Canaan - A dying breed

Canaan - A Dying Breed

WTKS- Monsters in the Morning show

September 15, 2021 - 11:55 AM

Written by: Russ Ray Rollins

The Canaan dog is a very rare breed of dog, dwindling in numbers every week. The unrest in the middle east has been wreaking havoc on this beautiful breed of dog for many years now. At the time of this report, this very ancient dog breed, is estimated to only have 1,000 living Canaan Dogs in the world. That's not counting free-living feral packs of dogs living in the middle east. Bombing in the middle east, and using this breed to detect land mines has almost sent this beautiful breed into extinction. I hope this article about the Canaan will help to turn this around! This is the most wonderful breed of dog I've ever known. He cleans himself constantly, keeping his toenails short and his ears clean at all times. Our Canaan does not smell like a dog and has never had an "accident" in the house. Being a "cave dwelling" dog, pooping in the house does not happen.

Our Canaan Dog, "Bo", is the light of our house hold. This dog is so very funny. Bo is VERY verbal. Not that he barks a lot, he "humhps", sighs, yawns, sneezes and sits up like a Meerkat to get attention. Bo's eyes are always darting around in his head. Constantly looking at the door to protect his family. He knows exactly when it's time to wake up, time to go for a walk and 3:00 is dinner time. If we forget dinner, he will punch the couch with his paw. His paw that is bigger than most dogs. The Canaan can open up doors with his paws. His double digit fingers make opening a jar easy for him.

Canaan Dogs weigh about 35-55 pounds. The lifespan of a Canaan is 12-15 years old and they are great for active families that are looking for a guardian dog. They are not known for attacking but for barking and protecting the home. Canaan's are intelligent, very devoted to family, protective and not as open to strangers. When you earn the love of a Canaan, you have done something! We love our little "Bo" so very much! If you can find a Canaan, to help save the breed, please get one!

Jordin Horn of Petkeen writes: Canaan dogs are a dog breed with a rich and long history. They are herding dogs who have only been recently domesticated in the past century, but they have been around since BC times. As the name suggests, this dog comes from Israel, and Israel has made the dog a national symbol.

These dogs survived as feral dogs in the desert wilderness for 2000 years before they were domesticated for sentry use. During that time, they were bred and trained for work as herding dogs and messengers, for Red Cross work, and as landmine detectors.

People love Canaan Dogs for their smarts, moderate activity level, and their athletic build. However, some people don’t realize that lots of thought needs to go into the decision of buying a Canaan Dog before it happens. Luckily, we have provided you with everything you need to know right here in this article.

Canaan Dogs Speak Their Own Language

Howling, grumbling, moaning, and growling are all ways that Canaan Dogs communicate with the people and animals around them. To the untrained ear, this could sound like aggression, but often these dogs have different ways of “talking” other than just barking.

Their History of “Wildness” Affects Their Training and Temperament

Because they survived without domestication for so long in the desert, Canaan Dogs take longer than other dog breeds to be correctly socialized. However, their ability to think and act quickly makes them easy to train, so long as you assert your dominance as the dog owner.

Canaan Dogs are Watchdogs, Not Guard Dogs

Though their behavior can sometimes seem aggressive, Canaan Dogs will most often choose flight over fight when they are faced with a threat. They will bark and be skittish, but they rarely bite as a defense.

Temperament & Intelligence of the Canaan Dog

Canaan Dogs are known for their keen awareness of what’s going on around them and their ability to turn on a dime. These dogs respond well to good training, and arguably need the training to thrive in a domesticated setting. Otherwise, a Canaan Dog may run the show for you; they are that smart.

Some people who don’t know anything about them may watch a Canaan Dog and think it is too aggressive. However, many people misunderstand a Canaan Dog’s communication style with signs of aggression. They have been known to step in and “break up” a nearby playful dog wrestle, play roughly with other dogs, and be quite vocal in their play. Keep in mind that their breed had been wild for thousands of years, so they do still maintain some “wild dog” characteristics.

All of this can be maintained with proper socialization as a puppy and into adulthood and proper training.

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 👪

Adult Cannan dogs with no prior or proper socialization to various kinds of people, situations, and children will not likely be good for families. However, when these dogs have been exposed to lots of people in the right way as puppies, they do well with families. As herding and watchdogs, they will protect their families they are raised in well.

Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets?

As long as it recognizes the other dogs or pets as “in the family,” the Canaan dog will do well with other furry friends. The key to this is socializing the new Canaan dog puppy as soon as and as frequently as possible to other animals. This way, your new puppy will recognize what animals are “okay” and what ones can be considered as threats.

The socialization of the Canaan dog puppy and other animals must be controlled and go a certain way, though. If a cat and a puppy are introduced and the puppy is constantly chasing the cat around, this will be their lifelong relationship. The owner of the adult Canaan Dog must be welcoming of the other pet for the dog to be accepting.

According to the Canaan Dog Club Association, Canaan dogs and small mammals do not get along well. The prey drive in Canaan Dogs is strong, and they have been known to track, chase, and kill small animals.

Final Thoughts

Canaan Dogs have a small but loyal following. If you want in on this exclusive group, you can find out more on theCanaan Dog Club of America website, where they have a list of recommended andreputable breedersthat sell purebred Canaan Dog puppies.

By now you hopefully understand that though this dog breed is regal, it requires much training and discipline to own one, along with a constant tough-love reminder of who’s boss. If all of this sounds easy for you, then a Canaan Dog will be an excellent fit for you.