is a class of working dogs between 28 and 34 inches tall and weighing between 90 to 120 pounds. Training an Akbash is a challenging task, but the benefits associated with having a well-trained Akbash are certainly worth the work.
Akbash are highly territorial and vocal. Their physical strength, matched with their urge to protect, makes them capable of killing coyotes. To ensure that your Akbash is strong enough to kill coyotes, you should ensure that they have a well-balanced diet.
7. Mastiff
If you are drawn by large dogs who drool, then the Mastiff is the right dog breed for you. The Mastiff is among the oldest dog breeds to walk the earth, and they appear throughout history for the aid they provided during various wars.
Despite their large stature, Mastiffs are calm and gentle dogs, and they are great with children and strangers. Although they have been used as working dogs, Mastiffs can be rather lazy, so they are prone to being overweight. Hence you should ensure that you monitor their weight.
8. Komondor
The Komodor can easily be recognized by its unique appearance. Their mop-like white fur coat is a feature that you can instantly recognize. Their thick fur coats hide how muscular Komodors actually are.
Komondors were bred to act independently, and this characteristic has proven to be rather inconvenient in some households. Although they are affectionate towards their family and generally calm-natured, Komodors still bark frequently.
9. Pitbull
Pitbulls have a pretty intimidating presence and can develop an aggressive personality if they are not appropriately trained and socialized from a young age.
Unfortunately, this has led to people using Pitbulls in illegal fight rings, ultimately resulting in Pitbulls being regarded as dangerous.
Pitbulls are playful, affectionate, and love playing with children despite their appearance. They also have high energy levels. Therefore they require regular strenuous physical activity to ensure that they do not have too much pent-up energy and become restful or destructive.
10. The Great Pyrenees
The Great Pyrenees originates from France, where they are referred to as the Chien de Montagne des Pyrénée, which means dog of the Pyrenees mountain.
These dogs are prey-driven, meaning that they innate desire to hunt and maybe kill their prey. This characteristic is ideal when killing a coyote, but it can be quite troublesome if left unchecked. You would not want your neighbor’s cats to be endangered.
11. Cane Corso
Historically, the Cane Corso was used for hunting down large game, but now, they are used as livestock guards and companion dogs. These large dogs can easily be described as being busy bees, and they love having a job to do or any task to keep them engaged.
Suggested Read – Can A Cane Corso Kill A Coyote? Cane Corso Vs. Coyote
Their workaholic nature translates into their high energy levels and exercise requirements. If you live in the countryside, then a Cane Corso would be the ideal breed for you because they would have all the space they need to run around and play as much as they want to.
12. Alabai
Alabai is massive dogs who thrive in cooler weather. They are highly independent and sensitive, which are traits that make them bad math with novice dog owners.
Alabai is generally not friendly towards strangers and other dogs and can be aggressive unless adequately trained. Their large size and physical strength, coupled with aggressive tendencies, are a recipe for violent disasters.
Hence you should ensure that your Alabai is socialized from a young age and you acquire professional help to train them if need be.
13. Anatolian Shepherd
This ancient Turkish breed was bred to be guard dogs. Anatolian Shepherds are just as intelligent as they are brawny. Hence they require regular physical and mental stimuli to ensure that they do not grow bored and frustrated.
Even as companions, Anatolian Shepherds retain their protective nature, which means that they would typically form deep bonds with their families. Despite their willingness to connect with their family, Anatolian Shepherds are not especially eager to please their owners, making training quite the challenge.
14. Pyrenean Mastiff
Pyrenean Mastiff is a massive dog that originated from Spain. Males are typically about 27 to 29 inches tall and weigh 140 to 180 pounds, while females are approximately 24 to 27 inches tall and weigh between 130 to 170 pounds.
Pyrenean Mastiff is a natural leader, so they need their owners to be strong leaders, or else they will gladly assume that role. They can be incredibly social dogs, only if they can have their space and have some alone time now and then.
15. Kuvasz
Historically the Kuvasz has served the Hungarian crown as royal guard dogs. They are brilliant dogs who possess an equally high level of energy, and hence they require significant physical exercise and space to release some of their energy.
As you may have guessed, this breed can be rather intense, especially when their family seems to be in danger. Even as a family dog, the Kuvasz remains plays their role as a protector and would devote themselves to eliminating any threat.
Why Are Coyotes Dangerous On Any Dog?
Coyotes are dangerous to dogs; even if you have a large dog, coyotes still pose a threat to them. Coyotes pose a danger to dogs for several reasons, which mostly boil down to the fact that coyotes are much more ruthless than domesticated dogs.
Coyotes are wild animals, so they have more robust survival and attack instincts than domesticated dogs. They also tend to attack in packs, whereas your dog would most likely be alone. Irrespective of how big or strong your dog may be, it is pretty unlikely that they will be able to defeat an entire pack of coyotes, and your dog would probably be killed trying.
Although certain breeds were initially bred to be hunters and retrievers, they have become much more domesticated over the years. Compared to a coyote who has had to hunt to eat, the dog you feed and has never killed an animal anywhere near their size would place your dog at a severe disadvantage.
Why Shouldn’t You Kill Coyotes?
Coyotes Are Original Natives
Coyotes are highly territorial animals that generally avoid humans as much as possible. If you encounter a coyote, you are probably trespassing on their territory.
Coyotes Do Not Hunt For Pleasure But Rather To Eat
More often than not, when a coyote approaches your home, it is because you have food lying around outside, or they would be eating food out of your trash. Unlike common belief, coyotes are scavengers.
These omnivores would eat anything available to them. Whether it be vegetables, fruit, rodents, birds, or snakes, coyotes would gladly eat them.
You May Cause Harm To The Ecosystem
Although we may not always know each creature’s specific purpose, every creature on our planet serves a purpose, and this includes coyotes. Since coyotes eat rodents and snakes, they play an essential role in ensuring that some residential regions do not experience an immense rodent and snake infestation.
Killing coyotes to a point where their numbers plummet to a dangerously low level would disturb the ecosystem that we should be working to protect.
FAQ
Can A German Shepherd Kill A Coyote?
German Shepherds are physically stronger than coyotes. Therefore, a German Shepherd can kill a coyote by overpowering them.
Can A Great Dane Kill A Coyote?
Yes, a Great Dane can kill a coyote, and the Great Dane can overpower a coyote; however, most coyotes attack in packs. Therefore, if a pack of coyotes attacks a Great Dane, they are unlikely to kill even one coyote.
Can A Rottweiler Kill A Coyote?
A Rottweiler can undeniably kill a coyote, and a Rottweiler’s bite power is significantly more powerful than that of a coyote. Hence a Rottweiler can kill a coyote by breaking their bones.
Why Are Greyhounds Good At Hunting Coyotes?
Greyhounds are intelligent dogs who were originally bred to be hunting dogs. Although they were bred to hunt deer, hares, and foxes, Greyhounds can hunt coyotes because of their speed, and they can reach a top speed of 40 to 45 mph.
Is Hunting Coyotes With Greyhounds Fair?
It depends on where you live and how big problem coyotes are to you. If you live in an area filled with coyotes, you may find it acceptable to hunt coyotes with Greyhounds. However, if you live in an area where coyotes are unfamiliar, you may believe that it is unfair.
What Is The Best Breed Of Dog For Coyote Hunting?
The best dog breeds for coyote hunting are American Staghound, Plott Hound, Greyhound, Mountain View Curr, and Black Mouth Cur. These breeds were bred to be hunting dogs, and they are all physically stronger than coyotes.
Conclusion
Unless you are hunting coyotes, you should protect your dog from coyotes. Even if your large dog can kill a coyote, it is unlikely that a coyote would attack your large dog all alone. Coyotes attack in packs, and a coyote pack can easily overpower your dog and kill them.
