You will find the Canaan dog is not as popular as some breeds, but they make wonderful pets when you consider their loyalty, ability to work, and of course the affection they share with their owners. The Canaan dog breed began about 2000 years ago in the Middle East. They were then brought to World War II for guarding, patrolling, and tracking. Since then they have been popular in Israel, Europe, the UK, and the US.
The Canaan is usually recognizable due to its powerful body. They are usually white or cream in appearance. They are also single colored. They have pointed ears to help them track and hunt, with a short, relatively narrow muzzle. They have a fairly lengthy tail, but a height of 19 to 24 inches. They usually weigh between 35 and 55 pounds making them a medium dog breed. The coat is usually two layers with a dense undercoat providing them with the warmth they need. They are a heavy shedder during the summer months.
Canaan is usually a very active dog breed. They are intelligent, affectionate, and very loyal. You will find that they are also agile and hardy. They tend to sense danger, track other animals, and have a lot of energy. You will find they tend to become overly attached to family members, but are very wary of strangers. They do not do well with little children and should not be left for long periods of time. They are happy when they have some type of job to do.
They are also not good around small pets or other types of dogs. They have been used for herding in the past as well. This dog needs an active owner who will be around for most of the day. They do not do well in homes with two working adults. Training is important with socialization as well as obedience. They need an owner who is going to be the master rather than subservient. When training make sure that you are fair and consistent. Harsh words will not go over well and can make them unhappy. They can be easily bored with repetition.
For care you will find that daily exercise is needed. Usually if you take the Canaan for a walk in the morning and evening for a half hour or more they will be content as long as they have a backyard. You will find they do best with jogging, and playing in open areas. Mental as well as physical exercise is needed. They like to have tasks as well as fun. Games where they need to think can be great for both of you. They are not good in apartments. You will also find that they are rather easy to groom.
The short hair allows for brushing once a week to take care of the dead or loose hair. Care also includes the proper nutrients. You will want to provide enzyme rich food as well as protein. Most often a natural diet is the best for these dogs. The Canaan suffers from hypothyroidism, elbow and hip dysplasia, as well as patella luxation. It is important to check their eyes and ears daily as well. They can have problems with site later in life.
The Canaan Dog is sometimes mistakenly believed to be a pariah dog which roams throughout the Middle East, however this is incorrect. The Canaan Dog is a true breed which has survived in the desert for more than 2000 years. In the 1930s the Israelis began a program of re-domestication of these dogs, recognizing their potential as guard dogs to guard their settlements .
Their history as a desert breed has contributed strength and endurance to the genetic makeup, to say nothing of the fact that they are relatively disease free. Their bodies have developed in much the same way as the Arabian Horse, strong lungs and resistance to extremes of weather are part of their heritage.
The Israelis have been careful to preserve these characteristics and have also been careful not to mix in any other type of dog into the breeding program. On occasion they do bring in more of the Canaan Dogs from the wild deserts to continue to improve the domesticated stock. This is more difficult as the spread of civilization has made the existence of these desert dogs more tenuous and there are fewer places where they can still be found living in the wild.
The Canaan Dog can be any shade of tawny desert yellow or tan with white markings and also black with white markings. The coat is double and fairly short. Ears are prick, the tail is long and curves over the back when excited. They are of medium size, with surprising strength and agility, possessing great endurance and lung power.
The dogs readily adjusted to civilization and are loyal and very affectionate family pets. Their major use is that of a dog guard that will protect outlying settlements from predators and give warning when strangers come. They are also useful as herding dogs for the flocks of goats. The Canaan Dog does not require harsh training methods and adapts to family living easily.
This is a comparatively rare breed and has only recently made an appearance in the Dog Show Circuit in the United States. They are classified as members of the Herding Group. Their numbers are gradually increasing. They are a relatively easy care dog and are happy as an urban resident or on the farm. Owners of the Canaan dog have found that they are generally not stubborn, are quite intelligent and make very good pets. They should show reserve with strangers but have proven themselves to be affectionate and loyal. The American Kennel club describes their temperament as "alert, vigilant, devoted and docile with his family".
Factors which contribute to the usefulness of this dog as a family pet are their easy care coat and their general good health. Owners of Canaans can expect that these dogs will present few vet bills in comparison to other breeds! They are known to be easy to train without stubborn tendencies or hyperactive traits. They are inquisitive and because of their history of survival of the fittest are independent thinkers but appear to have a great deal of common sense.