Canaan Dog
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Canaan Dog

The Canaan Dog dates back to Biblical times when he guarded the Israelites’ herds and flocks in the Land of Canaan. While loyal and loving with his family, the Canaan Dog is highly territorial and suspicious of strangers. He is best suited as a one-person or one-family companion. The Canaan Dog has a harsh, double coat that protects him from extreme temperatures and does not require much grooming.

DID YOU KNOW? During World War II, Dr. Rudolphina Menzel trained more than 400 Canaan Dogs to work as mine detectors for Middle East forces. In 1965, Ursula Berkowitz of Oxnard, Calif., imported four Canaan Dogs that helped establish the breed in the U.S

The need-to-know

  • Dog suitable for experienced owners
  • Extra training required
  • Enjoys active walks
  • Enjoys walking one to two hours a day
  • Medium dog
  • Minimum drool
  • Requires grooming once a week
  • Non hypoallergenic breed
  • Quiet dog
  • Guard dog. Barks and alerts
  • May require training to live with other pets
  • May require training to live with kids
Living Considerations
Good with older children, not hypoallergenic, suitable for apartment living if sufficiently exercised
Size
Medium
Height
Males – 51 to 61 centimetres, Females – 48 to 58.5 centimetres
Weight
Males – 20.5 to 25 kilograms, Females – 16 to 20.5 kilograms
Coat
Short
Energy
Medium
Colour
White with a mask, with or without additional patches of colour in shades of black through brown, or solid coloured in shades of black through brown with or without white trim
Activities
Tracking, Herding, Police and Military Work, Agility, Obedience, Conformation
Indoor/Outdoor
Both
Personality

Canaan dogs are one of the few 'natural' breeds in existence today. They have become domesticated over the years but still possess extremely strong survival instincts, which can make them independent and wary. They are territorial, but not aggressive to people, and protective of their family, both adults and children. They can be quarrelsome with other dogs and same-sex aggression is not unknown, so early and ongoing socialisation is essential.

History and Origins

The Canaan dog is an ancient breed from the Middle East. They were used to guard and herd the flocks of the ancient Israelites. When the Israelites dispersed so did their dogs, and only the strongest survived the harsh environment. The Bedouin tribes adopted some of the dogs to guard their camps and herds. During the 1930s a guard dog was required by the isolated settlements of Israel. The Canaan dog breed was the ideal choice; they were semi-wild and could survive in the harsh conditions. Today this dog is still seen guarding for the Bedouin tribes and also the Israeli army used them for guard and patrol work.

Nutrition and Feeding

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

Exercise

They enjoy exercise and are very agile and athletic. They will adapt to however much exercise they are given, whether they are indoors or out but they need at least one good long run, for a minimum of an hour, every day.

Other Information

Health and common issues

The Canaan dog is generally a healthy breed, with few widely recognised specific breed related problems. Hip scoring and eye testing in breeding dogs in advisable to prevent problems arising in the breed.

Best family dog breeds

While many dogs are traditionally thought of as being good with children , all dogs and children need to be taught to get on with and respect 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.