Origin

The Canaan dog a very old breed and it evolved in the middle east in the 2200 centuries. They were used to look after the live stock and were also used as guard dogs. These dogs were very much used in the world war II for guarding, tracking etc. These dogs basically evolved from the Israel wild dogs. They were very much used by the army for mine detection, guarding, rescue jobs etc. Figures similar to these dogs were found in the sculptures of 2200 BC.

General Description

This dog is not large in size and they are square shaped. It has a strong and stout built body and a broad chest which touched the shoulders. The Canaan dog has straight boned limbs and padded paws like the cat. Their head is like a wedge and have triangular ears standing straight on their head. They have a long muzzle with a black nose on the tip and dark brown almond shaped eyes. They have sharp teeth and they are enough for a scissors bite. They have a curly bushy long tail. They have a dense coat and a thick undercoat. They are found in various colours like brown, white etc. There may be black spots on their body. They have a broad muscular neck and muscular thighs. They always have a gentle appearance on their face.

Character

The Canaan dog is a strong and balanced breed of medium size. They have a great stamina and they are capable of bearing hardships. They are also very athletic and capable of hard work. The Canaan dog has a great eyesight and sniffing power and that makes them very effective as watch dogs. Very obedient in nature and that’s why they are easy to train. They are very fast in learning commands and they should not be given same commands again and again. They are very loyal and devoted to their masters. Excellent guard dogs and they are too aggressive to other dogs. They do not bark much but they need early training. The Canaan dogs do not mix properly with strangers but they are very good to children and people they are familiar with.

Temperament

The Canaan dog is very intelligent, fast at learning commands and loyal to their families. They are great companions and they love to be a part of their family. They do not mix well with strangers but they are really good to children and people they are used with. Their excessive alertness, good sight and smelling power make them great watch dogs. They love human companionship and do not love to be left alone without any attention for a long period. They may get destructive in such situations. The Canaan dogs are not at all good to the same breed. As they are herding dogs they have a habit of nipping at anything that moves.

Training

Early training and socialization classes are required. They are a bit stubborn and independent in nature. Harsh training methods are not suitable for them. They should be trained with consistency, firmness and fairness.

Health

Generally Canaan dogs are healthy breed compared to others and they may be sometimes affected by hip dysplasia. Their average life span is 12-15 years.