Canaan Dog - Breed and Character Description

Initially, a Canaanite dog lived in the Middle East, later experienced breeders learned about such pets and took them to work. The breed changed several times until it reached the ideal according to the breeders. If you follow the legend, it was the representatives of this breed that lived in the palace of Ahab and sat at the feet of his wife Jezebel. Breeders did not have to exert much effort to get an excellent companion and service dog in one bottle. But we will not look forward to maintain the intrigue and consider all aspects in order of priority.

Historical data

Dogs were taken under their wing by dog ​​handler and breeder Rudolfin Menzel, this happened at the beginning of the 20th century. The homeland of Canaan dogs is considered sunny Israel, the first school for the training of dogs of a service orientation was created there.

Since the woman had vast experience in such matters, she took dogs from the street. From stray dogs, the dog handler made service pets, which were subsequently recognized by the public.

Rudolfina set a goal for herself - to create a dog with excellent watch, hunting and companion skills. The dog should understand the mentor in a word, help in hostilities, have an unrivaled instinct.

The dog handler trained unnecessary pets to such an extent that they began to take them to rescue and search groups, as well as drug departments and departments of the fight against crime. Dogs were looking for drugs, weapons, missing under the ruins of people. In fact, they were indispensable, not a single person could do better.

Thanks to Rudolfina, the breed presented has gained universal recognition and has become recognizable. A little later, dogs were trained to drive blind people, that is, to be guide dogs. This is another merit in the treasury of the discussed pets. As the saying goes, from rags to riches, this is how the breed became world-wide.

The dog handler was able to achieve certain standards for her charges. More and more people wanted to bring such a hardy, sensitive and at the same time faithful pet into the house. Initially, the dog became a national treasure of Israel, then in 1966 it was recognized at the world level.

Dog Description

If you follow all the data on the formation of the breed, then the standard descriptions were not changed after their approval. Dogs belong to harmoniously composed, medium-sized individuals. In their case there is no heaviness, but dogs can not be called refined. Everything in the structure of dogs is perfect, it can be replaced in the process of running or walking the animal. Representatives of the breed are not fussy, but not slow. They are confident, the movements are smooth and fast.

1. Weight height. Sexual dimorphism is not clearly visible, dogs are approximately equal in their data. Bitches with males have a body weight in the range of 16-25 kg. with growth at the withers of 50–61 cm. Male individuals may be larger in terms of musculature and skeleton, dogs of female gender are more neatly folded.
2. Body. Muscled, developed, with a dense and medium in thickness bone, brought down. Square in format, may be slightly elongated. The withers are clearly visible, flowing into a flat back and a shortened, slightly raised lower back. The groin is picked up, the croup is slightly sloping, but not much. The chest is deep and medium in width. The neck is oval, vertical.
3. Tail. When the dog is in a playful state or moving, the tail is selected in a ring and is located above the lumbar. The structure of the tail is not thick, medium in thickness. There is overgrown wool, it is longer than on the rest of the body.
4. Limbs. Long, bone tissue developed and compacted. The limbs are straight, oval in shape of a bone. Paws are medium in thickness. The hind limbs are a little wider apart, the hips are also long, muscular. The hock joints are high, flexible and strong. The paws are small, but rounded and dense. The pads are fleshy, the claws are curved.
5. Head. Medium in length, strong and harmoniously folded. It looks proportional to the body. The frontal part is almost flat and wide. From the frontal part there is a smooth transition to the muzzle. The lips are medium in thickness and tight-fitting, pigmented to match the color of the coat of the animal. The teeth are complete, large, white, sharp. The bite is correct. The nose is mobile and large, it can only be black. The eyes are oval, small in size, lowered in the corners. Look interested, smart and expressive. The eyelids have black pigmentation. According to the standard, it is believed that a dog is genetically better if it has dark eyes. Ears are dense, set at some distance from each other, wide at the base. The tips are rounded, vertically set.
6. Woolen cover. Double, water-repellent. Dogs can tolerate dry weather, can live in deserts, do without water and control their body temperature. They are also comfortable in the winter due to the presence of undercoat. The hair is stiff, there is a collar of elongated wool. The undercoat can change its structure depending on where the dog is. It is either felt or less developed.
7. Color. There are pets whose fur is dyed in several colors. Can be monophonic. White or reddish dogs are allowed to have a mask on their faces. But if the pet is black, then it must be strictly monochrome.

Character

1. Dogs are famous for their increased intellectual ability and sensitivity to humans. They understand perfectly, therefore they are ideally suited for training.
2. Individuals of this breed can bark loudly and for a long time, which not everyone will like. But this is their watchdog quality.
3. The pet gets along with a child who is already 6 years old. With the younger generation, she does not always want to play, because she does not understand intentions.
4. Representatives of the breed get along badly with other dogs, cats, constantly trying to dominate them. Therefore, it is better to keep only one dog.
5. Canaan dogs are not suitable for people whose purpose in life is to wallow on the couch. Animals are very active, they need an appropriate host.

Care and maintenance

1. The breed in question is allowed to be kept in apartment conditions. But it is worth considering that this option will not be the best and most reasonable. Such dogs love freedom and need enough free space. For this reason, a private house with a private plot will be a great solution.
2. In this case, it is strictly forbidden to keep the animal in the aviary and put on a chain. The dog should walk freely in the yard and have its own nook in the house. Regardless of the weather and conditions of keeping with the pet, it is necessary to conduct daily active walks.
3. It is highly recommended that you visit your dog outside in the morning and evening. Moreover, each walk should last at least 1 hour. Also, it will not be amiss to drive a pet on a leash all the time. The problem is that males of this breed often start fights.
4. As for the coat, it allows dogs to endure fairly severe frosts. In addition, wool is a natural barrier in hot weather. Dogs do not overheat. A significant drawback can be considered that dogs have a strong seasonal molt. Therefore, comb out your pet daily.
5. The rest of the time combing the dogs is recommended at least once a week. For convenience, it is recommended to use a brush with hard bristles. As for the molting period, it is better to use a special slicker. In addition, systematically inspect the dog’s mouth, nose, ears and paw pads.
6. Among other things, such individuals should necessarily carry out systematic brushing. Therefore, it is best to teach a dog to such a procedure from an early age. Otherwise, you will not be able to cope with an adult. It is recommended to brush your teeth at least 2 times a week. If necessary, consult your veterinarian to remove tartar.

Feeding

1. If you decide to feed your pet homemade food, it is worth considering that the basis of the diet should be meat. In addition, protein-containing foods should be included in dishes. Among these, eggs, offal and fish can be distinguished. If you will feed the dog offal, then the portion should be increased.
2. Please note that eggs are allowed to be given 1 time per week in the amount of 2 pcs. no more. Every 3 days it is recommended to pamper your pet with kefir. As an alternative, yogurt or other natural sour-milk products without any impurities are suitable.
3. As for carbohydrates, the dog can easily get them from all kinds of cereals. Buckwheat and rice are recommended. Every day it is allowed to give the dog boiled and raw vegetables. They will be a great addition to meat.
4. So that the pet does not have any problems with the digestive system, he should regularly be given vegetable oils. It is recommended that warm food be supplemented with a small amount of vegetable oil and fresh herbs. In addition, the dog needs to be given cartilage and tendons. In such products, beneficial substances are present.
5. In addition to natural balanced feeding, the dog must be given complexes of vitamins and minerals. It is strongly recommended that you consult with your veterinarian on this issue. The specialist will help you choose the best vitamins based on the breed, age and gender of the dog.
6. If you do not want to bother with natural nutrition and spend a lot of time preparing dishes, it is recommended to pay attention to ready-made food. Such formulations make life easier for you. Choose exclusively premium products. In such feeds there is everything necessary for a pet.
7. In addition, the daily norm is always indicated on the packaging of high-quality feeds depending on the weight and activity of the pet. Therefore, you can easily choose the best portion for your pet. In the hot season, the amount of feed is recommended to be reduced. Remember that puppies need to be fed often.
8. Among other things, you need to know that representatives of this breed are used to drinking a lot of water. Therefore, take care of this in advance. The pet should always have access to fresh and clean water. Otherwise, such dogs from dehydration begin to develop problems with the gastrointestinal tract.

Health

1. The life expectancy of individuals of this breed is on average 13-14 years. The main health problem of these dogs is considered to be epilepsy. Pathology is mainly observed in young individuals, from about 2 to 4 years.
2. In addition, oncological pathologies are also found in such dogs. Among these, lymphosarcoma often develops. In addition, dogs often suffer from diseases of large joints.
3. It is worth noting that in rare cases in such pets you can see a manifestation of an allergic reaction, hypothyroidism, prolapse of the patella, diabetes mellitus, vision problems and hemolytic anemia.
4. In some cases, various pathologies are manifested due to disorders at the genetic level. Therefore, diseases are inherited.Such phenomena often occur due to improper breeding. In addition, healthy individuals that produce offspring must be properly maintained. As a result, there will be no problems. Puppies appear completely healthy and without pathological abnormalities.

Pets from this group quickly adapt to the rhythm of the life of the owner, but they will not be able to wallow all day on the couch. Endurance is manifested in intense physical exertion, with which Canaan dogs completely cope.

Video: Canaan Dog