Yuki Mendoza
Jul 19, 2026, 3:00 PM
Trying to figure out my morning walk route with our little dog Momo. We usually loop through the Los Rios district and along the trail by Trabuco Creek right around 6:15, before the kids are up, and lately there's a coyote that's very comfortable trotting the same path. It never comes close, just watches from the brush and moves on. I don't want to give up that quiet hour, but Momo's about 12 pounds and my daughter walks with us before Ambuehl drop-off some mornings. What's the sensible move here — different time, different route, or just tighten up and keep the leash short? Looking for what's actually worked for people, not worst-case stuff.
Ramon Wang
Jul 19, 2026, 3:00 PM
We shortened the leash to about four feet and stopped the retractable entirely — that alone changed how our walks near the Lake Forest Sports Park feel, because the dog can't wander into the brush line. A coyote that watches and moves off is usually just tracking its own routine, so if you keep Momo close and yourself between the two of them, that 6:15 hour is probably fine to keep.
Chelsea Santos
Jul 19, 2026, 3:00 PM
We hit the exact same thing on our creek-side stretch in Mission Viejo, and honestly just bumping our walk to full daylight made the biggest difference — the comfortable ones seem to fade back once there's more foot traffic. If your daughter's along, carrying a little shake can or even just clapping loud to keep it feeling unwelcome worked better for my nerves than changing everything.
Sign in to reply.
Sign in