Pitbull vs Coyote: Strengths & Weaknesses – Who Wins?

While Pitbulls are one of the most ferocious dog breeds, a coyote is a very clever and cunning wild canid found in North America.

The great adaptation capabilities that these animals show have enabled them to survive in semi-urban areas such as fields, pastures, wilderness patches, outskirts of towns, etc.

But a fight between these two can lead to critical wounds on both sides, while the strengths and weaknesses of a Pitbull vs Coyote are comparable, they both have an advantage over each other!

So, let’s compare and find out who will win in a fight between these two.

Pitbull vs Coyote: Quick Comparison

Naturally, a coyote is not suitable as a human pet. They, however, make for excellent fighters. These animals are highly alert and adapt to situations quickly. 

Pitbulls are loyal, capable dog breeds often kept in human homes. The American Pitbull is bred to be muscular and prone to fighting and other blood sports.

They mostly fight individually unless there are others in the household with whom it has formed solidarity. Pitbull has a greater bite strength (almost double) than a coyote. As the two fight, the latter usually runs faster, but the former jumps higher.

Pitbulls can be trained carefully to manoeuver the disadvantages it has against a coyote. They are highly trainable and have been raised to respond quickly to physical education. Coyotes have very limited trainability, but they do have a natural instinct to kill.

Pitbull vs Coyote Fight: Who Would Win?

Generally, between a Pitbull vs Coyote, the wild animals show more aggressive behavior and greater strength. They are also ready for any novel situation that might arise. Pitbulls can also overpower and injure coyotes faster. However, there are some factors that influence who wins a fight between a Pitbull and a Coyote.

• Environment: Pitbulls perform better in situations for which they have been trained before. Coyotes, being wild animals, are more open to completely unknown environments. 
• Size: A large coyote will easily be able to win over a small-sized Pitbull. Alternatively, Larger Pitbulls can win over and even kill a smaller coyote.
• Age: Naturally, a younger Pitbull will win against an older coyote and vice versa.
• Individual differences: Not every animal has an equal capacity. Individual disposition towards fighting, aggression, fear, and even training can play a huge role in how the animal ends a performance in a fight.
• Training: Both coyotes and Pitbulls can be trained, Pitbulls a bit more so. Therefore it will depend on the training regime and the preparation of the trainer that will make the animal lose or win a fight.

Must Read: Dudley Lab vs Yellow Lab

Pitbull vs Coyote: Strengths & Weaknesses

1. Pitbull

Both the Pitbull and the Coyote, since they are so different from each other, provide an element of surprise to the fight. For a Pitbull, the following aspects might be considered:

Strengths 

• Pitbull weighs between 30 to 75 pounds.
• They can jump up to 13 feet.
• Pitbulls have an amazing bite strength of 240 to 330 PSI.

Weaknesses

• The Pitbull has a teeth length of only 1 inch.
• They are about 18 to 21 inches in height. Overall, the size comparison between a Pitbull and Coyote clearly shows that a coyote is larger. 
• Pitbulls can only run up to 30 miles per hour compared to a Coyote, which can easily gain 43 miles per hour during a sprint.

2. Coyote

A coyote has a completely different build and lifestyle. Here are a few things that we must consider while comparing a Coyote with a Pitbull.

Strengths

• Coyote has a teeth length of 1.45 inches and can render much stronger injuries.
•  They tend to be aggressive socially by nature. Also, they have the genetic base of wild animals, making them better hunters.
•  The height of a coyote is between 21 to 24 inches.

Weakness

• Coyotes can jump up to 3 feet.
• It is about 20 to 50 pounds in weight.
• Coyotes have lesser muscular strength than Pitbull and also have a leaner body type. 

Pitbulls vs Coyotes: Behavior and Temperaments

Pitbulls have an interesting personality since they have been bred to become both amazing fighters and affectionate protectors. They have a high need for affection and can be extremely friendly.  

They have an average energy level but can be very ferocious and overbearing if threatened. Most Pitbulls don’t get along with other Pitbulls of the same age. However, they can be very protective of smaller dog breeds and pups. 

Pitbulls are great companions to both adults and babies. They love playing and can come up with modifications to the games and exercises you introduced to them. There are many interesting facts to learn about a Pitbull’s personality. 

Contrary to Pitbulls, coyotes are solitary creatures who tend to avoid any animal except for the members of their pack, including humans, most of all. They dislike confronting animals in general but are very aggressive when frustrated. 

Just like Pitbulls, coyotes are also driven by hunting. Between a Pitbull and Coyote, only the dog can be trained to obey – coyotes can show fierce resistance, and the most a trainer can do is instill fear in them.

Pitbulls vs Coyotes: Speed and Agility

Pitbulls can be very energetic, but they do not show high speed. They can reach the speed of 30 miles an hour, which is quite slow compared to the 43 miles an hour that a coyote can run. 

Coyotes are typically more agile than Pitbulls, and this has much to do with flexibility and quick reflexes as it has to do with speed. Coyotes also have a genetic background as well as direct experience in the wild that has made them better reactors. 

However, Pitbulls are very energetic. Show excellent behavior under observation and training and can therefore push their capacity to a maximum. Great speed, however, does not mean that the dog will not be able to chase the coyote, and there is no guarantee that the coyote will escape. 

Pitbulls vs Coyotes: Intelligence

The common idea that Pitbulls are dumb is highly untrue. Studies have shown that Pitbulls have average to above-average intelligence. When subjected to Coren’s Dog Intelligence Criteria, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier ranked 94, and the American Staffordshire ranked 48.

They can learn a command in just 15 to 25 repetitions. One drawback in command implementation is that Pitbulls can be very stubborn and would refuse to perform according to the owner. 

Coyotes are one of the smartest wild animals out there. They are, however, not bred for obedience, and they need a lot of stimulation and excitement to keep them going. 

Coyotes also have an above-average performance to boast of regarding intelligence, problem-solving ability, and memory retention. Coyotes perform slightly worse than Pitbulls in terms of social intelligence.

How Strong Is a Coyote?

Coyotes only have a bite strength of 88 PSI to 150 PSI, but they are great fighters because they hunt in packs, and the pack gives them strength.

As an individual, the coyote has a narrow lower jaw lending exceptional locked jaw power. They have a strong strike force of about 2150 pounds.

How Strong Is a Pitbull?

A Pitbull is one of the strongest dog breeds in the world. It has an amazing reflex system and a bite force of as much as 330 PSI. It can attack with its paws and fully use its muscular weight while overpowering the opponent. 

Pitbulls can bite to not only tear the skin and the muscles but also break bones. They also have one of the strongest locked jaws making it almost impossible for the opponent to escape in time. The jaw power of a Pitbull is about 242 pounds.

Can a Coyote Kill a Pitbull?

In the wild, a lone coyote will never try to attack a Pitbull. Coyotes usually fight only when in small groups.

A coyote has a greater chance of escaping a Pitbull attack since it can run fast and is better at deception. But attacking is another thing, and an average Pitbull is much more likely to injure, capture and kill a coyote in a one-on-one fight. 

Other coyotes who are pack members, however, would be waiting nearby, and the Pitbull can lose a fight if multiple wild animals are attacking it from all sides.

Are Coyotes Stronger Than Dogs?

Dogs come in many breeds, each with a different strength, agility, intelligence, and training level. Dogs smaller than the Pitbull have almost a zero chance of winning a fight against a coyote.

Coyotes are big animals who can be ferocious – but many big dogs will easily overpower a coyote. These include the Great Pyrenees, Komondors, Anatolian Shepherds, German Shepherds, etc. 

Are Coyotes Afraid of Big Dogs?

The dog has a greater propensity to initiate or implement a fight since coyotes don’t like fighting. In fact, coyotes tend to avoid larger hunting animals, including dogs.

Coyotes try to avoid big dogs. They can hunt and traumatize small dogs and cats, but usually, when they face the larger dog, they don’t initiate a physical fight and may even retreat.

Coyotes are known to attack leashed dogs, old dogs, and diseased dogs.

Final Thoughts

Coyotes tend to avoid big dogs, but they are not afraid to attack if an animal happens to threaten them. Pitbulls, on the other hand, with great physical prowess, can be extremely tenacious.

Therefore, in this blog, we have carefully examined the strength and weaknesses of a Pitbull vs Coyote, and we can see that with precise training, a Pitbull can learn to overcome its few disadvantages against wild animals. If used with precision, the tactic can always win over brutal strength.

Frequently Asked Question: Pitbull vs Coyote