Yes, coyotes can breed with dogs, and their hybrid offspring are commonly called coydogs.

Can Coyotes Breed With Dogs? (Quick Scoop)

Short answer

  • Yes, coyotes (Canis latrans) and domestic dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) can interbreed.
  • The offspring are called coydogs and are usually fertile, meaning they can reproduce again with dogs, coyotes, or other coydogs.
  • In the wild, this is rare because coyotes and dogs have different breeding seasons and social behavior.

How is it biologically possible?

  • Coyotes and dogs are closely related canids and share the same chromosome number (78), which allows them to produce viable offspring.
  • Their genetic similarity means the embryos can develop normally, unlike crosses between more distant canids (for example, some fox species with different chromosome counts).

Think of them as “close cousins” within the dog family, close enough that reproduction is possible under the right conditions.

What exactly is a coydog?

  • A coydog is the hybrid result of a mating between a coyote and a domestic dog.
  • They often show a mix of traits, such as:
    • Lean, athletic build
    • Pointed ears and bushy tail
    • Strong prey drive and wariness toward strangers
    • More independent and less “people‑focused” than typical pet dogs

Because of these mixed traits, they can be challenging pets, especially for inexperienced owners.

How often does this really happen?

In reality, natural coyote–dog matings are uncommon :

  • Coyotes usually breed once a year in late winter or early spring, while dogs can come into heat twice a year or more, all year round.
  • Wild coyotes typically avoid dogs or act aggressively toward them rather than trying to mate.
  • Hybridization is more likely:
    • Where coyotes and free‑roaming or feral dogs overlap (rural edges, some suburbs).
    • When coyotes are expanding territory and have trouble finding coyote mates.

Most wildlife biologists consider true coydogs in the wild relatively rare compared with pure coyotes or dogs.

Are coydogs legal or safe to keep?

  • Many regions restrict or ban ownership of coyote hybrids because of safety concerns, wildlife‑law issues, and rabies‑vaccination complications.
  • Intentional breeding of coydogs is widely discouraged by veterinarians and wildlife experts due to:
    • Unpredictable temperament
    • High exercise and enrichment needs
    • Risk of poor welfare if kept like a normal pet dog

If someone thinks they have or want a coydog, they should check local laws and consult both a vet and local wildlife authorities first.

What pet owners should do around coyotes

  • Keep dogs leashed in areas where coyotes live, especially during late winter and early spring (coyote breeding season).
  • Don’t let dogs roam unsupervised; this reduces both the risk of conflict and the chance of any hybridization.
  • Discourage coyotes from coming close to homes by securing trash, not feeding wildlife, and supervising pets outdoors.

TL;DR: Can coyotes breed with dogs? Yes, they can, and the hybrids are called coydogs—but natural pairings are rare, and keeping or breeding them on purpose is usually a bad and sometimes illegal idea.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.