While on a walk through the woods, Tim Leonard and his 3-year-old sable rough collie, Emma, recently had a terrifying experience as they unwittingly stumbled into an area inhabited by coyotes.
In a video that has gained more than 10.1 million views on TikTok, Leonard, who lives in Alberta, Canada, shared what happened when their routine walk turned into a scary moment.
“When I first heard the coyotes, they were cackling and howling in the bushes,” Leonard told Newsweek. “The sound seemed to come from all around us. Emma looked to her left, and I immediately yelled, ‘Get over here.'”
@timleonard375/TikTok
In the video, Leonard can be heard urgently calling Emma, directing her to follow him as they both rush to safety. The real coyote sounds were difficult to hear in the footage, so Leonard added enhanced growls to convey the intensity of the moment.
In the text overlay, he wrote about his fear that “the coyote pack will try to lure her into the bushes and then attack and kill her.”
While coyote attacks on pets are rare, the wild animals can pose a threat to small dogs, particularly during their breeding season when they can become more territorial. However, Leonard’s quick thinking and preplanned emergency protocol helped them avoid a potentially dangerous encounter.
“Roar is our code word for danger—get out of the woods now,” Leonard said. “I taught Emma this when she was a puppy, and we reinforced it over the years. I’m glad we did, because, when the coyotes appeared, she knew exactly what to do.”
Despite the close call, now both Leonard and Emma are doing well. “She’s not afraid to go in the woods—she’s a brave girl. Something will scare her, and she’ll want to go and investigate,” he said.
The viral video prompted thousands of comments from people who watched the close encounter.
“Teaching her a word for danger is very smart!” posted Bri, while Jessica wrote: “This looks so peaceful in the woods until you start running then it makes me feel like I’m in a scary movie but that’s good she knows that, very smart dog.”
“Omgee… [oh my God] So glad you guys are safe,” commented Deb.
Others questioned why the dog wasn’t leashed in an area that could have been dangerous, but Leonard said: “If she’s on a leash, she can’t defend herself properly. My total reaction at the time was to get Emma out of the woods fast.”
Despite some controversy in the comments section, the dog owner added that he was pleased the video had sparked conversation about the dangers of wild coyotes.
“After everything, I’m glad I posted the videos. I’ve had thousands of comments thanking me for teaching Emma the protocol and keeping her safe,” Leonard said.
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