History

Originally the pariah dog of Israel, the Canaan Dog is one of the oldest breeds from the pages of history. The breed seems to have survived even in biblical times in that, caves dating 10000 years have dog remains like that of the Canaan Dog. Phoenician graveyards in Ashkelon have remains of dogs like that of this breed. Primarily a guard and herd dog for Israelites, this breed also survived in deserts, undomesticated, for a long time. In the early 1900s, Dr. Rudolphina Menzel suggested the use of the Canaan Dog for guarding Jewish settlements, and later as guide dogs for the blind. However, now Canaan Dogs are no longer captured from the wild.

Appearance

The Canaan Dog is of medium-built and has a sturdy body. The breed has a typical pariah dog appearance. Almond-shaped eyes; high set, erect, round-tipped ears; short to medium double coat in colors like black, brown, red, cream, white, or with markings; scissor or level bite teeth; cat-like round feet with hard pads; these are some of its physical characteristics.

Color

Solid black, brown or white, some reds that can lighten over time, as well as a pattern of white with brown or black patches.

Personality

Obedient, intelligent, dependable and independent—these words aptly describe the Canaan Dog. Motivational yet firm training is required for this breed as they tend to get distracted or bored easily. A natural guarding and herding dog, the Canaan Dog is a one man or one family dog who is wary of strangers. They can be territorial and protective, yet are gentle and docile, and good with children with socialized from puppyhood.

Health Concerns

The Canaan Dog has no hereditary health problems. The breed is one of the healthiest dogs, some rare diseases that can be watched out for are hypothyroidism, epilepsy, progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), cryptorchidism, hip dysplasia, osteochondritis dissecans (OCD).

Recognized By

CKC, FCI, AKC, ANKC, NKC, NZKC, APRI, ACR