Canaan Dog

My ancestors date back to Biblical times in Canaan (now Israel), when they were the guard dogs and herding dogs in service to the ancient Israelites. We're regarded as a "natural" breed -- meaning that mates like the half-wild pariah dogs of North Africa and the Near East made the breeding "decisions," not human dog-breeders. Many millennia later (1997) the Canaan Dog was recognized by the American Kennel Club and welcomed into the AKC Herding Group.

• Adaptable to apartment life -- with ample exercise
• Affectionate, devoted family friend
• Agile and active
• Always alert
• Born to run, happy to walk
• Busy is better than bored
• Confident and self-assured
• Courageous canine
• Energizer doggie
• Even-tempered, good-natured

• Herding instinct
• Intelligent and ready to learn
• Lives to work
• Loves kids and vice-versa
• Never aggressive
• Outdoors enthusiast
• Perfect protector
• Playful pal
• Pleased to please
• Caters to the country, tolerates town
• Ready to romp
• Takes to training
• Willing watchdog -- with bark to match

Of course you'll get my training and socialization started early -- being firm, consistent, and respectful of my sensitive guard-dog nature -- right? Great, but in interest of full disclosure, I might go through a brief "insecure" phase around 10 months of age. Fear and insecurity can be awfully confusing for a would-be guard dog. I need you to stay on-message with my training -- not too harsh but laser-focused -- and we'll all secure a lifetime together (typically 12-15 years for a Canaan Dog).

In general a healthy breed, but watch for possible epilepsy, hip dysplasia, vision disorders including PRA, diabetes, and hypo- or hyperthyroidism.