NAME: Canaan Dog
OTHER NAMES: Canaanite dog
ORIGIN: Israel, Palestinian territories, Jordan, Lebanon
SIZE TYPE: Medium dog breeds
BREED GROUP: Herding dog breeds (AKC)
LIFE SPAN: 12 - 15 years
TEMPERAMENT: Intelligent, Alert, Devoted, Quick, Cautious, Vigilant
HEIGHT FEMALE: 19–23 inches (48–58 cm)
MALE: 20–24 inches (51–61 cm)
WEIGHT FEMALE: 15.9–20.4 kg
MALE: 20.4–24.9 kg
COLORS: Liver, Black, Cream, Red, Tan, Golden
OVERVIEW
The Canaan dog is a shepherd and flock Guardian dogs, originating in the middle east. Aloof with strangers, but keep curious. He loves his family, and loyalty. Medium size, square, no extreme places, contour line is clear, clean and tidy. The quick, elegant, trot, rapid and long step lively. He has a wedge-shaped head, position the lower ear; when excited, will curl over the back of a bushy tail; straight, harsh, flat-lying double coat.
BODY TYPE
The Canaan Dog is a square dog. His height, measured from the withers to the ground, should equal his length of body, measured from point of shoulder to point of buttocks. The topline inclines very slightly downward from well-developed withers to a level back. A sloping topline must be faulted. The back is well-muscled with a short, strong loin. The ribs are well sprung out from the spine. The chest is deep and moderately broad. When viewed from the side, the lowest point of the chest is immediately behind the foreleg. The forechest should extend in a shallow oval shape in front of the forelegs. The belly is well tucked up. The croup is short and relatively level.
COAT
Double coat. Outer coat-straight, harsh, flat-lying. Outer coat of medium length on body, shorter on front part of the legs and head; longer on ruff, tail, top of withers and back of thigh. Ruff more pronounced on males. Thick brush tail tapering to a pointed tip. Undercoat - soft and short with density varying with climate. Excessively long outer coat that masks the clean outline of the dog is undesirable as is any trimming that alters the natural appearance of the dog.
COLOR
There are two 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. Disqualifications - a) Gray and/or brindle. b) All white.
TEMPERAMENT
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. Faults - Shyness or dominance toward people.
GAIT
The natural gait of the Canaan Dog is an effortless, ground-eating trot. It is a short, quick, agile gait which enables the Canaan to change direction instantly, leap effortlessly, or just trot for hours without tiring. Correct movement is essential in this breed.
OTHER NAMES: Canaanite dog
ORIGIN: Israel, Palestinian territories, Jordan, Lebanon
SIZE TYPE: Medium dog breeds
BREED GROUP: Herding dog breeds (AKC)
LIFE SPAN: 12 - 15 years
TEMPERAMENT: Intelligent, Alert, Devoted, Quick, Cautious, Vigilant
HEIGHT FEMALE: 19–23 inches (48–58 cm)
MALE: 20–24 inches (51–61 cm)
WEIGHT FEMALE: 15.9–20.4 kg
MALE: 20.4–24.9 kg
COLORS: Liver, Black, Cream, Red, Tan, Golden
OVERVIEW
The Canaan dog is a shepherd and flock Guardian dogs, originating in the middle east. Aloof with strangers, but keep curious. He loves his family, and loyalty. Medium size, square, no extreme places, contour line is clear, clean and tidy. The quick, elegant, trot, rapid and long step lively. He has a wedge-shaped head, position the lower ear; when excited, will curl over the back of a bushy tail; straight, harsh, flat-lying double coat.
BODY TYPE
The Canaan Dog is a square dog. His height, measured from the withers to the ground, should equal his length of body, measured from point of shoulder to point of buttocks. The topline inclines very slightly downward from well-developed withers to a level back. A sloping topline must be faulted. The back is well-muscled with a short, strong loin. The ribs are well sprung out from the spine. The chest is deep and moderately broad. When viewed from the side, the lowest point of the chest is immediately behind the foreleg. The forechest should extend in a shallow oval shape in front of the forelegs. The belly is well tucked up. The croup is short and relatively level.
COAT
Double coat. Outer coat-straight, harsh, flat-lying. Outer coat of medium length on body, shorter on front part of the legs and head; longer on ruff, tail, top of withers and back of thigh. Ruff more pronounced on males. Thick brush tail tapering to a pointed tip. Undercoat - soft and short with density varying with climate. Excessively long outer coat that masks the clean outline of the dog is undesirable as is any trimming that alters the natural appearance of the dog.
COLOR
There are two 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. Disqualifications - a) Gray and/or brindle. b) All white.
TEMPERAMENT
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. Faults - Shyness or dominance toward people.
GAIT
The natural gait of the Canaan Dog is an effortless, ground-eating trot. It is a short, quick, agile gait which enables the Canaan to change direction instantly, leap effortlessly, or just trot for hours without tiring. Correct movement is essential in this breed.