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Breed Characteristics
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Canaan Dog
| Other Names | Kelef K'naani, Israeli Pariah |
| Nicknames | National dog of Israel |
| Country of Origin | Ancient Canaan: Modern Israel |
| Weight | 35 - 55 lbs. (16 - 25 kg) |
| Height (at withers) | 19 - 24 in. (48 - 61 cm) |
| Coat | The Canaan Dog has a double coat. The outer coat is harsh, lying flat with a slight rough and the undercoat is straight and soft, lying flat. |
| Colour | Colour ranges from black to cream and all shades of brown and red between, usually with small white markings, or all white with colour patches. Spotting of all kinds is permitted, as well as white or black masks. |
| Litter Size | 4 - 6 puppies |
| Life Span | 12 - 15 Years |
| Origin & History | The Canaan dog began in ancient times as a primitive feral in ancient Canaan, where the Canaanites and Israelites lived, roughly corresponding to the region encompassing modern-day Israel, Lebanon, and the western parts of Jordan. This dog is one of the oldest, dating back to biblical times. The caves of Einan and HaYonim are sites in which the oldest remains of dogs have been found (more than 10,000 years ago). In the Old Testament there are a number of references to roaming dogs and dogs that worked for humans. In the Sinai Desert, a rock carving, from the first to third century AD, depicts a dog that in size and shape appears to be a Canaan type dog. In Ashkelon, a graveyard was discovered, believed to be Phoenician from the middle of the fifth century BC. It contained 700 dogs, all carefully buried in the same position, on their sides with legs flexed and tail tucked in around the hind legs. According to the archaeologists, there was a strong similarity between these dogs and the "Bedouin shepherd dogs," or the Canaan dog. A sarcophagus dated from the end of the fourth century BC, was found in Sidon, Lebanon, on which Alexander the Great and the King of Sidon are painted hunting a lion with a hunting dog similar in build to the dogs of Ashkelon, and similar in appearance to the Canaan dog. They survived this way until the 1930s, when Dr. Rudolphina Menzel came up with the idea to use these intelligent scavenger dogs mainly found in the desert, as guard dogs for the scattered settlements. Menzel was asked by the Haganah to help them build up a service dog organization. She captured a select group of semi-wild individuals, tamed, trained and bred them. Menzel found the dogs highly adaptable, trainable, and easy to domesticate. It took her about six months to capture her first dog, Dugma, and within a few weeks she was able to take him into town and on buses. She began a breeding program in 1934, providing working dogs for the military and she gave pups to be pets and home guard dogs. She initiated a selective breeding program to produce the breed known today as the Canaan dog. In 1949 Menzel founded The Institute for Orientation and Mobility of the Blind, and in 1953, she started to train Canaan dogs as guide dogs for the blind. Although she was able to train several dogs, she found that the breed was too independent and too small for general guide dog use, although some of her dogs were used successfully by children. Her breeding program was concentrated with the Institute, where a foundation of kennel-raised Canaan dogs was established, carrying the name "B'nei Habitachon". She later supplied breeding stock to Shaar Hagai Kennels which continued in the breeding of the Canaan dog. After her death in 1973, Shaar Hagai Kennels, managed by Dr. Dvora Ben Shaul and Myrna Shiboleth, continued the breeding program according to her instructions. In addition, a controlled collection of dogs of the original type was continued, primarily from the Bedouin of the Negev. Collection of wild Canaan dogs has become very difficult. Many of the Canaan dogs living in the open were destroyed by the Israeli government in the fight against rabies. The spread of the human population into areas that were formerly isolated, along with their pet dogs, has resulted in the loss of the natural habitat of the Canaan. Even the majority of Bedouin dogs today, other than those of tribes still living a traditional and isolated life style, are mixed with other breeds. Myrna Shiboleth visits the Negev regularly, looking for good specimens living by the Bedouin camps, that she can breed with her dogs and use to strengthen the gene pool, and in the last few years, several excellent dogs have been found and brought into the breeding group. |
| Personality | Not only does the Canaan Dog excel as a herder, but it has also proven itself in a variety of tasks involving dependability and obedience such as agility, tracking and herding trials. They work well as a team, but at the same time can think independently. Will respond to positive, motivational training if the owner mixes things up, but will get bored with repetition. This very intelligent breed can do exceptionally well in obedience. Devoted, gentle and loyal, they like their families. A naturally protective, independent guard dog as well as an excellent watchdog that has an instinct to defend their territory, the Canaan Dog will bark a lot if allowed to get away with it. He has a higher dominancy level and can be aggressive with dogs so he needs an authoritative owner who can communicate that aggressiveness toward other dogs is an unwanted behavior. Active, alert and docile, they are very friendly with those they know. They should be well socialized, preferably when young with both dogs and people, especially with children, as the breed tends to be naturally wary of strangers. In order to successfully keep a Canaan Dog the family must achieve pack leader status. It is a natural instinct for a dog to have an order in their pack. When we humans live with dogs, we become their pack. The entire pack cooperates under a single leader. Lines are clearly defined and rules are set. Because a dog communicates his displeasure with growling and eventually biting, all other humans MUST be higher up in the order than the dog. The humans must be the ones making the decisions, not the dogs. That is the only way your relationship with your dog can be a complete success. |
Care Requirements
| Health | In general, the Canaan dog does not suffer from known hereditary problems. Although the breed is one of the healthiest, George A. Padgett, DVM, listed diseases that have been seen, at one time or another, in the Canaan dog: hypothyroidism, epilepsy, progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), cryptorchidism, hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, luxating patella, and osteochondritis dissecans (OCD). |
| Grooming | The Canaan Dog is a very clean breed with no doggie odour. It is easy to groom. Comb and brush once a week, taking extra care when the dog is shedding. This breed is a seasonally heavy shedder. |
| Exercise | This is a working dog that will not be happy just sitting around. They need a lot of exercise and mental and physical challenges, which include long daily walks, or a daily jog, along with herding exercises, a strenuous game session along with a challenging training session. |
| Other Considerations | The Canaan Dog will do okay in an apartment if it gets enough exercise. They are moderately active indoors and will do best with at least an average-sized yard. Its dense undercoat protects the dog from extreme temperatures, whether they be hot or cold—so it can live outdoors, but also makes a wonderful housedog. |
