The Canaan Dog, also known as Kelev K'naani, is descended from ancient Pariah Dog stock and was developed as a breed in the 1930s in Israel, by Drs. Rudolph and Rudolphina Menzel. The Israelis have used the Canaan Dog for guard duties, as mine detectors during war times, as messengers, as guide dogs for the blind, and as Red Cross helpers. The Canaan Dog possesses extremely keen senses of hearing and smell, and he can detect approaching intruders from a considerable distance, becoming instantly alert. He is an intelligent, trainable breed with excellent tracking ability.
The Canaan is extraordinarily loyal and devoted to his family. He is extremely vigilant and alert with strong defensive instincts but he is not naturally aggressive. While he enjoys affection, he is also independent and enjoys time on his own. He is excellent with children when raised with them and very gentle, always showing great tolerance. He is also very protective of children, often alerting parents if a baby is crying or a child is in need for example.
A unique and versatile breed, the Canaan Dog participates in several dog sports and activities, including: conformation, obedience, agility, tracking, and herding.
He is medium-sized, strong and square in appearance. He has a wedge-shaped head with low-set erect ears, and a bushy tail that curls over the back when excited or alert. His coat is straight, harsh, and dense of short to medium length. He moves with athletic agility and grace in a quick, brisk, ground-covering trot.
In Canada, the Canaan Dog was recognized under the Working Dog group in 1993. In the U.S., the American Kennel Club placed the breed in the Herding Group in 1997; and the United Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1992 first under the Herding Group and then, in 1998, moved the breed to the new Sighthound & Pariah Dog Group.
There are two main types of Canaan Dogs — The "American Type", "Old Type", "Dugma Type" or "Classic Type" are terms used to describe the first type and the other is sometimes referred to as the "Israeli Type" or "Laish Type." For additional information on this, see: A Range of Styles, from Renegade Canaan Dogs.
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Health Issues in the Canaan Dog breed:
The Canaan Dog breed is generally healthy with an average lifespan of about 14 years. If you are considering the adoption of a Canaan Dog puppy, or any breed, it is very important to be selective in choosing a responsible and reputable breeder. Ensure that the prospective puppy's parents have all health clearances. Breeding of any dog should not be done until after they have been proven to be free of evidence of significant hereditary diseases. (For more information on selecting a breeder, see the articles on the main Breed Listing and Breeders page.)
Additional Health Resources:
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Breed Standards:
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Training Resources:
Due to his protective nature and his reservation toward strangers, the Canaan Dog needs lots of socialization, both with people and especially with other dogs. Puppy kindergarten and socialization classes along with basic obedience classes are strongly recommended at an early age.
- Training — For information on training your Canaan Dog, see this growing section of Canada's Guide to Dogs for tips, articles, as well as listings of training centres across Canada.
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Additional Information:
- Work of the Drs. Menzel, our most important resource
- Why are some mixed breeds mistaken for a Canaan Dog?
- Clubs, Sports & Activities — Information on various dog sports and activities including Agility, Obedience, Herding, Tracking and much more. In addition, this section of Canada's Guide to Dogs includes listings of non-breed specific clubs from around the world. (Note: For Canaan Dog specific clubs, see the Breed Clubs section.)
- Working Dogs — This section of Canada's Guide to Dogs covers the working dog, including such jobs as Guide Dog, Service Dog, Police K9, SAR Dog, and many more.
- Guidelines to Judging the Israel Canaan Dog by Myrna Shiboleth (PDF format)
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