CANAAN DOG
COUNTRY: Israel
WEIGHT: 35-55 pounds
HEIGHT: 19-24 inches
COAT: Medium-short, harsh, straight; tail plumed
COLOR: White with large markings in either black, brown or red; browns and black, with or without white markings
OTHER NAMES: Kelef K'naani
REGISTRY: FCI, AKC,CKC
GROUP: Southern
WEIGHT: 35-55 pounds
HEIGHT: 19-24 inches
COAT: Medium-short, harsh, straight; tail plumed
COLOR: White with large markings in either black, brown or red; browns and black, with or without white markings
OTHER NAMES: Kelef K'naani
REGISTRY: FCI, AKC,CKC
GROUP: Southern
The Canaan Dog has witnessed the birth of the world's greatest religions—Judaism, Islam and Christianity—and has followed the footsteps of Jesus of Nazareth and other Biblical prophets. Queen Jezebel is reputed to have had one of these dogs tied to her throne with a golden chain. They survived long years in the desert, longer even than the travail of Moses and his people. Some hunted with the Bedouins and herded their flocks; others were guards for the Druze on Mount Cannel. Cave drawings as far back as 2200 BC depict dogs resembling the modern Canaan.
When the Jewish people returned to the Promised Land in the 1930s, they discovered pariahs, living fossils, existing like the Dingoes of Australia in a feral state. These dogs were scavengers, surviving despite the hardships of intense heat and a scarcity of water and food. A definite "wild dog" pack order existed. Females left the pack to have their young either in a cave or a "dugout," returning to communal living when the pups were about seven months of age.In the late 1930s, Dr. Rudolphina Menzel, an Israeli canine authority originally from Germany, was asked to develop a dog for guarding the kibbutz. She and her husband, also a doctor, had observed the pariahs and noted several varieties: TYPE 1 is a heavier bodied dog, somewhat resembling the flock guards, with a double-coat. TYPE 2 still has the double-coat and often a tail that tends to curl over the back, but he is lighter in body. This type has a vague resemblance to the northern dogs as well as the Dingo.
Still lighter in build and with a short smooth coat is the TYPE 3 (the so-called collie-type) pariah, which, when redomesticated, became the Canaan Dog. The TYPE 4 dog has the appearance of the sighthound, with more raciness and narrowing of the head and body. The wild Type 4 is nearly identical to the Portuguese Podengo and very similar to the Ibizan Hound.
Dr. Menzel cultivated the collie type, starting with "£)ugma," meaning model or sample, and established the Canaan breed. Although capturing Dugma was a six-month challenge, once enticed to civilization, he was redomesticated with amazing ease.
The Canaan Dogs rose to high favor, due partly to their intelligence and high trainability. They served as sentry dogs and messengers and aided the Red Cross. During World War II, Dr. Menzel trained over 400 for mine detection. Her post-War efforts achieved recognition for the breed as a guide for the blind. They are popular dogs in their native country as companions and guards.
When the Jewish people returned to the Promised Land in the 1930s, they discovered pariahs, living fossils, existing like the Dingoes of Australia in a feral state. These dogs were scavengers, surviving despite the hardships of intense heat and a scarcity of water and food. A definite "wild dog" pack order existed. Females left the pack to have their young either in a cave or a "dugout," returning to communal living when the pups were about seven months of age.In the late 1930s, Dr. Rudolphina Menzel, an Israeli canine authority originally from Germany, was asked to develop a dog for guarding the kibbutz. She and her husband, also a doctor, had observed the pariahs and noted several varieties: TYPE 1 is a heavier bodied dog, somewhat resembling the flock guards, with a double-coat. TYPE 2 still has the double-coat and often a tail that tends to curl over the back, but he is lighter in body. This type has a vague resemblance to the northern dogs as well as the Dingo.
Still lighter in build and with a short smooth coat is the TYPE 3 (the so-called collie-type) pariah, which, when redomesticated, became the Canaan Dog. The TYPE 4 dog has the appearance of the sighthound, with more raciness and narrowing of the head and body. The wild Type 4 is nearly identical to the Portuguese Podengo and very similar to the Ibizan Hound.
Dr. Menzel cultivated the collie type, starting with "£)ugma," meaning model or sample, and established the Canaan breed. Although capturing Dugma was a six-month challenge, once enticed to civilization, he was redomesticated with amazing ease.
The Canaan Dogs rose to high favor, due partly to their intelligence and high trainability. They served as sentry dogs and messengers and aided the Red Cross. During World War II, Dr. Menzel trained over 400 for mine detection. Her post-War efforts achieved recognition for the breed as a guide for the blind. They are popular dogs in their native country as companions and guards.
Typical of the group, they tend to be aloof. Although they are devoted to their families, they maintain a strong flight reflex, "the highly developed caution toward humans that had allowed her [the breed] to survive in its native land for thousands of years." When confronted with a new or bewildering situation, such as a change in homes, dogs may bolt. Pursuit by well-meaning people seems to puzzle rather than frighten them. They are innately capable of caring for themselves in such a situation. In today's world of multi-lane, fast-moving traffic and dog-control laws, strong measures should be taken to prevent such an occurrence.
Canaans at play are a joy to watch, "boxing" and stalking one another and "talking" back to each other and their families. These dogs first entered the States in 1965. In just a few years, the Canaan has established type and a strong national club. The breed's Israeli standard includes a section on character, indicating that mistrust (of outsiders), endurance, readability and tractability are all very high. The Canaan Dog is a member of both the AKC and CKC Miscellaneous Classes
Today their versatility lends them to many tasks: herding, alerting and tracking, making them in demand for sheep dog trials, search-and-rescue, and obedience competition. Their sturdiness enables them to work into their teens.
Owners agree—they do bark, one of their guard attributes. In close proximity, barking can be a problem, and this natural tendency must be curtailed.
Canaans at play are a joy to watch, "boxing" and stalking one another and "talking" back to each other and their families. These dogs first entered the States in 1965. In just a few years, the Canaan has established type and a strong national club. The breed's Israeli standard includes a section on character, indicating that mistrust (of outsiders), endurance, readability and tractability are all very high. The Canaan Dog is a member of both the AKC and CKC Miscellaneous Classes
Today their versatility lends them to many tasks: herding, alerting and tracking, making them in demand for sheep dog trials, search-and-rescue, and obedience competition. Their sturdiness enables them to work into their teens.
Owners agree—they do bark, one of their guard attributes. In close proximity, barking can be a problem, and this natural tendency must be curtailed.
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