Canaan Dog Care

The Canaan Dog is a medium-sized, short-haired pariah dog that is fairly rare throughout the world. Dogs of this breed were originally developed to be herders and guardians of livestock in the deserts of the Middle East--and this history makes these dogs tend to be independent, suspicious, and at times disobedient. Overall Canaan Dog care and maintenance will take a moderate amount of work, and will need to include plenty of obedience training and socialization starting in puppyhood.

Below you'll find plenty of details on raising a Canaan Dog: puppy development, exercise needs, diet and nutrition, and more are all covered here. Consider this page your definitive Canaan Dog guide, and read on!

Though active and agile, these dogs are relatively small, so Canaan Dog exercise requirements aren't too extensive overall. With their history as protectors of livestock, these dogs will need a variety of activities that stimulate them mentally as well as physically.

The typical adult Canaan, depending on its age and overall activity level, will need about 45 minutes of proper exercise per day--which you can achieve with a couple of walks and a period of play. You can start exercising your Canaan puppy when it's three months old by taking it on short (5- to 7-minute) leashed walks, then you can increase the walks' length and frequency as the puppy grows. And these early walks are a good opportunity to start teaching the pup obedience, by way of leash training: make sure the puppy walks beside or behind you on the leash instead of being allowed to lead or "tug" on it. This, in the puppy's mind, establishes you as the leader, and the dog will be more likely to obey you as it matures.

A few things to consider when exercising your Canaan Dog: first, puppies younger than nine months old shouldn't participate in activities that include a lot of jumping, running on hard surfaces, or navigating of stairs, as doing so can injure their still-developing joints and bones. And regardless of age, all Canaan Dogs will need to be leashed when in public. These dogs are highly territorial and protective, which makes them defensive and confrontational around strange people and animals (particularly other dogs); a leash will help you control your Canaan when the dog tries to confront strangers. Even when exercising in your own yard, the area will need to be securely fenced to keep the dog from going after potential threats. Otherwise, the centuries Canaan Dogs have spent in Middle Eastern deserts have made them healthy and hardy, and they can exercise in a variety of situations and weather conditions.

Precautions aside, it's important to exercise your Canaan Dog every single day. Though affectionate with their families, these dogs are protective and busy-bodied, and without consistent activity they'll bark non-stop, dig excessively, and become disobedient. Regular exercise will be great for both the dog's and your own peace of mind! A few exercise ideas:

• Walking: Two 20-minute walks per day is a good target
• Fetch/Frisbee: These dogs will chase a ball, stick, or Frisbee for hours
• Hide-and-Seek: Great indoor, rainy-day activity; give the dog a treat when it finds you
• Canine Sports: Canaans can excel in obedience and agility trials, herding competitions, and other events
• Hiking: Excellent bonding activity; bonus if you can find a remote area where the dog can be off-leash

When indoors, it's a good idea to give your Canaan access to one or more balls or chew-toys that will allow the dog to burn excess energy. It's also recommended that you establish a regular exercise schedule for the dog, such as walks after breakfast and dinner and a play period in the afternoon.

In terms of shedding and drooling, these dogs don't need very much care. Canaan Dog shedding is light for most of the year, but heavier during the twice-yearly shedding seasons; drooling isn't an issue.

Canaans have short-haired, flat, double-layered coats that shed a little bit all year long--but when they "blow" their undercoats in the spring and fall, the shedding is more prominent (but still not too heavy). Owners can brush their Canaans once or twice per week with a bristle brush to minimize the shedding; hair cleanup--vacuuming the floors and lint rollers on clothes and furniture--will be necessary only once in a while. (Brushing and cleanup will be needed more frequently, of course, during shedding season.)

And a Canaan dog almost never drools. If your Canaan is drooling excessively, it may be a sign of a medical issue, in which case a veterinarian's care is recommended.

Like that of all breeds, the Canaan Dog diet will need to include lots of animal proteins and carbohydrates for energy, vitamins and minerals for digestive and immune health, and omega fatty acids for coat and skin wellness. This means the best food for Canaan Dogs is the premium dry kind, because it contains balanced portions of the above-listed nutrients the dog needs to sustain its health in the long term. Giving your Canaan Dog food that is cheap or generic is not recommended, because it contains mostly empty "filler" ingredients that are unhealthy, are harder for the dog to digest, and may even shorten the dog's lifespan if consumed on a daily basis.

Royal Canin, Blue Buffalo, and Taste of the Wild are three recommended brands that carry excellent lines of premium dry food.

And yes, this high-quality food is expensive--but the good news is that your Canaan Dog won't eat too much of it at once! The typical adult Canaan, depending on its age, size, and activity level, will only need about 2½ cups of premium dry food per day, divided into two meals. Canaan puppies, again depending on age, will need a bit less: about 1¾ cups per day, divided into three meals (not two) until six months of age.

For further details on feeding a Canaan Dog from puppyhood through maturity, refer to the following:

*--Around this time, transition to adult food by first mixing in a bit of adult formula with the puppy formula. Over the course of a week with each meal add a little more adult food to the mixture, until the dog is eating it entirely.

If possible, try and stick to the above-listed portions. Though this breed isn't especially prone to obesity, it can certainly become overweight if constantly overfed (and under-exercised)--and a fat Canaan Dog will have joint, digestive, and breathing problems, not to mention a potentially shortened lifespan. You can help control your Canaan's weight by having consistent feeding exercise schedules, by not feeding the dog table scraps, and by not leaving food in the dog's bowl all the time, thereby allowing it to eat anytime it wants. It's better to put your Canaan's bowl down only at mealtimes, then pick it up a few minutes after the dog begins eating.

If you're worried your Canaan Dog is overweight, give the dog this simple test: run a hand along its side, and if you can't feel any ribs, it's diet time. Reduce the dog's daily food consumption by one-fourth, and add an extra walk or play period to its daily exercise schedule.