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| Breed: Canaan Dog |
| Also Called: Kalef K'naani |
| Height: The Canaan Dog is about 19-24 inches tall. |
| Weight: The Canaan Dog weighs between 35-55 lbs. |
| Colors: The Canaan Dog can be two different color patterns. Pattern 1) Predominantly white with mask and with or without additional patches of color (large body patches are desirable). Pattern 2) Solid colored with or without white trim. Color may range from black through all shades of brown - sandy to red or liver. Shadings of black on a solid brown or tan dog are frequently seen. The trim on a solid colored dog may include chest, undercarriage, feet and lower part of leg and tip of tail. In all color patterns self-ticking may be present. |
| General Appearance: The Canaan Dog is a herding and flock guardian dog native to the Middle East. He is aloof with strangers, inquisitive, loyal and loving with his family. His medium-size, square body is without extremes, showing a clear, sharp outline. The Canaan Dog moves with athletic agility and grace in a quick, brisk, ground-covering trot. He has a wedge-shaped head with low-set erect ears, a bushy tail that curls over the back when excited, and a straight, harsh, flat-lying double coat. |
| Temperment: The Canaan Dog is alert, vigilant, devoted and docile with his family. Reserved and aloof with strangers. Highly territorial, serving as a responsive companion and natural guardian. Very vocal, persistent. Easily trained. |
| Care: The Canaan Dog needs regular, but minimal bathing, brushing and combing. Keep nails trimmed, ears cleaned and whiskers trimmed. |
| Health Concerns: NULL |
| Training: The Canaan Dog is easily trained. It benefits from early socialization with people as young puppies still retain an instinctive wildness and defensiveness. |
| Activity: The Canaan Dog needs regular vigorous daily exercise on a lead. |
| Life Span: The Canaan Dog lives an average life of 10-12 years. |
| Litter Size: The Canaan Dog has an average litter of 4-6 puppies. |
| Country of Origin: The Canaan Dog originated in Israel. |
| Brief History: The Canaan Dog, the natural breed of Israel, dates back to Biblical times, originating in the Land of Canaan. Drawings found on the tombs at Beni-Hassan, dating from 2200 to 2000 B.C., depict dogs that show an unmistakable resemblance to the Canaan Dog of today. The Canaan Dog was the guard and herd dog of the ancient Israelites, guarding their camps and flocks. They were plentiful in the region until the dispersion of the Israelites by the Romans more than 2,000 years ago. As the Hebrew population dropped, the majority of the dogs sought refuge in the Negev Desert, a natural reservoir of Israeli wildlife. Avoiding extinction, they remained undomesticated for the most part, although some lived with the Bedouins and earned their keep by guarding the herds and camps. Some were also guards for the Druze on Mount Carmel. |
| Registries: AKC, CKC, FCI (Group 5), KC (GB), UKC |