Coyote VS Dog Tracks: Easy Ways to Tell the Difference 

So what animal made the track in the thumbnail for the video? Feel free to leave your own tracking tips as others have done, and let me know what track videos you'd like to see in the future.

Usually coyote tracks are directly behind roadrunner tracks.

I've been tracking, trapping, and hunting in the US and Canada for decades. Very good explanation of the difference between wild and domestic dogs. One other salient feature you should mention is the track pattern. Wild canids (wolves, foxes, coyotes) move with purpose. Domestic dogs mostly follow their noses.

Your 3:21 video taught me more about how domesticated dogs and coyote tracks than I have learned in 61 years of life. I'm not sure why your video showed up on my feed, but I'm so happy it did. Thank you for the awesome information.

Laughed pretty hard at the "couch potato" and looked over to see my four retrievers laid out on the love seat, chair and dog bed. Haha Good tips, I will be looking for this now.

There is no discernible difference between a coyote and a 30 pound farm dog. Both have similar claw wear from ground scratching and digging. Well fed farm dogs though tend to have a wandering path following their curiousity whereas a coyote doesn't waste steps while targetting food or a mate. Couch dogs out for their daily walk (if lucky) have paths that are completely chaotic driven by fun.

Thank you for educating me

I remember the way I was taught to tell the difference, when I was a kid. Domesticated dogs have 'lazy' feet, while wild dogs (coyotes, wolves, foxes) have 'taught' or tighter feet. Depending on the surface they are walking, whether muddy or sandy surfaces, also changes the characteristics of the tracks. Good description. Thanks for sharing this.

From an old hunter and tracker - Respect sent.

The thing I noticed instantly about those tracks, is the one animal was very light and the other one was fat. Thanks for sharing your observations. And the coyote is very much concerned with food and security, whereas the domestic dog could care less, in most cases. This different mindset creates a totally different aura that shows in the tracks.

Tracking is a great skill, anything that keeps us in tune with our woodlands is a worthy effort. Thanks for the video!

This was helpful. I hike with my "domestic" dog every day in the foothills of a high desert Arizona mountain, so I'm constantly seeing tracks from all sorts of local animals. This info helps make sense of some of the tracks I see.

Good video, just to add coyotes tracks will be in more of a straight or tight line where dogs tend to flop to the sides. Also coyotes typically direct register. Meaning hind foot steps into front track, or very close to it.

Thanks for the education. A few years ago I had a bloodhound for the previous 10yrs. Something I found unique about him, his toe nails were retractable much like a cat. Unlike other dogs that I've had, the toe nails hinged upward out of the way until he wanted to hold on to something, then they would deploy.

Thank you, I'm a hiker and sometimes I can't determine what the tracts actually are, and we have a lot of coyotes where we are. I often get the tracks mixed, but now I don't think I will. You have been so helpful.

Thanks, simple and concise.

Wow, I once had a cat that lived to 23, she had arthritis and poor circulation, I adored her all her precious years.

The coyote tracks resembled a little flower. .😂

Wow, thank you! I've only been trying to track for a few years, and never saw or heard such a succinct comparison. Very much appreciated! ❤

Excellent! Too few people get out into nature and become familiar with these types of things.

good video, especially about the speed of the coyote....if your dog is off lead and looks like prey to a coyote and he sees a chance he can get to it faster than you can react....keep that in mind when in coyote country....

So helpful! Showing me yet again that I made a bad ID this a.m. Your nail explanation will help me improve!

This was great. I'm in a suburban neighborhood, lots of different dogs & coyotes & foxes. I'm always looking at tracks in snow or on ball diamonds or school yards. This was very helpful, thank you.

Nice! That was concise, informative and accurate. My favorite type of video.

Great difitive video...Thanks!! This will also be helpful to those that casually explore the outdoors. Knowledge enhances enjoyment!

Thanks! I've often wondered about this, as we have tons of coyotes and lots of domestic dogs around where I live.

Never considered the differences before. Thanks for providing an easy way to discern between the two. Also the pads on the Coyote are more distinctive.

Very interesting and informative. Thanks. Look forward to more tracking hints.

This was excellent! Clear, concise and I learned a lot. Thank you

Thanks from a first time viewer and new subscriber.

Fascinating. Who knew? Now I do. Thanks!

Not sure why I was recommended this video, but I'm going to subscribe because I love the straight matter of fact methodology you represent your info with.

Interesting! I live in central rural area of Georgia and I didn’t know this. Plenty of coyotes around. Now I know what to look for! Thanks.

Another way to tell, is to look are a series of prints. Walking coyotes tracks are very much in line. Many times you can see the back foot almost lands where the front foot was as it picks up. A double tap if you will. Domestic dogs are more side by side. You can mostly account for all four paws in a walking track.

Thank you for this video. Fascinating information!

Interesting, thank you. We live in the country and have been told theres coyote in our area, but I've never seen any, now I'll watch for tracks😊.

Excellent tutorial. Thank you.

Hey, thank you! Liked and subbed....sorry it took me so long to find your channel. All the best!

Not sure how I ended up here, but I work outdoors in remote locations and will definetly use this info! This concise video was massively educational. Thanks!

Great video. I live in a city which has lots of coyotes roaming around but hang out in the local cemetery and ravine. I also do a lot of hiking on trails nearby so it's good to know what to look for.

Great detailed info. I appreciate it. Hope to see more tracking information.

Well done and very helpful info - Thank you!

Thank's for good info.

Very cool. Thanks!

That is truly interesting and practical! I'm saving this for reference and sharing it.

I take my puppies off trail here in northern Colorado. While they do display a lot of claw markings that domestic dogs do, my rottweiler seems to be a mix of having claws pointed forward and also having his toenails break which he chews off to allow him to chase rabbits to his hearts content. Thanks for the tracking education.

Good video man. Thanks.

Thank you that was something I always wanted to learn

GREAT TIP!

Awesome!

Very cool ❤ thanks!

Thank you for the great explanation.

Thank you! Excellent teaching.

Thank you, that was very helpful!

Thank you!

Well done! Concise and informative.

Very interesting. Thanks.👍

good to know many thanks

Very helpful explanation. Thank you.

Thanks! Useful information.

A look out my window, during the winter months with snow on the ground, will let me know the coyotes are doing their rounds in the area. Their tracks are purposeful, straight lines, typically, using my property as a shortcut to where they're heading; farmer's field across the road. I make sure that my cats are in for the night while the coyotes are in the area (marking their visits on my calendar). It's important to be aware of your surroundings even if you live in the city (coyotes are moving in), I live on an acreage an hour away from the city and was surprised, but not surprised to see cougar tracks early one spring, we live within a few miles of a sizeable river. As an acreage owner, I paid attention to tracks in winter, so I could best know what to expect in summer when tracks are not always visible. You learn not to walk in the dark without a strong flashlight. P.S. It always concerns me that people living in the city, near a river system, don't realize that coyotes, foxes, wolves, cougars, bears, etc. can appear on the trail that follows the river when walking your dog because these animals will walk (follow) that river system too, even near a city.

Thks! Great photos and great explanation without any superfluous babble…

I just happened upon your channel and have subscribed. I enjoyed the detail of your observations and your thoroughness. Thank you and best of luck.

Thanks for the insight. 👍

Thanks for the info

Interesting. Thank you.

I really enjoyed your video. Good, clear info. Now I'm going to the farm to find some tracks!

Good video. Great explimations. I just found you and I subscribed. Very cool. ❤. Regards frim South Central Indiana.. USA.

Thanks for the lesson. subscribed

Thanks. Was good info

I would like a comparison of dog and wolf. My guess is similar characteristics as coyote.

Wow this was great

Very Nice -Thanks! 😎👍

Loved this thanks man!

New Sub, Thanks for the content. I found your video Interesting, Informative and Entertaining. I look forward to seeing more from your channel.

Interesting. Thanks👍🏻

Excellent explanation. In Aridzona identifying coyote tracks can be very useful..

That was cool 😎

thank you. This can be helpfull in my area.

Excellent video. Its counter intuitive

Odd rec'd post but very good stuff, great vid.

HA! Great timing. I had tracks in my back yard (mostly dirt/mud) a few days ago that weren't my border collies'. I wondered if another dog had jumped the fence or if it was a coyote. Based on your video, it looks like a stray domestic dog. Larger paw prints than my dogs' with connected nails. Thanks for this informative video!!

Thanks, very informative, I walk my dog everyday, seeing coyotes occasionally. Now I may see evidence of their passing.

I’m all in on a tracking series. I’d love to see a video on determining the age of the track. Great video.

Fantastic video!

Well done. Thumbs up and a new sub.

Good to know. Thanks.

I’m a beginner taxidermist and this is really helpful with how to properly pose the feet

Had some tracks in my back yard and didn't know if it was a coyote or a dog. The only other thing was some cactus pear seeds left in a poop pile. That lead my husband to believe that it was a coyote. I have been interested in tracking and so thanks for the video.

Thank you

Subbed. I always look at the track width; coyotes tend to have a much narrower chest than dogs (so do wolves for that matter) and their prints tend to be laterally closer. I look forward to your other videos!

Very interesting. I’m near a reservoir lake in Georgia and have seen coyotes and fox nearby. On my daily walks with our dogs I’ve often wondered if I’m seeing any coyote or fox tracks vs domestic dog tracks. This helps.

Thank you this was helpful

What a great video. Thanks man, keep sharing! +1 subscriber

That was greatness buddy

That was awesome.

Very informative. Thank you, sir.

Great video!

Just subbed, liked, and commented. Greetings from west central Florida.

Interesting. 👍🏻