It happens every year at this time. July is the month when the coyotes here lose the remains of their winter coats. It starts earlier with the sort of shedding you can see with many dogs: single hairs being lost. in July, however, it starts coming off in clumps. Many people, who do not know that coyotes molt, assume that the animal has mange but mange is skin disease. If you look carefully, beneath this raggedy coat is another, perfectly smooth, shorter hair coat. He looks as if he has just escaped an attack by a sheep shearer.
Tristan did not get away from this characteristic by being a hybrid (coydog). Last year, I used to pull clumps off when they were almost ready to fall, but he did not like me doing that. Whenever some part becomes uncomfortable, he will scratch it off, but he does that rarely.
When he has finished this process, he will look as if he has just been groomed for a dog show. As for my carpet, I am thinking of buying a rake instead of just using the vacuum. .
John's Coydog Community page
Dude! You've got to get a Dyson! lol I had a dirt devil with my first hybrid...I blew it up! Dyson, though expensive, will most definitely hold up to all of that handsome boy's fir! And its a bagless, so you can share his fur with the birds! The finches love to use it for making nests as it is soft and warm, yet sturdy.
ReplyDeleteMy Hoover is fairly powerful and its bagless. I just have to keep emptying it every few minutes! I'll remember that about the birds -- can't have too many birds in the trees (except right above my hammock!)
ReplyDeleteHya John:
ReplyDeleteThe hairs could make great hackles on artificial flies....greta for rainbows and steelheads.
Best
John Howland
Perhaps I should start selling this stuff, John!
DeleteI could use it on top for sure....
ReplyDeleteThe product line expands, Dick. LOL
DeleteMy Charlie, a Belgian shepherd, loved to be vacuumed with the hose attachment. Saved a lot of work all around by simply vacuuming the source.
ReplyDeleteKathy
I wish! Tristan stays well clear of the vacuum and even runs from brushes. I'm getting more patient about his idiosyncrasies. Sometimes I wonder who is training who!
DeleteHi John,
ReplyDeleteI rescued 2 puppies (sisters I couldn't separate) from a rescue. They're very sweet, loyal, and submissive. As far as their appearance, they have long skinny noses, tall ears, a black strip down their backs and a bushy tail with a black tip. As far as their behaviors, they are aggressive toward other dogs (even at a distance). They sleep behind the couches. They will yip and even pounce. We would joke and say they think they're cats. Then we started to notice all of the other odd things they do.
Being that I have 2 I'd like to raise them, train them and protect them the best I can.
Id like to send you some pics for your opinon if you don't mind. We're waiting to receive our DNA test kit. However, I don't know when we'll get the results. I'm very curious to see what we have.
I welcome feedback, tips and advice.
Thank you,
Melinda
How did the DNA test come out?
DeleteI did not hear about any results but those kits are not very reliable.
DeleteHi Melinda,
ReplyDeleteDNA tests can be tricky. It all depends on the availability of local coyote data for comparison. If you live on the eastern side of N. America, wolf DNA might also be in the mix.
You might be able to get them used to other dogs but not in their home territory which they will always defend unless they have already made friends with a dog who might pass by. The fact of having two might make things more difficult as they might support each other's behaviors more than learning from other dogs. It is possible, though, that if one becomes friendly to other dogs, then the other one might also follow the example.
You can send the photos to john "at" writer2001.com (format changed to avoid automated spam -- you know the right format).
Best,
John