Canaan Dog

The Canaan is a recognized breed of dog from Israel. Belonging to the group of pariah dogs, the Canaan are found in the entire African-Asian region. They live near human settlements, and are tolerated by humans, but not encouraged or fed. Among primitive peoples, they are useful as a destroyer of any organic waste.

Canaan dogs still live in packs in the desert. When the Bedouin need a watchdog for their camp, or a herding dog for their sheep, they look for a wild dog that rears her puppies in a cave. They throw her off onto a piece of bread until they have chosen the strongest male puppies to be reared to guard their camp.

Pariah dogs belonging to the Spitz canine family, the oldest dog family in the world. Thousand-year-old rock paintings show such dogs as hunting assistants. Over time, the archetype was fitted to the situation of its respective environment. The Canaan dog is the advanced form of the Spitz type of dog in Israel. The Canaan still possesses strong survival instincts; its intelligence and independence makes it a very cautious dog.

The breed of Canaan was domesticated from wild pariah dogs by Rudolphina Menzel, a researcher of dog-behavior who, in the 1930s, had emigrated from Vienna to Palestine. She took some wild pariah dogs to her home and was surprised how easily they could be domesticated and trained. They were lively and affectionate. Prof. Menzel called the Canaan dogs according to the biblical land of Canaan, and proceeded to ensure that they would be recognized as a breed.

Description

The Canaan dog grows up to 60 cm tall and 25 kg in weight. Its fur is thick, harsh and straight, short to medium length, with a woolly undercoat. This wooly undercoat is needed because the desert is not only hot; at night the temperatures can drop well below freezing. The coat color of the dogs is sandy to reddish-brown, white, black or mottled. A mask may be present, but should be symmetrical. The characteristic golden sand colors of the desert, red and cream, are especially useful for hunting.

Care

Canaan dogs are still so close to the wild that their behavior is quite different from that of other breeds. They are territorial and possessive, suspicious of strangers and strange things, intelligent and very independent. You can never force them to do something. They must be satisfied that it is reasonable to do so.

Puppies must be socialized sooner than those of other breeds. They must become familiar with our urban environment so that they can overcome their innate shyness. Since the Canaan is much localized, he does not stray. He looks over the area where he lives, with all of its content, including his owner. He sees his owner’s children and other pets as his property, which he must defend against any intruder. He shows a lot of tolerance for the little ones, however parents should make sure that the dog has the opportunity to withdraw.

To his family, he is faithful and devoted. To the Canaan, his relationship with his owner is a partnership, with give and take on both sides. The Canaan does not humbly follow his master and read every wish from their eyes. There are times when he shows his love and would like to be petted. But at other times he looks after his own affairs and belongs only to himself.

He is received on his own character, and a deep understanding grows between man and animal, which becomes even more attractive, since one must acquire his confidence and affection. This particular connection makes it difficult to enter anew into adult Canaan environments.

Canaan dogs are good watchdogs, but they are not inherently attackers. Only when a Canaan has the impression that he or his family is seriously threatened will he attack. He barks to alert there is a dangerous presence, and usually that is enough.

The Canaan may respond aggressively to other dogs who dare to go onto or pass through their property. Aggression among same-sex dogs is not uncommon in the Canaan. Each Canaan is different in this respect. You have to watch him carefully to know which clashes, such as with other dogs on walks, it is better to avoid.