Dog or coyote track

[JMayo]

3 '' in size its inside my chain link fence.
I suppose a small dog could have come in near a ditch. But It would have to be a big footed one.

 

[Shynloco]

Maybe BIG FOOT? (LOL)

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

Around here, coyotes don't usually have that much claw, as they keep it worn down. I'd say that's a dog.

 

[Mikemontminy]

View attachment 1082975 3 '' in size its inside my chain link fence.
I suppose a small dog could have come in near a ditch. But It would have to be a big footed one.

I’m thinking a dog. Coyote tracks are more narrow.

 

[John from MN]

Looks like dog. Coyote tracks generally look narrower in relationship to length.

 

[JMayo]

Kinda looks like the front foot coyote in the example ....

 

[22DASHER]

Dog

 

[timeout]

DOG! Dog tracks are more rounded than coyotes. Coyote tracks are more narrow.

 

[Charles]

if you can lay a pencil between the openings of the side toes and the pad its is not a Dog

 

[ND shooter]

Dog

 

[timeout]

if you can lay a pencil between the openings of the side toes and the pad its is not a Dog

?? Not being a wise guy but I never heard of this. I ran coyotes with hounds for most of my life and never carried a pencil to tell dog and coyote tracks apart. Then again I never went to college for wildlife biology so I may have missed it.

 

[msinc]

I agree they don't usually show that much toenail, but this one sunk in the mud pretty good. Same with red fox, they don't typically show toenails at all, but get one in the mud and you will see it.
Not saying it cant be done, but it cant be done by me or anyone I know and hunt with.....I never knew a coyote track could be discerned from a dog as long as the foot is about the same size. Obviously a German shepherd or a rottweiler would have a much bigger foot. I have a small Australian shepherd and I cannot tell the difference between her track and that of a coyote.
Once while rabbit hunting the dogs jumped a coyote. We saw it and they didn't run it long, but long enough to go thru some mud. The tracks all looked the same size and shape, coyote and beagle. Funny thing, one of the beagles was named "Bigfoot" and that SOB had feet like a duck.