Crossing a Husky with other dog breeds is barely surprising, as these dogs have great looks, wonderful physiques, and loads of charisma. However, choosing to crossbreed a regular dog with a coyote seems rather odd.
Coyotes are generally wild and hard to manage. But they’re also highly adaptable, clever, and have impeccable hunting instincts. Few pet owners can manage a Coydog though, so this crossbreed is rare. In fact, most people consider it a myth.
The Coyote Husky mix is a hardy breed that’s also smart, energetic, and unpredictable. If you’d like to know more about these dogs, keep reading.
The Origin Story of Coyotes and Coydogs
Coyotes, or Canis latrans, are large canines quite similar in looks and body shape to wolves. They’re much smaller in size though, as they’re often around 21-24 inches tall, with a moderate weight of 20 to 50 pounds. They usually have multicolored thin coats with sable, grey, and red tones.
These loners managed to live in different biomes all around North America. They were originally found in deserts and arid regions but soon learned that there are more opportunities for survival in forests, so they moved right in.
From there, Coyotes explored life around rural areas and farms. They even included livestock in their varied omnivorous diet. Naturally, the next step was edging closer to towns and suburban areas. And that’s where they came in close contact with domestic dogs and humans.
Coyotes have sharp hunting instincts, and they’d chase small animals, rats, rabbits, frogs, birds, or even plump instincts for a quick snack. They also kill larger animals and livestock if the opportunity presents itself. And in the absence of meat, they don’t mind feeding on vegetables, fruits, or grass.
Coydogs are the result of breeding a coyote with suitable dog breeds. Siberian Huskies, Russian Laikas, Pomeranians, and other Spitz types are all possible candidates. The hybrids produced from these crossbreeds are often more agile, dashing, and fierce.
Five Reasons for Choosing the Siberian Husky
Siberian Huskies are purebreds that come all the way from the frosty Northern lands. They were used to pull sleds and transport all kinds of goods across the rough Siberian terrain.
Huskies are large dogs that stand up to 24 inches high, and it has a strong muscular body weighing around 35-60 pounds.
Life in this extreme weather is hard, but the Siberian Huskies are well adapted to that type of climate. For example, they have a thick rich double coat that keeps them warm. In addition, their eyes are capable of squinting, which is another arctic adaptation to counter snow glare.
Breeders choose Siberian Huskies for five good reasons.
- These dogs are incredibly good-looking.
- Huskies are affectionate and friendly.
- The general health of a Husky is pretty good.
- Huskies have a long life expectancy.
- The IQ of a Husky is remarkably high.
These are all traits that complement the wilder nature of the Coyote. Within a couple of generations, the aggressive, timid, and opportunistic nature of a Coyote becomes toned down. The Coyote Husky Hybrid eventually gets the full benefit of the agile clever Coyote parent and the friendly genial Husky parent.
What to Expect From the Coyote Husky Mix
Both the Siberian Huskies and the Coyotes are resilient, strong, and smart animals. They also share an independent streak and a high sense of individuality.
Their temperaments are quite different though, as the Huskies have a gentler nature, and lack the hunting drive that fills the Coyotes.
These similarities and contradictions play out nicely as they crossbreed and produce a Coyote Husky mix.
Appearance
The appearance of the crossbreed is often a cocktail of both parents. In this case, the hybrid Coydogs usually get the Coyote’s features, body shape, and color.
The distinctive pointy ears are often present in the puppies, as well as the slanted eyes, and tapering muzzle. The downward bushy tails aren’t as frequent, and quite often get an upward lift that resembles the Husky’s raised tail.
Another feature that’s unique to the hybrids is the asymmetric coat. The rich thick double coat of the Husky doesn’t fully translate to the Coydogs. It’s partially obvious around the head and neck all the way down to the dog’s midriff. From there and downward, it starts thinning and becomes more like the Coyote’s shorter coat.
Color
The hybrid Coydogs usually retain their Coyote parent’s sable, grey, and taupe coats. They sometimes get an extra shade of white or black from their Husky side.
The distinctive blue eyes of Huskies are rare in the hybrids, which typically get the brown eyes and piercing stare of the Coyote.
The unique mask of the Husky is a rare appearance in the cross-bred offspring. This is another trait that the strong genes of the Coyote seem to overpower.
Size
The size of the Coyote Husky hybrids can be as small or as large as the genetic lottery would allow.
To show how this works, Coyotes range in weight from 20-40 pounds, while Huskies range from 35 to 60. Thus, their Coydogs could be smallish and around 20 pounds, or huge reaching the full weight of 60 pounds.
The 40-pound average should be expected, and that’s often what the litter turns out to be.
Temperament
Coydogs generally retain the wild side of their Coyote parents, and they often seem quite hesitant to trust others. This includes people and other animals alike. They still favor being alone and hunting only with worthy partners.
Even in their living arrangements, Coydogs prefer being housed in separate areas of the house. A high-walled area away from the daily activities of the house is usually comfortable for these dogs.
Proper socialization from a young age can bring out the gentler temperament of their Husky parent. They might not be full-on genial dogs, but they can learn to play with humans and be nice companions.
Intelligence
Huskies and Coyotes are super smart and observant. Their harsh lives taught them to figure out solutions for all kinds of problems, and survive unpredictable situations.
It’s not a big surprise then to see that the Coyote Husky crossbreed has an above-than-average brain power. The hybrids are quite intelligent, to the point of mimicking their human friend or acting on the slightest cues from them.
They might also switch alliances with the people around them, depending on what they gather from their long hours of watching their friends. This isn’t typical of other dogs though, and a Husky would never use its sharp wits for that end.
Providing dog toys that stimulate their brilliant brains would keep them occupied and make them happy. They’re quite clever and would impress their human friends with their problem-solving skills.
Activity Level
Coyotes are extremely agile and active animals. They’re constantly on the move to get food, hunt for amusement, or explore their surroundings.
Similarly, Huskies are just as energetic and have a constant need to be doing things. Their ancestors were always pulling sleds in extreme conditions, so that explains it all.
With such an agreement in activity levels, the Coydog hybrids can only follow suit and act like their parents. The offspring is always looking for adventure, hunting, and exercising its muscular body.
That’s why it’s important to give these Coydogs plenty of space to run around. But you have to keep in mind that they’d run away at the first opportunity that they get. This might not end well as they have limited social graces, and might not behave nicely in the neighborhood.
Resourceful animals usually find new ways to get what they want, and they have a sharp learning curve. They could dig below fences, and also jump over walls, so you have to ensure that they are safely locked inside.
Breeding and Litter Size
The first-generation hybrids are capable of breeding and procreating, which isn’t always the case in crossing dissimilar species. As expected, their traits start distilling and becoming more unique in the second and third generations.
A Coyote usually has a large litter of up to 10 puppies. However, living in the wild comes with many challenges, and that occasionally means a smaller litter. Having a single puppy in certain seasons isn’t an odd thing.
The same tendency is seen in Coydogs, where they could have very large or very small litters. Then again, in the absence of significant effects, the average litter size is 4-6 puppies. This is the same size as the Husky litter.
Health Issues and Life Span
Coyotes and Huskies are generally healthy dogs. The hybrid Coydogs usually have the same build and resilience.
There are some hereditary health issues that some of the hybrids exhibit, but these aren’t too frequent.
Arthritis and hip dysplasia are the biggest concerns for this crossbreed. Regular visits to the vet, a proper diet, and lots of exercise can limit the effects of these issues.
Other than that, the Coyote Husky hybrids might be prone to some fungal infections and skin problems. This is also a manageable condition.
The life expectancy of Coydogs can be quite long, reaching up to 15 years. The Husky side has a 12-14 years expectancy, which is also on the long side. Thus, you can spend many many good years with your Coydog pet.
Preferred Food
Coydogs often have the same scavenging tendencies as their Coyote parents. The wide range of surroundings that Coyotes learned to inhabit, and the limited resources they routinely have to face, make them quite flexible when it comes to food choices.
In the wild, a Coyote can eat a frog, a rabbit, a grasshopper, or feed on grass. If it comes across a farm in a rural area, it wouldn’t think twice about eating a lamb. Some Coyotes would also accept feeding on animal remains or carcasses if it comes to that.
This appetite is passed down to the offspring Coydogs who aren’t averse to eating anything that comes their way. That’s why it’s important to remove harmful substances from their surroundings.
Giving the puppies suitable dry food would guarantee their healthy growth. Large breeds that exert themselves in various activities all day long need a nutritious diet. Food that’s high in proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals would help them to grow and maintain their energy levels.
Adult Coydogs would benefit from the same diet, but, would also enjoy some raw food. Adding bones or chicken remains would be such a treat for them.
Is It Easy to Train a Coyote Husky Hybrid Dog?
Even though these dogs are highly intelligent, they seem to resist following orders. Training a Coyote Husky hybrid is difficult, but not impossible. They need you to be more patient and consistent with them.
Starting with Coydogs while they’re still young would yield much better results than working with older dogs. It’s essential to be firm and consistent throughout the training session. And always avoid being short-fused with a Coydog. These dogs are already timid and gaining their trust is never an easy task.
Another pro tip with Coydogs is keeping the training sessions brief. 10 to 15 minutes of repeating a specific activity should be quite sufficient.
Toilet training is much harder though, as these Coydogs inherit their parent’s wild streak. And a big part of that is being territorial and marking their space with excrement.
Socializing Coydogs is just as challenging as training them to be house pets. They are initially uncooperative, they could be a bit aggressive with strangers, or they might evade coming in contact with others altogether. All this can change with time and patience.
Wrapping Up: Are Coyote Husky Hybrids Good Family Dogs?
The lonesome hunter credo of the Coyote rarely disappears from the Coydog hybrids. They still have a wild side that keeps them from enjoying family life.
Coyote Husky hybrids are also known for having a tendency towards wanderlust. Like con artists, they’d cleverly find a way to disappear and escape. Interestingly, they often return after a day or two of roaming around.
Coydogs are rather unpredictable, so, they can’t be left unsupervised around kids or other pets. Having said that, there are various sources that swear by the kindness of these dogs. There isn’t enough evidence though that they’d make good family dogs.
They’re superb for hunting and adventure though!