Canaan dog is the native dog of Israel. It is descended from the pariah dog, which lives throughout the Middle East and North Africa.
The Canaan dog has a triangular, wedge-shaped head with pointed ears. Its athletic body includes a level back and a well tucked-up belly. The plumed tail is set moderately high and carried curled over the back when the animal is excited. The dog’s outer coat lies flat and grows 1/2 to 11/2 inches (1.3 to 3.8 centimeters) thick. Its undercoat varies in thickness depending on the climate. The male should have a noticeable ruff around its neck. The color of the coat ranges from sandy to reddish brown or black and can include white markings. Gray, black-and-tan, or solid white coloring is undesirable for this breed.
Male Canaan dogs should stand 20 to 24 inches (50 to 60 centimeters) high at the shoulders and weigh 45 to 55 pounds (20 to 25 kilograms). Females should stand 19 to 23 inches (48 to 58 centimeters) high at the shoulders and weigh 35 to 45 pounds (16 to 20 kilograms). Canaan dogs are intelligent and may make excellent pets.
