Fun Canaan Dog Facts For Kids

Do you like dogs, like the Dachshund? Then here we have all the information on the Canaan dog.

Canaan dogs are medium-height pariah dogs with a royal look. They have a tough history as they have lived almost 2000 years in the harsh environment of a desert, and only recently have they started living with humans again.

The American Kennel Club recognizes them as a breed of a herding group of dogs. They have a double coat. The undercoat is short, while the outer coat of this double coat is of medium length.

The Canaan dog personality is built a lot on the factor that they had to live in the wild for so many years, which also has made them quite smart. They require a good deal of training and socialization from a young age.

Read on to know Canaan dog characteristics and more about the breed. If you like this article, then also check out Sussex Spaniel and Labrabull.

Canaan Dog Interesting Facts

What type of animal is a Canaan dog?

The Canaan dog is a primitive breed of pariah dog. The American Kennel Club has recognized them in the herding group of dogs.

What class of animal does a Canaan dog belong to?

The Canaan dog breed belongs to the class Mammalia of animals similar to all dog breeds like the Dachshund.

How many Canaan dogs are there in the world?

These pariah dogs are reported to be quite rare. There are only about 2000-3000 dogs around the world, according to a 2012 survey. However, they have become popular recently, and as the population of dog breeds depends largely on the demands of society, it can be assumed that their population will increase.

Where does a Canaan dog live?

The exact time when the first Canaan dog emerged is not known. Artifacts suggest the existence of these dogs go back to almost 4000 years in Israel.

When the Romans invaded Israel in the year 70, all Israelites had to spread over to the Middle East, and without their owners, Canaan dogs had to seek refuge in the harshness of the Negev desert. However, they survived in the wild for about 2000 years.

In the 20th century, Dr. Rudolphina Menzel chose these dogs to train as military dogs, and from then on, the re-domestication of the breed started. Ursula Berkowitz brought four Canaan dogs to California in 1965 and began their journey in America and then the world.

The breed was recognized by the UKC or the United Kennel Club in 1992 and by the American Kennel Club in 1997.

What is a Canaan dog's habitat?

In biblical times, the livelihoods of people depended on livestock. Canaan dogs are mentioned in artifacts of these old times as guarding, droving, and herding the livestock.

After the Roman invasion, these pariah dogs had to live in the harsh habitat of the Negev desert. For the last few decades, as the re-domestication of Canaan dogs started, they are found living among humans in households now.

Who do Canaan dogs live with?

The Israeli Canaan dog is extremely territorial like German Shepherds. These dogs will be less friendly towards other animals, small or big, and strangers.

How long does a Canaan dog live?

If they are healthy, a Canaan dog will live for about 12-15 years. The only things that can be hindrances to a dog's survival are injuries and health issues, so keep an eye out for them.

How do they reproduce?

Canaan dogs are primarily bred by breeders, but you should still know about their reproductive behavior to help them live better. Before, both male and female dogs were only chosen for breeding after they passed the tests of breed standards and personality tests.

Even if they pass all the tests, they should be at least one and a half to two years of age before they are taken for breeding. The bitch should at least have had two to three heat cycles.

She should not be taken for breeding two heat cycles in a row and more than three times. The gestation period lasts about 60-64 days on average, and at the end of it, the bitch will give birth to about four to six Canaan dog puppies.

What is their conservation status?

The conservation status of the Canaan dog is Not Evaluated in the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List. They are not facing any great threats, so it can be assumed that their population is not endangered in any way.

Canaan Dog Fun Facts

What do Canaan dogs look like?

The Canaan dog breed can be defined as a medium-sized dog breed, like English Cocker Spaniels. These square dogs have athletic bodies with conspicuous outlines.

They have confident, agile, and graceful movements. They have a wedge-shaped head with erect ears, and they have high-set brush tails.

They have a double coat that is flat-lying and straight. The undercoat is short and soft white and their outer coat is medium length and harsh.

A Canaan dog colors can be anything, starting from white to all shades of brown. A brown Canaan dog or a red Canaan dog can be seen with black shadings many times, and a black and white Canaan dog will have a mask and patches of color on its body.

How cute are they?

Canaan dogs have a beautiful royal look rather than an adorable one. The Canaan dog temperament is manageable if you can show leadership behavior with them. They can also be excellent guide dogs, as well as, guard dogs.

How do they communicate?

Canaan dogs communicate vocally and through body language. This breed can be wary of strangers, so if you don't train them or socialize them vigorously from a very young age, they will bark a lot at every new thing they see.

How big is a Canaan dog?

An adult male Canaan dog size is about 20-24 in (50-60 cm), and a female is about 18-20 in (45-50 cm) in height. They are slightly shorter than Doberdor dogs.

How fast can a Canaan dog run?

The exact speed at which these pariah dogs run is not known. However, they have been observed to run long distances at a fast pace.

How much does a Canaan dog weigh?

Canaan dogs are a medium-sized breed of dogs. An adult male Canaan dog's weight is about 45-55 lb (20-25 kg), and the weight of a female is about 35-45 lb (16-20 kg) on average.

What are the male and female names of the species?

Males of this species are called dogs, and females are called bitches.

What would you call a baby Canaan dog?

A baby of this breed of dog is called a Canaan dog puppy or pup.

What do they eat?

The amount and frequency of food depends on the age, energy level, and size of a dog breed. Canaan dogs are a medium-sized moderately active dog breed.

Now, if you're giving your adult dog commercial food, then give them one and a half to two and a half cups of high-quality food twice a day.

When they are puppies, give them less amount of food but more frequently. You can also give your adult dog or puppy tailor-made home food, but discuss with the vet in detail before you build their diet.

Are they rare?

Yes, these dogs are pretty rare. According to a survey done in 2012, there were only 2000-3000 Canaan dogs around the world. We can only hope to assume that over the years, their population has gone up.

Would they make a good pet?

They make excellent pets. They are dogs with a double coat, but their history of living in a desert means that they will be able to tolerate all kinds of climate.

They have the least amount of health problems and are able to perform in dog sports. Their prey drive is medium so that they might chase small animals, but that can be lessened with proper training. They will be easy to train.

Their exercise needs are also medium. Canaan dog shedding level is medium as well, and Canaan dog hypoallergenic trait is not present.

Did you know...

The Canaan dog costs about $800-$1200 USD, but a good show Canaan dog price will be $1500-$2000 USD.

A known Siberian Husky and Canaan dog mix is the Sibercaan dog.

Where are Canaan dogs from, and how do you pronounce 'Canaan'?

The Canaan dog origin will take us to the land of Canaan, which in today's world is parts of Israel, Lebanon, and Syria. Even today, they are the national dog of Israel.

They lived 2000 years as desert dogs, but during World War II, Dr. Rudolphina Menzel trained them as military dogs, and the dogs became sentry dogs, messengers, and excellent land mine detectors. They were re-domesticated after that.

The phonetic pronunciation of the Canaan dog is 'kay-nuhn'.

Getting Your Own Canaan Dog

These are good family dogs. If you want to bring home a new Canaan dog, we suggest you visit your nearest dog shelter as there may be a dog who would benefit from your help.

If you still want to go to a breeder, then go to an expert breeder and look into the history of the parent dogs before you take a Canaan dog pup home. Please do not go to a puppy mill as they don't really care for the dogs.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other mammals from our Tibetan Spaniel facts or German Spitz facts pages.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable dog coloring pages.

Main image by Matilda

Second image by Canaan Dog, Hodowla Samorodok Hanaana