How the Canaan dog appeared, appearance, behavior, health, organization of care: walking, diet composition, training, interesting facts. Puppy price. Canaan dog (Canaan dog), quite young, Israeli, national breed, bred from ancient pariah dogs, and is a unique project of scientists, doctors of science. Canine experts, world connoisseurs and lovers of pariah dogs considered them worthy progenitors of modern Canaanite dogs. They are amazing. The more you get to know them, the more you learn about dogs in general.
The emergence of the Canaan dog breed
The representative of the breed belongs to the Middle Eastern pariah dog. The paria dog is a semi-wild animal with an incomprehensible pedigree. Such dogs differ in their parameters from each other - something like our stray mongrels. These are hereditarily complex polyhybrids that do not retain persistent external parameters from litter to litter. For countless generations, such dogs have lived near humans, and their reproduction takes place without the participation of humans. Their population is subject to tough natural selection and rejects all non-viable individuals with external and internal flaws.
They have a variety of external forms. But, nevertheless, having analyzed statistically, it is possible to separate typically similar individuals in their total mass. That is, a population of stray dogs without a pedigree, endowed with the necessary set of criteria that are characteristic of the whole species and are universal for the gene pool. High vitality and hereditary diversity, this is an inexhaustible potential reserve for the emergence of breeds. It was with such dogs that the varieties of past times began to form.
The wild ancestors of the Canaan dog date back to pre-biblical times. They first appeared in the lands of Canaan. This is the old name for modern Israel. Drawings found on tombs at Beni Hasan, dating from 2200-2000 BC, depict dogs that bear a very strong resemblance to the Canaanite modern dog. Excavations in Ashkelon, Israel, have uncovered the largest known dog graveyard in the ancient world, containing 700 animal skeletons, all of which were anatomically similar to the Canaanite dog of modern times. Archaeologists suggest that dogs were revered as sacred animals in those days.
Pariah dogs guarded the livestock of the ancient Israelites, as well as their homes. There were many of them in the region prior to the Roman invasion of Israel over 2,000 years ago. When the Jewish population fell, most of the dogs sought refuge in the Negev Desert, the natural reservoir of Israel's wildlife. Avoiding extinction, they remained largely isolated from humans, and some retained a form of domestic life. They were forgotten by everyone except the nomadic Bedouin tribes. The dogs living with the Bedouins earned their living by guarding their herds and settlement camps. Some of them served as watchmen for the Druze, Arabs living in the Carmel mountains in northwestern Israel.
Unlike wolves, these desert dogs are not entirely wild and prefer to live near humans. Scientists believe that this is how the relationship between humans and dogs began. This was the situation with the pariah dog in her homeland before the arrival of Dr. Rudolfina Menzel. The Haganah (Jewish, Zionist, military, underground organization in Palestine) asked to create a dog to guard isolated Israeli settlements, and to take control of the selection of war dogs to fight the war of independence. Remembering the pariah dog living in the desert, the doctor knew that only the fittest would survive in the harsh climate of their homeland. She selected from these canines specific individuals, which served as material for the creation of the Canaan dog breed.
As a breed, the Canaan dog proved to be very intelligent and easily trainable. The breed has served as watchdogs, messengers, Red Cross assistants and landmine search dogs. During World War II, Dr. Menzel recruited and trained over 400 of the best animals for the Middle East forces as landmine detectors, and they were superior to mechanical detectors.
After the war, Dr. Menzel devoted all of her time to helping the blind, and in 1949 founded the Institute for Guidance and Mobility for the Blind, the only one of its kind in the Middle East. The entire dog breeding program in Canada was concentrated in the institute, where the solid foundation of the Canaan dog kennel was laid, which was called B'nei Habitachon. The breed was first recognized by the Palestinian Kennel Club, the predecessor of the Israeli Kennel Club. By 1948, about 150 Canaanite dogs were registered in the studbook.
On September 7, 1965, Mrs. Ursula Berkowitz of Oxnard, California, imported the first four Canaanite dogs to create the breed into the United States of America. During this time, the now famous Canaanite Dog Club of America created an account book that kept a record of the first imported dogs.
On September 9, 1996, the board of directors of the American Kennel Club voted to add the Canaan Dog to the AKC registry and named the California Dog Club of America the "parent club" for the breed. On August 12, 1997, the Canaan Dog was classified as a Herding dog. dog breeds) and received permission to participate in exhibitions.
External data of the Canaan dog
These dogs belong to the category of primitive, medium-sized, have a moderate and balanced body of a square format. The height at the withers in males is 50, 8–60, 96 cm and bitches 48, 26–58, 42 cm. The weight of males is 20, 5–25 kg and bitches are 15, 9–20, 4 kg.
- Head - elongated, the length significantly exceeds the width and depth. When viewed from above, it is wedge-shaped. The forehead is of medium width, but wider between the ears, with a slight furrow between the eyes.
- Muzzletapering to complete the wedge shape of the head. The length is equal to or slightly longer than the length of the skull from occiput to stop, which is slightly accentuated. The lips are dense with good pigmentation. The teeth in the bite are scissors.
- Nose - dark pigmented or changing liver shades, in harmony with the color of the coat.
- Eyes - dark, almond-shaped, slightly sloping. Can be of various nutty shades in liver-colored dogs. The eyelids are dark or hepatic-changing shades, in harmony with the coat color.
- Ears - vertical, medium and large, moderately low, wide at the base, tapering to a slightly rounded tip. Ear movement determines the dog's mood.
- Neck The Canaanite dog is well bent in perfect balance to the body and head. Without suspension.
- Frame - strong, showing athletic agility and flexibility. The chest is moderately broad and deep, dropping down to the elbows, with harmonious ribs. The loin is well formed. Short, muscular croup.
- Tail - high placement. It is shaped like a sickle, or rolled into a ring. The dog keeps his tail confidently on his back.
- Front limbs animal directly placed. The shoulders are moderately angular. The pasterns are flexible. The hindquarters are in balance with the front ones. Straight when viewed from behind. The musculature of the thigh is well developed, moderately broad.
- Paws - collected in a ball like a cat.
- Coat two-layer. The guard coat is straight, coarse and flat. The outer layer is of medium length on the body, shorter on the front of the legs and head. Longer on ears, tail, top of withers and back of thigh. A profusely pubescent tail towards the end. The undercoat is soft and short and its density depends on the climate.
- Color - solid white with mask or spots. Basic (black and all browns, sandy and red), with or without white edging.
Distinctive features of the behavior of Canaan dogs
The Canaanites are real herding dogs, and they are always alert. Dogs will bark at almost any approaching animal or person. This breed can be aggressive with animals, so it is recommended that the Canaanite dog live in a house with other pets from early childhood.
They rarely show aggressive behavior towards people. When a dog sees a stranger, it will rather back down than show interest in him. Socializing early can help you avoid being overly alert to strangers.
Despite being wary of outsiders, the Canaanites are deeply connected to their family, which can lead to restless behavior when separated from them. This usually manifests itself in the form of damage to household items, shoes, digging or continuous barking. So do not leave the dog alone for a long time to avoid inappropriate behavior.
Canaan Dog Health Description
The average lifespan of the breed is 12 to 15 years. Epilepsy is the main problem with these dogs. Seizures usually appear between 2 and 4 years of age. The most common cancer in the breed appears to be lymphosarcoma.
Hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia also occur in some Canaanite dogs, but fortunately the rates are very low. According to the Orthopedic Foundation of America, the rate of hip dysplasia based on 330 x-rays of the hip is only 2% - excellent. Elbow dysplasia is 3%.
Allergies cause itchy skin and can lead to a bacterial skin infection (pyoderma). Hypothyroidism, progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), patella prolapse, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, diabetes, pancreatitis, and degenerative myelopathy have also been reported in minimal manifestations in Canaan dogs.
Some health problems are genetic, which means inherited from their parents. Genetic health problems are common in Canaanite dogs today due to unreasonable breeding methods. Other health problems are external factors caused by improper keeping and raising of a pet.
Features of caring for a Canaan dog
- Wool "Canaanites" double. It forms an air gap. The air layer protects against heat in summer and cold at night. It is practically odorless, which means that the dog does not need to be bathed often. The manipulation is carried out several times a year, using professional shampoos and moisturizing masks. All soap and foam products are diluted so that their concentration does not have a too degreasing effect on the skin and hair. Thorough rinsing of the animal after applying chemicals will prevent dandruff and irritation on the skin. Drying the dog with a hairdryer is not necessary, the main thing is that the room in which it dries is dry. Their double coat sheds twice a year. Therefore, during this period, in order to avoid excess hair on your sofas and carpets, the "Canaanites" are combed every day. A better device than a furminator has not yet been invented. With the help of a slicker, the procedure in time will take much longer.
- Teeth must be cleaned every other day. This will prevent the accumulation of plaque, remove the unpleasant odor from the mouth and strengthen the gums.
- Ears constantly check for redness or bad odor. Such symptoms can be alarming indicators of infection. After placing herbal lotion in your ears, wipe off any excess on the outer ear.
- Eyes you must carefully examine your dog and be vigilant in order to prevent possible diseases in time.
- Claws cut once a week, with excessive regrowth, using claws. You can file them with a file to prevent the claw plate from cracking.
- Feeding your Canaanite should be identified by age, size, metabolism, and energy expenditure. Natural food or ready-made concentrate must be of high quality. It is easier to find dry food - premium class for dogs of average weight. But natural food should contain more lean meat, some cereals and vegetables. The dog must receive vitamins and minerals every day.
- Walking Canaanite dogs must be versatile and include a lot of exercise. They were bred in Israel from wild dogs and were used to guard and graze flocks of sheep in the hot Middle Eastern climate. This genetics makes them strong and resilient. Animals can be active all day, and they still have strength. This is a medium-sized dog, and if she lives in an apartment, and not in a private house, then daily long walks for several hours are needed. If this breed does not receive enough exercise and mental stimulation, it becomes nervous and destructive.
The Canaanites need more than long walks or jogging to satisfy their innate demands. They are very smart and excel at solving complex problems. Activity, agility, searching and various games are important for a pet's mental well-being.
Canan dog training
These dogs were created from an ancient local Israeli dog, where it was originally used to guard cattle and sheep. Its wild roots can make pets difficult to train. Canaanites are smart, have opinions of their own, and only respond to positive reinforcement and affectionate attitude. Dogs can be timid, sometimes even vicious, so it is not recommended to use sharp education. Understanding with the owner is extremely important. The Canaan dog must understand the clear boundaries of its behavior and what people want from them, otherwise it will refuse to obey.
Training should be conducted in short sessions and frequent repetitions of commands should be avoided. The dog will get bored doing the same thing over and over again, and he will resist such persistence. Once the owner has achieved leadership status, Canaanites usually learn commands quickly and can be trained in obedience and dexterity.
When dogs are raised with children and other pets, they become devoted family companions and natural watchdogs. Pets are aloof towards strangers. They are inquisitive, loyal and loving with their family.
Interesting facts about the Canan dog
Newborn puppies of the breed weigh 0.5 kilograms, by 5 weeks their ears become pointed and their hearing improves. By the age of 8 months, kutyats reach their maximum size. But, unlike ordinary dogs, which grow in a year, they need three years - the same for wolves.
The Israelites used the Canaanite dog for security purposes, as mine detectors during the war, as ambassadors and assistants for the Red Cross. She possesses extremely keen senses of hearing and smell, and can instantly detect approaching intruders from a considerable distance. It is an intelligent, highly trainable breed with excellent tracking ability. These dogs have excellent intuition and are able to foresee disastrous events.
Canaan dog price
There are only about 2000 such individuals in the world, so this is the rarest breed. Most likely, you will find such dogs in Israel. Israeli breeders are trying to preserve the genetic line of this ancient breed. Experts are trying to increase the number of domestic "Canaanites" around the world, finding worthy breeders. The price for puppies of a Canaan dog is 3500-6000 $.
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