We have coyotes too and our dog is 18-1/2 yrs. old so you can imagine how dim her eyesight is, but she can still go outside on her own when she needs to go but we don't allow her in the front yard anymore and we installed a sensor light in the back yard and either my DH or I follow her outside and stick close to her. I'm always looking around and I think I jump at every little noise. Coyotes are really fast, it's so darn scary.