Can Coyotes Harm Pugs?

Yes. There has been at least one documented case of a pug being attacked by a coyote.

This is scary because when coyotes attack, they do so with the intent to kill. They’re hunting for food, really.

Coyote attacking pets is fairly rare, only 70 coyote attacks were reported from 1990-2004. Still, they do happen. The most common dog breeds associated with coyote attack were Yorkshire terriers (average weight 4-7lbs) or 9-16lbs. Pugs are typically a little bigger than Shih zhu’s, but they are still small enough to be at risk of attack from a coyote.

There was a pug attacked in Rhode Island in 2011. From the video I saw of this (embedded below), it looked to be a larger pug. So, regardless of whether your pug is on the smaller or larger scale, it seems they may be seen as prey for coyotes.

How To Prevent A Coyote Attack On Your Dog

Keep your dog leashed. Keeping your dog near you will reduce it’s odds of being attacked, as coyotes usually won’t come around people.

Fence your yard high. There’s two benefits to this. One, if the fence is high enough a coyote won’t be able to jump it. Second, if the fence is wooden or otherwise can’t be seen through, any nearby coyotes may not know your dog is there if they can’t see it.

Don’t let your dog outside alone. Again, coyotes are less likely to attack if humans are around the animal, so go outside with your pet rather than letting them out alone.

Stay well lit. If you go out after dark, use a yard light and/or bring a flashlight. Coyotes are more likely to attack at night when it is dark. If you stay in well-lit areas, your dog will be safer. If you have a flashlight and you see a coyote and turn it on, the coyote may run from the light.

Don’t leave food outside, this can bring coyotes in. This means food of any kind, for any reason. Don’t leave pet food outside, don’t leave table scraps from your garbage accessible, etc.

What To Do If A Coyote Attacks Your Pug

Coyotes usually scare pretty easily when they see people. This is great news because you can usually scare a coyote away from your pug.

You can scare coyotes by making yourself ‘big’ – stand up tall, put your arms out, even use a jacket above your head to expand your ‘size’.

Be calm but assertive.

Do not run.

Make noise, yell or clap your hands can startle a coyote.

Do not corner them, especially if they have puppies. They will attack if they feel threatened and can’t escape. Make sure they have a place where they can easily run ot get away from you and your dog.