We’re so used to seeing dogs everyday that we forget how different their cousins are.

The distinctly long, pointy muzzle, long ears, skinny legs and bushy tail are merely inherited from the ancestor of all modern dogs.

Dogs owe their keen sense of smell and endurance to millions of years of evolution.

Take a look at their cousins the coyotes and wolves, and the family resemblance is obvious.

Here, Rocky meets his friend (or girlfriend, potentially) a coyote.

A little playdate across species.

The coyote, Canis latrans, looks quite a lot like a dog at first glance. What gives it away is its narrower face, even skinnier legs. Coyotes do belong to the dog family, but they’re not ones you’d want to pet or feed.

Rocky the dog here has something most of us don’t: he actually is a dog.

The family resemblance is enough to let him get up close and personal, and even a bit friendly.

After some eyeing up and sniffing, the coyote seems to trust Rocky. Thus, the full-on playing begins.

Not everyone can look at a coyote and become friends with it in one day. Then again, not everyone’s Rocky.

Coyotes are much less picky eaters than domestic dogs.

They’re generalists and won’t pass up any form of sustenance. Squirrels, rats, leftovers, birds, and rabbits are all on the menu for coyotes.

Here’s another fun fact: coyotes can actually run faster than roadrunners. Yeah, you’ve been living a lie this whole time. No need for TNT or traps here.

This is why they’re a danger to humans.

They’re small, sneaky, and our populated areas have lots of the stuff they eat.

Let’s hope Rocky and his dad are the only ones this coyote hangs around.

As cute as it looks to befriend wild animals, that’s generally not a good idea. It encourages them to approach humans, and that brings a level of unpredictability to things.

At a distance, you could easily mistake this as a play session between two common dogs.

Despite the evolutionary split ages ago, the coyote is still very much a canid. Just not the kind you’d put a leash on.

Rocky probably thinks it’s just another dog, which it technically is. It’s just not a “dog” dog.

Coyotes can’t stay in one place too long. They’ve got to roam and look for food.

I don’t think Rocky’s dad will have to manually separate the two at all. Playmates aren’t enough of a reason to give up wide territories with lots of food.

Although this doesn’t guarantee that the coyote won’t meet another dog.

Man, I hope Rocky isn’t the jealous type.

It looks like they had fun together though, which is the important part. This just shows how neat evolution can be, and how universally friendly dogs are.

If you’d enjoy seeing the whole scene yourself, then head below to watch the full clip!

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Source: AirTV, LiveScience