Canaan Dog

by Amy Tokic

Published: April 23rd, 2014

About Canaan Dog

Comparable Breeds

Akita, Norwegian Buhund

Weight

35-55 lb

Lifespan

12-14 years

Group

AKC Herding Group

Best Suited For

Families with children, houses with yards, farms and rural areas

Temperament

Alert, quick, intelligent, devoted

Height

19-24 inches

Canaan Dog Basics

The Canaan Dog (pronounced kay-nen) is one of the oldest known breeds of dog in existence today. The breed gets its name from the region of Canaan, which today encompasses Israel and Palestine, and started off as a free-roaming feral breed.

Canaans belong to the Spitz family and have the characteristic appearance of most primitive dog breeds. Their medium-sized bodies are sinewy and lean and their wedge-shaped heads are topped off with medium-sized pointy ears. The Canaan’s tail is high set and is often carried over their backs when excited. Their legs are long and lean and their feet are protected by hard pads.

The Canaan is described as a highly intelligent breed that has a strong personality. Like most other primitive breeds, they can sometimes be a handful to handle and require firm and consistent leadership. They are however extremely devoted to their masters and make excellent companions for experienced dog owners.

The Canaan Dog (pronounced kay-nen) is one of the oldest known breeds of dog in existence today.

Origin

The story of the Canaan Dog has its roots in ancient Israel. Archeologists have discovered 4000 year-old tomb paintings that depict dogs similar in appearance to the Canaan. The bible too makes references to various free-roaming dog packs that humans used as working dogs. These pieces of evidence suggest that the Canaan Dog could very well be the “missing link” between wolves and modern domesticated dogs.

The wild ancestors of the modern day Canaan Dog were first captured and bred in captivity by one Dr. Rudolphina Menzel around the early 1930’s. Dr. Menzel began her breeding program by luring in semi-free and free roaming Canaans and capturing litters of puppies. Menzel found that these highly intelligent dogs were extremely adaptable and easy to domesticate. In fact, an adult specimen that Dr. Menzel named “Dugma” took six months to capture and a few weeks to domesticate.

Dr. Menzel’s breeding program initially provided Canaans as working dogs and mine-sweepers for the Israeli military, making them the first breed of dog to be used for this purpose. Later on, Dr. Menzel’s puppies were made available to civilians as pets and guard dogs. Before her death in 1973, Dr. Menzel provided Shaar Hagai Kennels with their first breeding stock and the breed is safeguarded and developed to this day by the kennel.

Pedigree

Canaan Dogs are actually one of the few breeds of dog that are untouched by humans; meaning that the breed has been unchanged by human influence since ancient times. It originated as a free-roaming feral breed in ancient Israel.

Food/Diet

Canaans should be fed on 1.5 to 2 cups of high quality dog food divided into two meals each day.

Canaans are a highly intelligent breed of dog and are capable of making decisions for themselves.

Training

Canaans are a highly intelligent breed of dog and are capable of making decisions for themselves; which isn’t a great surprise considering that they have survived as free-roamers for thousands of years. Their intelligence makes them highly trainable, but their strong will and tendency to get bored quickly calls for owners that are capable of providing firm and consistent leadership as well as engaging training methods.

Canaans are often excellent at dog agility trials as well as obedience, showmanship, flyball, tracking and herding events.

Weight

Fully grown Canaan males can weigh anywhere between 35-55 pounds.

Temperament and Behavior

Canaans are extremely devoted and protective of their families. They are naturally mistrustful of strangers and are quick to announce any unknown arrivals into their territory. They are brave but not overly aggressive. These qualities make the Canaan an excellent guard dog. However, it is important that Canaan owners let their dogs know that they are in charge and the leader of the “pack”. A failure to do so can often lead to problems with overly aggressive behavior.

Canaans are a very social breed of dog and do best when housed with a large family and other dogs. They love children and have a natural protective instinct towards them. They can however be mistrusting of strange children and can be wary of strange children. For these reasons it is very important to socialize Canaans from a very early age with other humans and animals.

Common Health Problems

Like most breeds “untouched” by humans, Canaans are a very healthy breed of dog.

Life Expectancy

Canaan Dogs enjoy a relatively high life expectancy of 12-15 years.

Exercise Requirements

Canaans are a highly energetic breed and owners should provide their dogs with enough exercise to drain these energy levels each day. When denied an outlet to release their pent up energy, Canaans can become restless and develop various behavioral issues.

Canaans are extremely devoted and protective of their families.

AKC

The Canaan Dog was recognized by the American Kennel Club in June, 1997.

The club has this to say about the breed: “Inquisitive, loyal and loving with his family, the Canaan Dog is a breed that moves with athletic agility. Today, he is successful in the herding, obedience, agility and conformation arenas. This breed has two color patterns: either predominantly white with a mask, with or without additional patches of color, or solid colored with or without white trim.”

Coat

The Canaan Dog has a double coat consisting of a harsh, straight outer coat and a thick, soft undercoat. They do not require any special care in terms of grooming and need only be brushed and combed once a week. The Canaan is a heavy seasonal shedder and has no doggy odor.

Puppies

Unlike most other breeds of dogs that mature at 12 months, Canaans take nearly 3 years to reach adulthood. However, their protective and territorial instincts often kick in at 2 years of age and they should therefore be trained and socialized from puppyhood.

Photo credit: Alexandra Baranova/Wikimedia; M. Taube/Wikimedia; Matilda Holger/Wikimedia

Amy Tokic

Amy Tokic, Editor of PetGuide.com, is a passionate animal lover and proud pet parent of Oscar, a Shih Tzu/Chihuahua cross, and Zed, a Japanese Chin. Her love of animals began in kindergarten, when she brought her stuffed dog Snoopy into class with her every day. Now, she writes about her adventures in pet ownership and tirelessly researches products, news and health related issues she can share with other animal enthusiasts. In her free time, Amy loves perusing used book and record stores, obsessing over the latest pet products available and chasing squirrels with wild abandon (a habit attributed to spending too much time with her pooches).

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What Age Should You Start Clicker Training?

Clicker training is a popular form of positive reinforcement dog training that uses a small handheld device called a clicker to mark and reinforce desired behaviors. The clicker makes a distinct and consistent sound that signals to the dog that they have performed the desired behavior, followed by a reward such as a treat or praise. The idea is to associate the sound of the clicker with the reward, making it a powerful tool for communication between the owner and the dog.Now, if you want to try clicker training with your dog, you could be wondering at what age should you start. Very early on? Or as your puppy grows a bit older? Let’s find out.What Age Should You Start Clicker Training?Clicker training is versatile and can be used for teaching  basic commands, tricks, and even addressing behavioral issues. It is a humane and positive approach to training that fosters a strong bond between the owner and the dog. Clicker training can be started with dogs at a relatively young age, typically when they are around 8 weeks old. Puppies are capable of learning basic commands and behaviors from a young age, and clicker training can be a positive and effective method for teaching them.However, it's important to keep in mind that very young puppies have shorter attention spans, so training sessions should be kept short and fun. Focus on simple commands and behaviors, and use positive reinforcement, such as treats or praise, in conjunction with the clicker.Consistency and patience are key when training puppies, and it's important to make the training sessions enjoyable for them. Stay consistent and maintain your composure and command. Even if the early training sessions last just a few minutes, keep it up. Of course, if you're unsure about how to start clicker training or have concerns about your puppy's readiness, consulting with a professional dog trainer or attending puppy training classes can be helpful. Always use positive reinforcement methods to create a positive and trusting relationship between you and your dog.Remember that clicker training requires patience and hard work to be successful. The idea is to associate the sound of the clicker with positive reinforcement, making it a powerful tool for communication between the owner and the dog.4 Things to Know About Clicker TrainingTo ensure your training sessions with a clicker are successful no matter when you start implementing them in your pet’s routine, you need to know the basics. These tips will help you optimize your process for maximum efficiency:Timing is KeyClicker training relies on precise timing. The click should occur at the exact moment your dog exhibits the desired behavior. This helps your dog make the connection between the behavior and the reward.Positive Reinforcement

New Study Reveals Dogs Can Sniff Out Neurodegenerative Diseases

We all know that doggos have incredible noses and a superb sense of smell. It is tens of thousands of times stronger than our own. This makes us wonder – what secrets can such a sense of smell unveil? Many scientists consider the canine sense of smell a great potential to enhance human lives thanks to its accuracy. And that is exactly what was unveiled in a recent study published in “bioRxiv”, by researchers Samuel V. Johnston and Lisa Holt from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. Thanks to their efforts, and the incredible abilities of doggos, it was revealed that our four-legged friends have the potential to detect neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson’s. Parkinson’s disease is a terrible condition, affecting primarily seniors. What is even worse is that this disease has many difficulties in diagnosis, which prevents doctors from accurately identifying the disease in the early stages. But the breakthrough study could change all that! Thanks to doggos and their powerful noses, we could be on the brink of completely changing the way Parkinson’s is diagnosed. “Dogs have an extraordinary olfactory capability, which far exceeds that of humans. Dogs’ sense of smell seems to be the main sense, allowing them to not only gather both current and historical information about their surrounding environment, but also to find the source of the smell, which is crucial for locating food, danger, or partners for reproduction.”  writes Agata Kusiak, from the Institute of Animal Sciences, Warsaw University. “Dogs can be trained by humans to use their olfactory abilities in a variety of fields, with a detection limit often much lower than that of sophisticated laboratory instruments.”Utilizing this remarkable sense of smell, scientists trained 23 dogs of different breeds and backgrounds, to successfully differentiate between samples of both Parkinson’s-positive individuals and Parkinson’s-negative individuals. The results were more than successful, with the dogs showcasing 86% sensitivity and 89% specificity in distinguishing the samples. In many ways, this is a revolutionary study and opens new doors and new possibilities in medical diagnostics. What is even better, it offers new hope for the timely detection of Parkinson’s disease. However, it is important to note that the study is still in relative infancy, and is still awaiting peer review. But the potential here is incredible. If validated, the study could help improve patient outcomes, and help with early diagnosis of this troubling disease.

Study Reveals Older Dogs Who Sleep Badly May Have Dementia

It’s hard to watch a beloved dog get old, as it seems like only yesterday your senior pooch was a teething puppy with a penchant for chewing your slippers. The American Kennel Club, the expert on all doggy things, says that most small breeds become seniors between the ages of seven and 10. Larger breeds age faster than their small counterparts and are considered old when they are six years old. Like old people, senior dogs can get dementia.As they age, dogs can develop canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CCDS), a condition that is very similar to Alzheimer’s disease in humans. Scientists have long known that people with dementia can find it harder to get to sleep. Now, researchers from North Carolina State University have discovered that senior dogs with dementia experience the same sleep problems as people with dementia. “Just like humans with Alzheimer's disease, dogs with CCDS, experience sleep disruptions, such as insomnia, and sleep fragmentation,” said senior study author Dr. Natasha Olby, a professor of veterinary neurology, neurosurgery, and gerontology at North Carolina State College of Veterinary Medicine. To discover whether sleep problems are a sign of early dementia in dogs, as they are in people, Dr. Olby and her team used a group of senior dogs who were part of an ongoing trial testing antiaging supplements. Scientists selected 28 dogs between the ages of 10 and 16 to participate in the new sleep study. To be included in the antiaging study, the dog must have lived more than 75% of the expected lifespan for their breed. The dogs also couldn’t suffer from arthritis or be blind, as they needed to complete tasks designed to test their cognitive abilities. Scientists evaluated each dog’s cognitive abilities by having them perform a series of tests and asking their owners to fill out a list of questions, known as the Canine Dementia Scale Questionnaire.In the new study, researchers used polysomnography, a form of electroencephalogram (EEG) used to diagnose sleep problems in people. The researchers affixed electrodes on the dogs’ skulls using a water-soluble gel and recorded brain activity during a two-hour nap. “Past sleep studies in dogs often involved surgically implanted electrodes,” said Alejandra Mondino, a postdoctoral researcher at North Carolina State University. “Non-invasive studies are relatively new. We are one of a handful of groups doing this work.”When results from cognitive testing were compared to sleeping brain waves, researchers discovered that dogs with more advanced dementia took longer to fall asleep and spent less time sleeping. “These dogs have dementia and sleep disruption is a part of that,” said Mondino. “In addition to the shorter time spent sleeping, when we look at the EEG, we saw their brain activity during sleep was more akin to wakefulness. In other words, when they do manage to sleep, their brains aren’t really sleeping.”These results don’t explain the link between sleep and dementia, but studies like this one may help scientists to better understand the process and find ways to treat it. “There’s a possibility we might be able to identify an early signature of change on the EEG that can tell us ‘Hey, things are starting to slide’. Because with a chronic neurodegenerative process, of course, we’d love to be able to intervene sooner rather than later,” said Olby according to CNN Health.Until that happens, veterinarians can prescribe medications for anxiety and melatonin for sleep to senior dogs with cognitive decline. Diet and exercise also appear to be a factor. Studies have shown that diets rich in flavonoids, antioxidants, and medium-chain fatty acids could potentially slow the development of dementia in dogs. Join the PetGuide community. Get the latest pet news and product recommendations by subscribing to our newsletter here.

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