According to the National Wildlife Federation, the species of wild canid that is most frequently seen in the region is the coyote. Even though they are highly opportunistic, these animals are associated with meadows, woodlands, and deserts.
Coyotes have been getting closer to the human settlements because of the availability of food and possibly target that are pets and cattle.
Originally bred for purposes of blood sports and fighting, mid-sized, powerful American pitbull terriers were bred. This has naturally sparked controversy and one of the most common questions people have is which of the two, a pitbull vs coyote how would win in a fight?
Pitbull can win a fight with a coyote at a roughly estimated rate of 50:50. Pitbulls are comparatively a small and less swift animal as compared to coyotes. That is, pitbulls are more massive and weighed more and they dispatch their attack force more vehemently than coyotes. They are also capable of jumping higher as well. While dogs are friendly to humans and can’t hunt or kill their prey though they have a powerful jaw, coyotes are wild animals. Thus the outcome would most probably depend on the size and temperment of the pitbull.
A brief summary of pitbull vs coyote strength traits and distinctions is provided in the table below:
| Characteristic | Coyote | Pit bull |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 21 to 24 inches | 18 to 21 inches |
| Weight | 20 -50 pound | 30 -75 pound |
| Speed | 43 mph | 30 mph |
| Jumping abilities | 3 feet | 13 feet |
| Teeth length | 1.45 inches | Approx. 1 inch |
| Bite force | 727 PSI | 313 PSI |
| Strike force | Up to 2,150 lb.-ft./s | Up to 2,250 lb.-ft./s |
| Behavior | Social; aggressive | Social; majorly friendly |
| Diet | Omnivore | Omnivore |
| Habitat | North & Central America | N/A |
| Conservation status | Least concern | domestic breed |
We compared the traits of purebred American pitbull terriers as defined by the United Kennel Club with those of Canis latrans species. Facts and strength data may differ for non-purebred pitbull vs coyote subspecies.
The maximum speed multiplied by the maximum weight specified for each species was used to determine the strike forces in the table.
Pitbull vs coyote: Key Differences And Similarities
1. Height
The first, albeit slight, distinction between pitbulls and coyotes is size. It’s a common misconception that pitbulls are smaller than coyotes. But breed standards and scientific observations tell us otherwise.
Scientists estimate that coyotes can grow up to 24 inches at shoulder height. Additionally, their length ranges from 3.3 to 4.3 feet.
Pitbulls can grow up to 21 inches in height, according to the American Dog Breeders Association (ADBA) and the United Kennel Club. Compared to some of the biggest coyotes, that is at least three inches shorter.
The length of a pitbull is not standardized by the ADBA or the United Kennel Club. Nonetheless, side-by-side examinations of pitbulls and coyotes reveal that their maximum lengths are comparable.
Females are typically weaker and smaller than males in both pitbulls and coyotes.
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2. Weight
Although pitbulls are smaller, they are still large beasts. Due to their strong bodies, these dogs were initially bred for combat. Because of this, pitbulls typically weigh more than coyotes.
For instance, pitbulls range between thirty and sixty pounds in weight, on the other, by meeting the ADBA standard, they can weigh up to seventy-five pounds.
The bodies of coyotes weigh between 20 to 50 pounds, and they are slimmer. Pitbulls for instance benefit from this in fights.
3. Speed
Both pitbull vs coyote are fast, but the later is faster than the former. particularly, representatives of this breed can only run at a pace of 48 kilometers per hour and pitbulls can run to a maximum of 12 kilometers through a single thirty minutes, adding that different breeds of dogs differ when it comes to the speed with which they can run for a specific amount of time, and to back this claim they gave the following breakdown of the speeds of various dogs;
Which gets back to the point; the faster co yote becomes better at dodging the attacks it receives from the dog as well as in its attempts to chase it.
But speed isn’t a guarantee of success. Pitbulls actually have more tricks up their sleeves that could help them win.
4. Jumping Abilities
Pitbulls are great at jumping but coyotes are runners. , namely up to thirteen feet high. Of course, they cannot jump as fast as coyotes but when they do leap, they can go pretty far and this is one thing that coyotes cannot accomplish.
It is rather surprising though as a coyote in fact is capable of jumping only about three feet off the ground. However, which means that coyotes cannot jump high or observe past it, and this does not mean that they cannot jump over vertical barriers. In fact, if necessary, coyotes are able to climb over the fences since their hinder legs are muscular.
If a coyote were to battle with a pitbull, it might use its climbing ability to escape.
5. Teeth Length
The length of the teeth is another physical characteristic that could determine the outcome of a battle, and coyotes are the best at it.
Their canines are actually around 1.45 inches long. Pitbulls, on the other hand, have teeth that are an inch or somewhat longer. Although there aren’t any studies specifically on pitbulls, researchers say that this is true for the majority of dog breeds.
With only one bite, the powerful, sharp fangs of both species can rip through tissue.
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6. Bite Force
When it comes to the ferocity of their bites, coyotes also have an advantage.
Coyotes have a bite force quotient of 88, which is the bite force adjusted for body mass, according to a study on the comparative bite force in large biting mammals.
Although its bite is not as strong as that of wolves or other wild creatures, such as bobcats, it would still be approximately 727 PSI.
In contrast, wolves have a bite force quotient of 136, which, depending on the size of the animal, translates to over 1,000 PSI.
The bite force of pitbulls has not been the subject of any particular research.
Large breed dogs, however, have a biting power of up to 1,934 Newton, according to general studies on the subject. That is around two times weaker than coyotes, at 313 PSI.
7. Strike Force
They weigh more than coyotes, despite the fact that coyotes may bite harder and have longer teeth. Pitbulls may benefit from this trait by being able to strike with more force.
This force is calculated by multiplying the body mass by the speed at impact.
As a result, a 75-pound pit bull running at maximum speed may produce an impact force of up to 2,250 lb.-ft./s, or roughly 70 pounds of force.
Although coyotes are faster than pitbulls, they may not be as heavy. An impact force of roughly 2,150 lb.-ft./s, or 66 pounds, may be produced by a 50-pound coyote running at maximum speed.
Despite these figures, there isn’t much of a physical difference between pitbulls and coyotes. Larger coyotes are therefore frequently stronger than smaller pitbulls.
8. Behavior
Although both pitbull vs coyote are gregarious creatures, their habits differ greatly because one is domesticated and the other is wild.
Coyotes live in semi-solitary environments. Although they prefer hunting or foraging alone, they are monogamous and form packs.
Despite being house dogs, pitbulls have a group mentality with other canines. Pitbulls are now primarily kept as family pets, despite the fact that they were formerly bred for combat.
Nevertheless, breed-specific legislation in certain states or cities limit the ownership of these dogs because they are deemed hazardous.
Pitbull vs coyote both have territorial tendencies. Despite their typically amiable disposition, pitbulls that are not trained to be aggressive frequently chase after animals that enter their yards.
Because they are wild animals, coyotes mark their territory in places that aren’t already held by packs or other lone coyotes.
Their domain may occasionally overlap with a pitbull’s, particularly in places close to woods or expansive parks.
9. Diet
It is very impossible to compare the diets of pitbull vs coyote because the former often consume what their owners feed them.
Like coyotes, stray dogs are carnivores but are not strictly restricted to a diet of solely protein. Meat, food scraps, and fruit or other vegetation are all consumed by coyotes and dogs.
Similar to coyotes, stray dogs go in for small things and may capture mice, rats, lizards, snakes, and even cats.
Pitbull vs coyote do not compete for hog or any meal but when a pitbull is left to roam in a coyote area, you may expect some problems.
10. Habitat
Coyotes are very adaptable beasts that could occupy almost all forms of terrain in North and some parts of Central America. They are known to be inhabitants of forests, marshes, deserts, semi-desert and grassland areas.
Pitbulls have no habitat because they are domestic animals. On the other hand, their habitat would resemble that of coyotes if they were to live in the wild.
According to stray dog behavior, discarded dogs can band together with other stray dogs and occasionally even join coyote packs.
11. Conservation Status
A frequent species found throughout North and Central America are coyotes. Their species is not in risk of extinction.
Pitbulls are also not in risk of extinction. American Kennel Club regulations state that enthusiastic dog breeders create American pitbull terriers and other breeds usually referred to as pitbulls.
Who Would Win A Fight?
Coyotes are almost of the same size and strength as pitbulls. Pitbulls are larger in size and can even better jump than the former but the former is faster and it has a harder bite. It would, of coarse, depend on the actual size of the respective coyote and a pitbull if they were to fight in a one on one confrontation.
In each instance, a big coyote will overrun a small pitbull and vice versa, a point that— That is why if both the animals were of the same size or power the coyote would most likely win the fight due to its increased temperateness.
It is rather obvious that because coyotes are wild animals they really stand a good chance in case of a fight. For this reason, they are skillful hunters that rarely abandon their effort when encountered by a challenge.
Despite the fact hur they have been bred for the purpose, today pitbulls are not used for fighting. Today pitbulls are mainly kept as family dogs and are trained to listen to their masters. However, a dog brought up in a warm house and close to people will attack its so-called “pack” more submissively.