Scared both Max and I

[Julie and Max]

On the 23rd Max was crying to go outside at about 3 in the morning. Now usually he doesn't do that so late, but we figured he had to go. We have a very large backyard and it's pretty dark out there at night.  My husband had thought he heard a dog bark just before he let him out but  didn't think too much about it.

My husband let him out, and he ran half way down the yard, and suddenly all this yipping started, and Max had run to the back fence. Now I consider myself very lucky because so far Max doesn't have an aggressive bone in his body, and all he wants to is play with other dogs. My husband called him, but he would not come back to the door, and the yipping was louder and now there was howling too. Now I was scared, even though I knew nothing could get in our yard through the six foot privacy fence it was just a lot of noise.

My husband put on his boots and coat and went out to get Max. When he got to the fence and peered through, there were three coyotes standing at my fence, yipping and howling at Max. I was standing at the door, but that really freaked me out.  

We live in the city but our house backs onto a nature trail pretty much and I have always known that there were coyotes living on the other side of the trail but never thought too much about them. I walk on the trail, but I always go before dark and I've never seen a coyote.

The next day we went for our walk on the trail and there had been a new snowfall the night before. I could see three sets of paw print tracks and no people tracks, and Max kept looking around like he was nervous which is unlike him. 

The next night he didn't even really want to go outside once it was dark and I had to go out with him, I guess he had figured out that those other "doggies" weren't friendly?

Anyhow, after our close encounter with the coyotes I went and read a lot about them, but hopefully we won't encounter anymore.

[Leslie and Halas]

That's scary. At least you know they'll get that close, and you can take more precautions.

[Julie and Max]

DJ my dad taught me to appreciate wild things, and I'm not scared of them for myself, just for Max. I know it's not really the coyotes fault, they've lost so much of their natural habitat, and like you said they are hunters, and this time of year they are hungry. I never even worried about them before we got Max, I heard them sometimes at night, but didn't think too much about it. I just want to make sure he's safe, so more thinking about these things and maybe in the summer I might put up the coyote rollers and the wire in the ground to better coyote proof the fence. 

[DJ & Chance]

Scary.  I grew up around coyotes and they usually don't scare me.  But those that end up in our yards have lost their natural habitat, and although coyotes are shy they are also hunters and who know what they will do when scared and hungry.

[Julie and Max]

Thank you Laurie

Hazel that is awful, I have been reading a lot about coyotes since the other night and that's what I read that they don't usually attack humans. I am not so sure Max was brave (he really is not most of the time) as curious. 

Kathryn, I'm not really scared of them for myself, but Max is the same and likes to go to the scary parts of the yard at night, and I do worry that they could get him. 

Last night I let him out (I have been going out with him since the coyote incident even at five in the morning) and I heard them again, they weren't that close, but I am pretty sure there were ten or more. I know they are just trying to survive since we've taken away so much of their natural habitat, I just wish they'd go survive somewhere else!

[Kathryn digregorio]

How scary,  glad Max is ok.  thanks for posting .   I am terrified of coyotes we are fairly protected but there is quite a bit of coyote dung on the other side of the walking trail.  My yard is fenced and walled, but I take Breezy out on lead in the back yard at night because she likes to go in the dark scary parts of the yard and i cannot see her in the dark.  They say never to let dog off lead where there may be coyotes or put on long lead.  Be careful all of our Doodle friends.  

[Janie, Jackson and Jilly]

How very scary, and to run into three no less. I'm so glad Max wasn't hurt.

[Hazel & Chester Wayte]

Wow I hear Coyotes howl sometimes - but haven't seen them on our walks. Lucky you have the fence.

There was an awful story of a young girl hiking in Nova Scotia who was attacked and killed by Coyotes- some experts feel she feed them as the behaviour isn't typical.But they are definitely becoming more a acclimatized to humans and we are more aware of them here as a result. Very Scarey Brave little Max going up to them!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Wow..that is scary. Glad everyone was ok!

[Julie and Max]

Bonnie I hope I don't see or hear them again too.

F. Calla I know we have had a few small dogs and cats killed here, but we've taken away a lot of their natural habitat so we can't really blame them.

Lynda, yeah, I guess I just never thought they'd come here because I back onto a very busy road.

BG I have been going out with him since it happened and I think I'm going to install some more lighting back there. 

Lori that's what i've been looking into, getting some more lighting out in the yard. 

[Bonnie and Kona]

OMD!!! That is so scary! I'm so glad that Max is okay, and I hope you never see or hear them again.