The document provides guidelines for distinguishing cougar tracks from dog tracks, emphasizing that relying on a single characteristic can lead to confusion. Key identifying features include track symmetry, the shape of toes, foot pad edges, and the presence or absence of claw marks, among others. The text also stresses the importance of considering habitat and tracking conditions when identifying the species responsible for the tracks.

1. How to Identify the Tracks of the Two
Most Frequently Confused Species
© Kim A. Cabrera
Beartracker’s Animal Tracks Den
www.bear-tracker.com

2. We’ve all seen the pictures of perfect tracks in field guides. One of the most common
mistakes is thinking that all tracks are alike and should look exactly like those you see in the
field guide. The sooner you lose this notion, the faster you will learn to be a better tracker.
Learn to identify tracks from partial prints and in as many different types of substrate as you
have available. Notice how track size varies depending on the substrate you are tracking in
(sometimes drastically), even for prints from the same foot on the same animal.
Some suggestions:
•Never use one single characteristic to make your identification of a track
•Take your time
•Examine more than one track in a sequence
•Look at the gait and track patterns for additional clues
•Remember to assess the habitat as well – does the species you are thinking of occur there?
•Have fun. Tracking is fun and rewarding.
First - A Few Things About Tracking
Now, let’s examine the characteristics used to tell cougar tracks from dog tracks.

3. Cougars have claws. They are predators and use those claws to kill prey. So, the
claws should show up in the tracks, right?
This one single identifying characteristic causes the most confusion.
Dogs and cougars both have claws. Cougars can retract their claws, so they
don’t leave imprints in tracks very often. It is rare to see cougar claw marks in
tracks. However, that’s not to say that it never happens.
Dogs have non-retractable claws and they often show up in the tracks. Not
always, but usually.
Because tracks vary so much, it is important to never rely on just this one
characteristic to make your identification.
Claws or No Claws?

4. Claw marks are easily
visible in this clear
dog track. However,
very few tracks are
this perfect.

5. This cougar track shows no evidence of claw marks, even though it is in deep mud.

6. An important characteristic to look for is the symmetry of the track.
Dog tracks and cougar tracks have different symmetry. If you look at a dog track,
there is an overall balance to it. The toes are aligned with each other and you can
draw relatively neat, straight lines by intersecting the toes.
Track Symmetry or Balance

7. A cougar track is
asymmetrical. There is a
leading toe usually
identifiable. This
characteristic is very
important in differentiating
cougar from dog tracks. Dog
tracks do not normally have
this characteristic. However
there are always exceptions,
such as when a dog slips in
the mud. Examples will be
shown later.
Additionally, the hind track
of a cougar is more
symmetrical than the front
track and thus can resemble
a dog track.

8. Side-by-side, you can see the symmetry of a dog track (left) compared to that of a
cougar (right). The dog’s toes line up even with each other. There is no leading toe.
The cougar track, on the other hand, seems to be leaning toward one side due to its
asymmetrical alignment.
Comparison

9. A line drawn across the forward two toes in a cougar track will usually intersect
one toe – the leading toe. It is easily visible in this snow track, but is sometimes
much more difficult to see. This is an important characteristic, but is not the only
one to rely on. Nor is it always this clear. This is a rare perfect track.
The Leading Toe
Using the leading
toe as a guide, you
can tell left from
right cougar
tracks…..

10. The cougar’s leading toe is equivalent to your own middle finger. Remember that
toe number 1 (the thumb) does not usually register in cougar tracks. Toes are
numbered from one to five, beginning with the innermost toe. This is the dewclaw
on a cougar or dog, and a thumb on a human. The leading toe on a cougar track is
toe number 3.
As you can see, the position of the leading toe will help you identify left or right
cougar tracks.

11. Overall track shape is another
good clue to the identity of the
track maker.
If you draw an imaginary line
around the outer edge of the
track, you will see that a dog’s
track is usually somewhat egg-
shaped or maple leaf-shaped.
The shape depends on the
breed of dog. Some dogs have
narrower and longer tracks.
Others have wider tracks that
look more like the maple leaf
shape.
Overall Track Shape
then

12. A cougar’s track is usually somewhat round in overall outline. However,
this is more true of the front tracks than the hind tracks. The hind track of
a cougar is shaped more like a dog track.
Photo by Jessika Hodgson

13. Another characteristic that helps to differentiate cougar from dog tracks is the
shape of the toes. Cougar toes appear somewhat teardrop-shaped.
Shape of Toes

14. Dog toes appear rounded or egg-shaped. The outer two toes often appear
somewhat triangular in shape.

15. Here is a side-by-side comparison showing the shapes of dog (left) and cougar
(right) toes.

16. Leading toe can appear larger
than the other toes
Dog Cougar
Teardrop
shaped toes
Round or egg-
shaped toes
Triangular outer
toe shape

17. The foot pads are
distinctive on
cougars. The leading
edge (on both the
front and hind foot
pads) has two lobes.
Sometimes you can
see this clearly. If
not, then it may
appear relatively flat,
unlike that of a dog.
Dogs have a single
lobe on the leading
edge of this pad,
which makes it look
more like it comes to
a point.
Pictured is the right
hind foot of a
cougar, with the
metatarsal (heel) pad
highlighted.
Shape of the Foot Pad Edges
Leading edge flat or two-lobed

18. The first distinctive thing
about the pad is the two lobes
on the leading edge.
Another distinctive
characteristic is the three lobes
seen on the hind edge of the
foot pad. This characteristic is
NOT distinctive to cougars,
however. Some dog breeds do
have three lobes on the hind
edge of the foot pad, so use
multiple characteristics to
make your identification.
If you were to draw an
imaginary letter that connected
the high points of the lobes on
the foot pad of a cougar, it
would resemble the letter M.
Three lobes

19. A dog’s foot pads
lack the two
lobes on the
leading edge that
you see in cougar
tracks. The
leading edge of a
dog foot pad will
show one lobe
only. It makes the
pad appear to
come to a point,
rather than
appearing flat or
bi-lobed as in the
cougar track.
One lobe

20. You can make an
imaginary inverted letter V
out of the shape of the foot
pad on a dog’s track. Note
that the leading edge is
where the point is.
Leading edge, one lobe

21. Shape of the Negative Space
Negative space is a term used in art to describe the spaces between
objects. If you look through the legs of a chair, for example, negative
space would be anything that is NOT a chair leg.
When looking at tracks, negative space is anything that is not part of
the track, such as the spaces between toe imprints and foot pad
imprints.
The shape of the negative space can help you tell cougar from dog
tracks as well.
Dog Cougar
Negative space =
anything that is not
part of the track itself

22. By drawing an imaginary
line in the negative space
between the toe pad
imprints and the foot pad
imprint of this cougar
track, you can see that it is
shaped roughly like the
letter C.

23. This perfect cougar track in
snow shows the shape of the
negative space very well.
The shape looks like the
letter C on its side

24. This dog track shows
a sort of H-shaped
negative space. The
shape of the negative
space on a dog print
will vary with dog
breed. Some have
this H shape and
others have a more
X-shaped negative
space.
Wild canines, such
as foxes and coyotes,
share these
characteristic shapes
of the negative
space. Foxes tend to
have more of an H-
shaped negative
space, while the
coyote’s tends to
look more like the
letter X.

25. Not only does the shape of a dog’s track
vary with the dog’s breed, but so does the
shape of the negative space. This dog track
shows an egg-shaped print with an X-
shaped negative space.

26. There is frequently a
raised area, or bump, in
the center of a dog track.
This is caused by soil
being pushed up into the
empty space between the
toes and the foot pad as
the track is made. The
same area where you can
draw an X through the
negative space will also
usually show this raised
area, or bump. In unclear
tracks, this bump may be
the only clue a tracker
has that they are looking
at canine tracks.
Raised bump in
center of the track
The Bump in a Dog’s Track

27. The diagrams below show a cross-section of a track. The dog track on the left shows the
raised bump in the center. The cougar track on the right lacks a raised area. The red line in
the diagrams shows where the ground level would be above the track imprint.
Ground surface
Raised bump
in dog track
Track imprint
Track imprint
Dog Track Cougar Track

28. Another thing to look for when examining tracks is the slope of the foot pad imprint. Does it
slope downward toward the front of the track and the toe imprints? This downward slope is
characteristic of dog prints. A cougar’s foot pad will leave a relatively flat imprint, sloping
neither forward nor backward in the track. This characteristic is not always clear in every
track and is one to rely on as a secondary identifying characteristic only.
Downward slope
of foot pad
Front of track
Ground surface Ground surface
Flat or no slope
Dog track Cougar track
Slope of the Foot Pad Imprint

29. The foot pad on a cougar track takes up a lot more of the
track’s real estate (or overall area), than it does in a dog
track. The pad is large in relation to the size of the toes.
Track Real Estate

30. Habitat and Range
This last characteristic can be tricky. Cougars are
expanding their range eastward into areas where
they haven’t been seen in decades or more. So, there
is always the possibility that you might find cougar
tracks in areas outside the range shown on most range
maps.
On the other hand, dogs are often found in places you
would not normally think a dog could be. These include parks where dogs are “off limits” and
wilderness areas far from human habitations. People do bring their dogs into these areas.
Sometimes, dogs wander off and become feral, living wild and hunting for their food. So,
don’t rule out dog tracks if you find dog-like prints in these out-of-the-way places.
When you find tracks whose identity you question, it’s good to consult range maps to give
you an idea which species might reasonably be found in the area where you found the tracks.
But don’t take the maps as the most accurate source. Many of these maps are outdated or just
outright wrong. Some show a wide range for an animal, but that particular species may not be
able to occupy the particular microhabitat you have found a track in.
So, use your best judgment and use the maps as a guide only. Follow the trail and get a better
idea of the appearance of as many tracks made by the animal as possible. Then, make your
identification based on all the clues you have gathered.

31. Review of Characteristics Used to Differentiate Dog From Cougar Tracks
Here is a quick review of all the characteristics we have just examined.
1. Claws or no Claws?
2. Track Symmetry or Balance
3. The Leading Toe
4. Overall Track Shape
5. Shape of Toes
6. Shape of the Foot Pad Edges
7. Shape of the Negative Space
8. The Bump in a Dog’s Track
9. Slope of the Foot Pad Imprint
10. Track Real Estate
11. Habitat and Range
Ready to test your knowledge?
The next few slides show unlabeled tracks (both dog and cougar) for you to
try to identify. Use your new knowledge to help you. When you click on the
slide again, you will get the identification of the track, along with some
helpful clues that can assist in identifying it.

32. Answer: Cougar
Clues: Overall round outline,
no claw marks, asymmetrical
alignment, shape of negative
space

33. Answer: Dog
Clues: Claw marks, shape of negative space and toes.
Claw marks are difficult to see. Click again to see claw
marks close-up. Asymmetry was due to slip in the mud.

34. Answer: Cougar
Clues: Overall round outline,
presence of leading toe, shape
of negative space
Click to see features outlined
© Rick Bradshaw

35. Answer: Dog
Clues: Bump in the center,
shape of negative space, foot
pad real estate size

36. Answer: Cougar
Clues: Overall shape, leading
toe, foot pad size

37. Answer: Dog
Clues: Claw marks, toe
alignment, track shape
Note: Length of track is due
to a slip in the mud.

38. Answer: Cougar
Clues: Leading toe, lack of
claw marks (except one rare
imprint on the second toe),
shape of negative space

39. Answer: Cougar
Clues: Leading
toe, overall
shape, three
lobes on foot
pad, shape of
negative space
Click again to see these
characteristics outlined on
the track

40. Answer: Dog
Clues: Bump in the
center, shape of
negative space, toe
alignment, triangular
outer toes

41. Answer: Cougar
Clues: Leading toe,
asymmetry, shape of negative
space, teardrop toe shape
Click to see a plaster cast that was made from this track,
which shows the clues much more clearly
Leading toe
Three lobes

42. Answer: Dog
Clues: Bump in the center,
shape of negative space, claw
marks, toe alignment

43. Answer: Dog
Clues: Bump in the center, shape of
negative space, claw marks, overall
shape, triangular outer toe shape

44. Answer: Cougar
Clues: Leading toe, three
lobes on foot pad, overall
shape, flat foot pad

45. Answer: Dog
Clues: Shape of
negative space, claw
marks (left toe), toe
alignment,
triangular-shaped
outer toes

46. Answer: Cougar
Clues: Leading toe, three
lobes on foot pad, tear-drop
shaped toes, size of foot pad

47. Answer: Dog
Clues: Bump in the center,
shape of negative space, foot
pad real estate size, overall
egg-shaped track outline

48. Answer: Dog
Clues: Toe alignment, shape
of negative space, claw marks

49. Answer: Cougar
Clues: Leading toe, foot pad
size, shape of negative space,
overall track outline is round

50. Answer: Dog
Clues: Claw marks, shape of
negative space, pointed foot
pad. Notice that this track
shows three lobes on foot pad.

51. Answer: Cougar
Clues: Flat foot pad, three
lobes, leading toe, foot pad
size

52. Answer: Cougar
Clues: Large flat foot pad,
three lobes, flat leading edge
of foot pad, overall round
track shape

53. Answer: Cougar (RF)
Clues: Leading toe, three
lobes on foot pad, two lobes
on foot pad leading edge

54. Answer: Dog
Clues: Bump in the center,
clear claw marks, toe
alignment is symmetrical,
maple leaf overall track shape

55. Answer: Cougar (LF)
Clues: Leading toe, teardrop-
shaped toes, shape of negative
space, flat leading edge of
foot pad

56. Answer: Cougar (RH)
Clues: Leading toe, three
lobes on edge of foot pad,
tear-drop shaped toes

57. Answer: Cougar
Clues: Three lobes on foot
pad clearly visible, flat
leading edge of foot pad,
teardrop-shaped toes, leading
toe very clear, no claw marks

58. Some Foot Morphology Terms used by Trackers
Digital pads = the toe pads of a mammal’s foot
Metacarpal pad = the palm pad of a mammal’s foot, on the front feet
Metatarsal pad = the heel pad of a mammal’s foot, on the hind feet
Dewclaw = the first toe, located up on the animal’s arm and rarely imprints in the tracks
Carpal pad = Sixth pad located even higher up the animal’s arm, on the outer edge
For ease of understanding, I have tried to use the term “foot pad” throughout this
presentation to make it easier for non-trackers to follow the descriptions.
A= Carpal pad
B = Dewclaw
C = Metacarpal pad
D = Digital pads

59. Photo Credits
Unless otherwise labeled, all photos by Kim A. Cabrera
Perfect cougar tracks in mud – photos by Linda Jo Hunter
Author of Lonesome for Bears.
Visit her web site at: www.strumminbear.com
Cougar tracks in snow photos donated by:
Jessika Hodgson
Peter DeSimas
Rick Bradshaw
All graphics, drawings and text by Kim A. Cabrera
Copyright © 2011 by Kim A. Cabrera
www.bear-tracker.com

60. Permission is granted for educational use, but NO commercial use
without prior written authorization of the author. Re-distribution is
allowed for educational purposes only, provided that all copyright
notices are left intact and no slides, graphics, text, or any other part of
this slide show is removed and/or edited in any way without prior
written permission from the author.
Copyright © 2011 by Kim A. Cabrera
www.bear-tracker.com