Coyotes are a common sight in many parts of North America these days, and there are reports of them attacking both humans and their pets.
If you own a Rottweiler, you might be wondering if they are able to defend and kill a coyote if they ever get attacked.
Turns out, a Rottweiler can kill a coyote. Rottweilers are large and powerful dogs and have the strength and size to take down a coyote.
However, coyotes hunt in packs and it’s unlikely your Rotte would be able to defend against a few coyotes.
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Rottweiler Vs Coyote
The Coyote, derived from the Genus Canis, is an extremely skilled hunter and is native to North America, that mostly targets small animals such as birds, and rodents, and is surprisingly also known to consume fruits and berries on occasion.
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They mostly tend to hunt in groups known as a Pack, but can also be seen going solo. An adult coyote can weigh up to around twenty kilograms and can grow to about sixty-five centimeters in height. And they are fast, agile, and ferocious predators.
The Rottweiler, also derived from the Genus Canis, is a dog breed that is native to Germany and is one of the smartest, most loyal, and physically strong dogs breeds out there.
Before modern domestication, Rottweilers were mainly used in farms to herd livestock, but have since then evolved into an incredibly capable guard dogs.
An adult Rottweiler can weigh up to more than three times the weight of an adult Coyote at around sixty kilograms and can grow to nearly seventy centimeters in height. And they are more powerful than coyotes.
Moreover, a Rottweiler has a bite force of 328 PSI while coyotes only exert a 88 PSI bite force (lower than humans).
That being said, the answer to our main question is a bit complicated as the outcome is dependent on one specific factor.
The Deciding Factor
The deciding factor is the number of Coyotes involved in the confrontation.
At most, the average Rottweiler household would have around one to two dogs and are usually not trained.
Whereas Coyotes that live out in the wild have evolved throughout many generations into deadly hunters that tend to roam around in packs.
Though the Rottweiler at this point seems to be at a disadvantage at this point, it’s quite the opposite.
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In a one-on-one fight, trained or not, the Rottweiler is guaranteed to win through raw physical strength.
As Rottweilers are more than three times the weight of their opponent, the Coyote is seen as rather scrawny in comparison and can be easily overpowered. But all of that changes when it comes down to the numbers game.
In the rare occurrence that a Rottweiler is confronted by a pack of coyotes, there is no doubt that the coyotes will come out victorious. Because they are super skilled at hunting, and survival and are ferocious predators.
If the Rottweiler is extensively trained then, theoretically, it might have a chance to prevail, but it’s pretty unlikely for that to be the case.
So to answer the question of whether or not a Rottweiler can kill a coyote, the answer is Yes.
But against more than a single coyote, the answer is a definite No.
Is This A Deal Breaker?
No, not at all. Rottweilers are a great companion to add to any household. These dogs are very family oriented and make for incredible guard dogs which will protect you and your family with their lives.
Also Read: Are Rottweilers good guard dogs
Coming across a Pack of Coyotes is very rare unless you live in a very Coyote populated area, but even then Coyotes won’t go out of their way to kill a dog three times their weight… unless they’ve been starving for days of the course.
FAQs
Coyotes are not scared of big dogs and will attack them if they feel threatened or territorial. However, they would try to avoid fights with bigger dogs depending on the situation.
While it’s not that common, a coyote will attack a Rottweiler if they feel threatened or if they see one when they are hunting in its territories. There have been reports of coyotes attacking Rottweilers as well.
