Canaan Dog

Described by owners and breed clubs as independent and fast learners, the Canaan dog is one of the few ‘natural’ breeds in existence today. Although now domesticated, they still retain extremely strong survival instincts, including a strong desire to bark to alert to any suspicious activity or movement. This can result in them being suspicious of strangers and not inclined to be friendly to strange dogs, so early dog socialisation and ongoing management is vital for the companion Canaan dog. They bond closely to their owner but are not usually fawningly affectionate. 

Country of Origin - Israel 
 
The Canaan dogs’ origins lie in the feral Pariah dogs of the Middle East - those dogs that hung around near human populations, scratching a living in the Negrev Desert and sometimes used by the Bedouins as herding dogs or watch dogs. Originally, there were four fairly distinct types of Pariah dog; the heavy flock-guarding type, the curly-tailed Dingo type, the lighter collie type and the taller, long legged sighthound type. 

In the 1930’s Dr Rudolph Menzel and his wife Dr Rudolphina Menzel became fascinated with these dogs and, as animal behaviour experts, were asked by the military to recruit selected dogs for army service, to train them to detect mines, amongst other activities. It was the collie type Pariah dog that was chosen, and it is this dog that became the foundation for the now recognised Canaan Dog breed. These dogs were rounded up and put through a ‘fast track’ domestication programme and those that showed an aptitude, were used in a breeding programme. 

This is a breed designed to be able to survive the harsh conditions of the desert with its hot days and cold nights, and they are independent thinkers, clever and quick to learn. The Israeli army still use them for guard and patrol work, they work as guide dogs and search and rescue dogs, and they still work as guards and sentinels. 

You’ll need to be a quick learner and a great trainer as this is a sharp, intelligent breed who will out-think many people, so if you dislike the feeling that your dog is three steps ahead of you every time, rethink this breed. For those who are up to the challenge and want a dog that makes them think, this hardy spitz type will enjoy long walks and training with you.  

The Canaan dog needs a minimum of an hour of dog physical exercise per day, ideally split into two or more walks through a variety of routes. Add mental stimulation on top of that in the form of training and dog mental games to keep the Canaan dog relaxed and happy. This is a dog who can and will take any amount of exercise offered and is not put off by cold weather. Consider dog sports such as Cani-X, man-trailing, agility and scent-work, as well as more human oriented activities such as hiking and hill walking. 

Not hugely demanding on space, the Canaan dog will fit comfortably into any size of home, however twice a year they shed a huge amount of undercoat, so you’ll need to be prepared for that. Used to spending long periods outdoors, exercising, a generous garden is preferable and an extremely secure fence is vital as they will both jump and dig. Like many feral dogs, the Canaan dog likes to dig shelters or cool sleeping spots in sandy soil - and so having a garden where you can provide this environment will keep the Canaan happy in the summer. Better suited to rural suburbs or countryside homes, the Canaan dog may find the constant passage of strangers in urban or city homes too stressful. 

The Canaan dog needs to have a balanced diet including all the main nutrient groups and a constant supply of fresh water. It's also important to conduct regular body condition scores to ensure you keep your dog in ideal shape and remember to feed them at least twice daily and in accordance with the feeding guidelines of their particular food. 

Canaan dogs have a straight, harsh coat that is short to medium in length, with an abundant undercoat. The coat may need to be brushed once a week. When they are moulting, the thick undercoat is shed in great handfuls and during this time they should be brushed on a daily basis. A slicker brush or rake is the best type of grooming aid to use on these coats. You can find out more about dog grooming and daily care with our article. 

When it comes to dog training, the Canaan dog is clever and quick to learn but this does not necessarily make them easy to train, they can so very easily learn the wrong things, things you don’t want them to learn! They also get bored easily and will not tolerate rough or insensitive handling. 

You will need to be prepared to use positive reinforcement to engage and train the Canaan dog, harsh methods will destroy any relationship you seek to have with them! If motivated in the right way, to desire to work with you to earn reward, the Canaan dog can be a lot of fun to work with, but you must enjoy training and spending time with your dog to achieve a high level of obedience and a strong, healthy relationship. 

Although the Canaan dog can make a good family pet, they are likely to require more training, management and exercise than will comfortably fit into a busy family’s daily routine. With the level of socialisation required to ensure they are steady with other dogs, other animals, livestock and children, they are better suited to child-free families or those with older teens who can take part in training and exercise. 

While many dogs are traditionally thought of as being good with children, all dogs and children need to be taught to get on with each other and be safe together. Even so, dogs and young children should never be left alone together and adults should supervise all interactions between them.