Is "skinwalker" just a modern term for "creeper" or something?

Is there anyone out there that doesn't know what a skinwalker is? In the most basic possible explanation, a skinwalker is an animal that seems "off" in a way you can't quite explain, except that animals don't act like this animal is acting. Dogs don't seem to like them, but it's not quite a raccoon either. It's not a wolf, but it's not a dog either. When the animal is in full view, it's "just a dog" or "just a coyote", but something creeps up your spine when you see it and you can't explain why. Every once in a while I see a story of a dog getting killed by a coyote that was 100% not an actual coyote, and I always wonder if it was a real animal or "just" a skinwalker. It seems like animals know the difference. Just thoughts.