Can a Pitbull Kill a Coyote?
Pitbulls have a lot of controversy around them. They are one of the most common breeds in the United States.
Pitbull vs. Coyote Who would win
This is an interesting match, which has been debated on social media sparked by the recent coyote’s that have attacked pitbulls.
In this post, we will look at whether or not a pitbull can kill a coyote.
We will go into the physical traits of both animals, their size differences, weight differences.
We’ll compare their strength and stamina as well as discuss their teeth and jaw strength. It’s time to find out if this predator can be killed by its prey!
The Pitbulls Bad Reputation
Many pit bull owners are in love with the breed. Most Pitbulls are loving, protective dogs. Most have never been aggressive and protect their family at any cost.
That’s not every pitbull, though. It’s unfortunate, but some have been bred for fighting. These fighting Pitbulls are bred and trained to be aggressive by illegal dogfighting ring operators.
Pitbull’s, unfortunately, have a reputation for being violent. Though, most of them are as sweet as can be.
In fact, some people believe that this type is the most dangerous dog in America!
Do you think that’s true? Let us know in the comments…
Let’s get to the point. If a coyote wanders up to a pitbull and picks a fight, who would win?
Can a pitbull kill a coyote?
Yes, a pitbull can kill a coyote if it had to. But most Pitbulls are domesticated and would run away from a coyote encounter (see video below). Pitbulls have stronger bites but are not as naturally aggressive as coyotes and less likely to initiate an attack.
A pitbull’s bite is almost twice as powerful as a coyote.
A Pitbulls bite force is 235 PSI.
A coyote bite is 135 PSI, what you’d expect from a medium-sized dog.
So, if it came down to who’s bite will land more damage, the pitbull would get lots of points here.
But, a coyote is much more aggressive and will likely be the one to initiate an attack. So they will likely be the aggressor and be able to land the first damaging blow.
A pitbull would not have this same instinctual drive when faced with danger and just might run away.
In this video, a coyote walks up to a pitbull and picks a fight. What did the pitbull do? He tucked his tail between his legs and ran to his owner for help—quite the opposite of the pit bull stereotype.
The right question is: “would a pitbull kill a coyote?”
It’s not so much a question of “can a pitbull kill a coyote?” It’s would they? This pitbull wouldn’t. He’s too sweet. He’s a domesticated pet. Which is great for companionship but not so great in a coyote encounter.
Now, if he had to. If it came down to the nitty-gritty and his life was in danger–I think that pitbull has it in him to kill a coyote. But another problem he would run into is the Coyote’s speed.
Coyotes are fast! They can really take a pitbull by surprise. Any offensive attack from the pitbull and the Coyote would just outrun him.
I think this gives a coyote an advantage over a pitbull, at least this one.
The Coyote could toy with him and launch a forward assault to retreat before the pitbull can respond.
That’s what this Coyote did.
Pitbull Scares Off Coyote
In this video, the pitbull fought hard and scared off the Coyote.
I think it says something that coyotes are so bold to attack them. Coyotes think twice when attacking extra large breeds like the Great Pyrenees.
If I had a pit bull, I’d be careful. I think they would get seriously hurt or killed if left alone with a coyote.
I think the Pitbulls could kill a coyote if it had to, but I don’t recommend giving it a chance. Don’t use them for hunting coyotes.
Differences Between Pitbulls & Coyotes
Your pooch and your neighborhood coyote have a lot in common. They are both canines and can be similar in size.
Size
Pitbulls can weigh anywhere from 35 to 60 lbs, with males being heavier.
They can stand between 18 and 21 inches in height.
Coyotes can stand up to 24 inches tall.
They can be longer than pitbull, too, between 2.5-2.8 feet long!
Coyotes weigh between 20-46 lbs.
As far as size goes, it’s easy to see that much depends on the particular dog and Coyote.
Coyotes also are more slender than Pitbulls and built with pointier noses for sniffing out prey. Coyotes are much better suited to be quick and agile.
You should not use your Pitbull for hunting as they will likely lose the battle against a sly, fast-moving coyote!
Teeth
Coyotes have four canine teeth, two upper and two lower, which they use to grab onto prey. These teeth are not as sharp as those of a cat, but instead, the premolars behind them do most of the work in holding down meat from larger animals like deer.
Pitbulls have four canine teeth as well, two upper and lower, which they use to clamp down prey. They are both canines. The bigger difference is found in their jaw.
Jaw
As mentioned, the major difference is in their jaw strength. Coyote jaws are much weaker than a Pitbull’s jaw. Coyotes have jaws that are designed for small game animals, and they do not have as much force as a pitbulls jaw.
The muscles in the Pitbulls jaw can clench hard enough to stop a full-grown deer from running away, but coyotes’ jaws would not be able to do that..
Speed & Agility
Coyotes can run up to 43 miles per hour!
Pitbulls can run between 25-30 miles per hour.
Coyotes are much faster than Pitbulls. This gives them a lot of power over them in a fight. They will only attack when they want to attack.
Pitbulls, being much slower to react, will have a hard time landing a bite.
Even though a Pitbulls jaw is stronger, it won’t get as many bites in. The Coyote will doge them, run away, and then come back for another attack.
Aggressive Pitbulls
Of course, not every pitbull would react like the one in the video. There are some aggressive ones out there. If they weren’t bred and born aggressive, they might have been encouraged and trained to be.
Now, if you bred and trained Pitbulls to hunt and kill coyotes, I think they would excel at it. I think it would take a special kind of pitbull, though.
If you have a coyote problem, it makes perfect sense to consider getting a pitbull to guard and defend the property.
Over 15% of pit bulls fail the American Temperament Test Society standards for a well-tempered dog. Those pit bulls who don’t pass the test may just be the type of dog needed for protecting property from coyotes.
I can’t say I recommend it, though. You’d be much better off getting a livestock guardian breed of dog, such as a Great Pyrenees.
Can a Pitbull Kill a Wolf?
Definately not. The wolf is one of the only species in the world that has no natural enemy. A wolf have over fourt times more bite force than a pitbull and a superior level of endurance. They are bigger, stronger, and faster in every way
Are Pitbulls Stronger than Wolves?
Pit bulls are strong dogs, but they’re often portrayed as being much stronger than in reality. Wolves can grow upwards of 150 lbs, whereas Pitbulls max out at around 75 lbs.
Our pitbull friends don’t look too good next to a wolf. A Wolf’s bite force is greater than the average Pit Bull and is also found to be 1200 PSI which is higher when compared with Pitbulls who have a measly 235 PSI in comparison.
Wolves also have more endurance than a Pit Bull. They are heavier, bigger, faster, and natural killers. There is no way a pitbull stands a fighting chance against a wolf.
Wolves are fierce predators. They use their superior power, endurance, and size for hunting prey.
A Pit Bull is a pet dog that has been bred to fight other dogs, not wolves.
Please understand this, a pitbull is prey to a wolf. It’s an easy lunch. Keep your pitbull away from them.
If you have a coyote problem, that’s a different story. You don’t have to be as worried.
Wolf + pitbull = bad day for pitbull
Before you get a pit bull guard dog
Things to Consider: If you do get a pitbull for protection, they should be trained and socialized well before taking on the job of guarding your property.
The most important thing is that the pitbull does not show aggression towards humans, other dogs, or cats. The dog should be socialized with the people in your family and neighborhood to be not aggressive towards anyone who comes near your house – only coyotes!
Final Thoughts
So, could a Pitbull kill a coyote? We’ve covered a lot in this post. You should know the answer to that by now. Yes! But would they? Now thats a different question all-to-gether!
Now we know that Pitbulls can kill coyotes. Hopefully, you won’t go coyote hunting with your pitbull though. If you have ideas like that, please get them out of your head. Get another breed for that.
Also, keep them far away from wolves, lions, and bears…oh my.
