Yes that’s a book title by Tony Hillerman (love his books by the way)’ but it’s also a true statement about a scary incident in which Shiloh chases a coyote, and mommy chases after both Shiloh and the coyote….
Let me start at the beginning….
We set off on our late afternoon walk yesterday, about an hour before the sun would be dipping behind the mountains. Both dogs are on Flexi leashes, as we walk down the dirt road, exploring the area. Perfect shirt sleeve and sun glasses weather for a walk. We go past the area where other RV’s are parked, so I can let Joy and Shiloh off leash. Cactus are about the only thing I’m concerned about here, and scanning the area I see they are rare. I release Shiloh first and he’s off like a bat outta hell, as usual. I release Joy and she prances around the area, which is normal for her recently. I look for Shiloh and see him immediately…with another…dog? The next second I realize it isn’t another dog, but a COYOTE! A little over half Shiloh’s size, they were running, but not fast, more playful, like a game of chase. OH SHILOH NO!!
I’ve heard about that ‘game’ coyote, the trickster, plays with dogs. ‘Come play with me!’ He says. ‘Come meet my friends’ he adds with a smile. ‘We will have you for dinner’ he adds under his breath.
They are known to lure dogs in, acting friendly, showing no aggression , until the dog finds itself among the pack where it is quickly torn to shreds and eaten.
It happened so fast…within seconds of Shiloh being off the leash.
I never stop calling his name, though he ignores me. Though way behind, I’m running, waving my arms in the air, banging the Flexi leashes together, both to get Shiloh’s attention and to let coyote know this dog has human back up, who is NOT going to let him become anyone’s dinner. I see coyote turn and face Shiloh. Shiloh stops, looking back at me, still running and banging, and Joy beside me. I know she sees the coyote too, and she is Miss High Anxiety now. I do believe she knows there is danger and just isn’t sure what to do, as I keep telling her to stay with me.
I see coyote saying ‘ignore them! Come with me!’ And he trots off, Shiloh follows, but with some slight hesitation now. Maybe he is getting the picture?? I see this happen two more times, where coyote turns and encourages Shiloh to ‘play’, luring him on. The last time Shiloh turns away. He trots back to me. I grab him and hug him and Joy,as I fasten the leash on them. I’m shaking. I look back. No coyote to be seen. He’s gone…disappeared as suddenly as he appeared.
We hurry off towards home, perhaps another 1/3 mile, facing into the setting sun. Both dogs are nervous, but otherwise seem ok. We get back and I feed them and they relax as the sun sets. Later when Shiloh gets up to come in he is limping badly. His right front leg is the problem. I examine it carefully. No obvious damage, no blood or swelling and he shows no sign of pain when I handle it. Probably a sprain. I wrap it in an ace bandage and give him pain med. I wonder, could that be the reason he stopped following coyote? He had walked fine the rest of the way home, but that could have been the adrenaline and the desire not to show pain.
This morning he still hobbles around but wants to go for a walk. We take a short one around the area, ON leash. The first 5 minutes are stop and go, but then he walks easier.
As of now, he still limps and he will have to do a lot of resting today. He lies there looking out into the desert and perhaps he’s giving thought to his first confrontation with utter wildness. (Or not. 🙂 )
Wandering Spirit 
Now that’s a scary story! Glad it turned out well in the end!!!
Thanks Marsha. Yes, me too. I am sooooo glad!
Yikes! Good that you are so aware of coyote’s habits!
You know Patty, I don’t remember where I first learned that. I’m glad I did though because otherwise I probably would have thought ‘oh isn’t that cute, Shiloh is playing with the coyote!’
😦
Happy it worked out. Hope the leg heals quickly!
Hi Linda. His leg is much better already. Our walks get a little longer each time and he only limps occasionally now.
Did you check the pads of his paw for anything that might be in the pad or between them. When my dog sometimes gets something stuck between the pads, she will walk with a limp.
Hi Monica, thank you, yes, I did check the pads and between them. Nothing there. Im in such a habit of checking that because in the Monterey area where we lived before, Foxtails were everywhere. They are little grassy stickers, kinda soft, but with a pointy end that goes one direction…in. Always checking for those things after every walk, while living there. They get between toes, in ears, even in their nose if they breath a dry one in.
Bad coyote! Glad you are so aware of their tactics. What a piece of mind for Shiloh to return to your lead…hope back to skipping along your side. That had to be so scary!
Hi Cozy. Coyotes are so smart. And so wily. 🙂 Literally. Remember those cartoons with the Roadrunner? Meep meep!
Do you know…two just ran thru our RV park in Gulf Shores, AL. So darn cold, think they are really really hungry!
They live a hard life. I hope people there are watching over their small dogs and their cast.
Wow! So glad everything turned out OK. I was in the woods once near my home in small town New England picking rose hips. When I went to leave, I felt the presence of something and there were two coyotes about 10 feet away, stalking me! While I don’t think they would have attacked me, they certainly startled me and I yelled “Hey, hey”. They took off quickly.
Wow Marcia, 10 feet away! They are so stealthy. I’m sure this one was watching us, since it was right there when I let Shiloh loose.
Probably using the coyote mind meld on me…’let them loose…let them loose…’
Oh well, maybe I’m giving him a LITTLE too much credit now, 🙂
My dog Patches has confronted coyotes 3-4 times. Every time has played out the same way. Patches sees coyote, coyote sees Patches; they do a stare down for 2, 3, 4 minutes and the coyote trots away.
Hi Ed. Must be strange or confusing for our dogs, seeing something that looks like another dog, but that has scent of a wild predator.
Okay, yep, not so jealous of that, but glad you knew of their cunning ways!
Shiloh appointed himself sentry the last couple of nights, lying in the doorway till long after dark. Every once in awhile I’d hear a long, low growl. I hope he understands about coyotes now…
Wow that was really awful! Poor Baby, POOR Mommy!!!! Happy to hear everything is ok.
Thank you Krystina! Shiloh is fine now, no more limping!