Their breeding season is Jan-March (depending on location) with birth a couple of months later.

You might have a young one that is playing with the dogs.

A 40-lb coyote, BTW, would be ginormous. They are deceptively sized, especially when they have a full coat of fur. The ones we see in the high mountains in winter are far larger than they look in summer. They are 50% fluff, propped on toothpick legs.

actually the dogs were messing with the coyote if they chased it into the woods. wild animals take their range very serious or they are soon dead. it is not the size of the dog in the fight but the size of the fight in the dog.

Sometimes coyotes will lure dogs into areas where other coyotes can help take them down.

I know a guy who had a pit bull and a german shepherd. He let them out in his yard. The pit started barking furiously. The man went outside and found two coyotes eating the shepherd. He managed to get the dog away from them before they finished him off. You'd think the pit wouldn't have been afraid of them.....

Words to the wise. If you live in an area where there are coyotes, keep an eye on your dogs when you let them out. Never leave them on a leash unattended or allow them to run off into unseen areas. Coyotes can dig under fences as well as scale those 5' to 6' feet tall.

A link that might be useful:

www.desertusa.com/june96/cycot_qa.html