How to Identify Wild Dog Prints

Accurately identifying animal tracks takes practice. Every animal has a distinct print, and with time, you will be able to identify prints made by a wild dog.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Look for 4 toe imprints. All dogs have 4 toes.

2. Look for a small space between the pad of the foot and the toes. A wide gap indicates a track from another type of animal.

3. Determine if the track from the front foot is larger than the track from the hind foot. If the front- and back foot leave the same size imprint, it is probably not a wild dog.

4. Look for nail prints above the toes. The nail prints on the middle toes should be prominent. You may also be able to see lighter prints for the outside toes.

Tips & Warnings

• Wild dogs tend to travel in packs. You may see many prints of varying sizes, but each will show the characteristics listed above.
• Be wary when approaching wild animals, including dogs.

Resources

• Confirm the Presence of Wild Dogs
• Coyotes & Wild Dogs