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Dogotes

A dogote is the hybrid offspring of a male dog (Canis lupus familiaris) and a female coyote (Canis latrans). Together they are genetically capable of producing fertile young. The coydog, a similar hybrid, is the result of breeding a male coyote with a female domestic dog. Where the cross-breeding of animals is concerned, the father's species gives the first part of the offspring's name.

History
The prevalence of naturally occurring dogotes is problematic. If interbreeding between the species were common, the dog population would be expected to acquire more coyote-like traits with each successive generation.

Breeding experiments in Germany with coyotes and poodles, as well as with wolves, jackals and later on with the resulting coyote-dog hybrids showed a decrease in fertility and significant communication problems as well as an increase of genetic diseases after three generations of interbeeding between the hybrids. This shows that genetic mutations could be the problem.

Prevalence and Rarity in the Wild
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation casts doubt on the existence of naturally occurring coydogs in any significant number, at least in New York State, despite the widespread presence of coyotes: "Coyotes and dogs theoretically can interbreed to produce what is called a 'dogote'. However, these crossbreeds have a reproductive cycle of dogs, not coyotes, and will give birth at times of the year when the pups cannot possibly survive (i.e., January). In addition, there are behavioral differences between dogs and coyotes which prevent crossbreeding from occurring. Dogs want to mate with other dogs and not with coyotes. [...] Dogotes occurred at the leading edge of coyote range expansion during the 1950 to early 1970's. The occurrence of a dogote would be an extremely rare event in New York today."

The Crane Creek Wildlife Experiment Station of the Ohio Division of Wildlife conducted an analysis of skulls taken from encounters with wild canids in Ohio,cited in The Ohio Journal of Science. "From 1982 to 1988, skull collections were made in 71 counties, yielding 379 (87%) coyotes, 10 (2%) coydogs, and 25 (6%) feral dogs." The figures do not add to 100% because of skull damage hindering positive identification. "The incidence of coydog hybrids was high only in areas of expanding, widely dispersed coyote populations. [...] Mengel (1971) reviewed behavioral and physiological reasons why coydogs are adapted for survival less well than coyotes. These included inappropriate whelping time, lack of parental care by the male, and decreased fertility." [PDF]

Breeding habits
Coyotes also breed with wolves, resulting in coywolves or wolfotes. Coyote/red wolf hybrids have also been found. Some zoologists do not consider the American red wolf to be a true species, but a hybrid between the gray wolf and the coyote. The argument is that a gray wolf/coyote hybrid prevents conservation efforts.