These cute puppies are in their natural habitat - in a rock den in the desert. There are not many left in the wild.

Canaan dogs of the desert

Myrna Shiboleth

OUR modern dogs are precious to us as pets, often living a very pampered and luxurious life. They lack nothing, from the finest food to special grooming supplies, comfortable beds (for those that do not share the bed of their master), and even special doggy clothing. Dogs that are working dogs, such as hunting or herding dogs, also live well with excellent food and living conditions. It is hard to recall that dogs were once animals that had to survive on their own and provide for themselves, often in very difficult conditions.

Although the dog has been man’s best friend for thousands of years, there are still a few breeds of dog surviving in remote areas that live the way their ancestors lived long ago. They may develop a relationship with humans living in the vicinity (who also often live in very primitive conditions), but they still have to cope with harsh terrain and climate, and supply their own food if not completely, then a good proportion of it. These breeds are of great interest to us, as they show us how the dog originally developed the relationship with man that has contributed so much to our lives.

One of these breeds is the Canaan dog of Israel, living in the very harshest of environments, and surviving very well. The Negev desert and Arava areas of Israel are hilly, with very rocky, dry ground, sparse vegetation, much of which is covered with vicious thorns, few water sources, and temperatures that range from extremely hot to very cold. Dogs are still found living in the wild in these areas, although the wild population is rapidly disappearing. This is a result of rabies control programs, which include the destruction of stray dog packs; and of the spread of civilization – increased settlement of areas that were in the past wilderness, and as a result, the introduction of domestic dogs to the area.

However, Canaans can still be found with the Bedouin that in many areas live a very traditional lifestyle. They are semi-nomadic; each tribe does have its time-honored territory, and there is a set camp which consists of some permanent structures as well as the well-known tents, but for a good portion of the year, many of the people are away from home with the flocks of sheep and goats, following the vegetation so that the herds can graze. Canaans are found both in the camps and with the herds. They are highly valued as guard dogs, warning the Bedouin of any approaching strangers, and protecting the flocks from predators. There are a number of native wild animals in Israel that can be dangerous to the flocks, including wolves, jackals, foxes, hyenas, and even in a few areas, leopards. The Canaans are highly effective as herd guardians, willing to take on anything that is a threat. We have been told many stories over the years by the Bedouin of dogs that have driven away wolves and hyenas with great courage.

The Bedouin do not breed dogs for work. Rather, they make use of the wild population, finding a bitch with puppies when they need a new dog for the camp, catching a puppy, and raising it in the camp. The puppy quickly becomes attached to his new surroundings, and does not need training to start working. Canaan puppies begin barking and guarding their territory from a very young age. We have seen puppies that were so small that they could hardly stand, but they already barked at approaching strangers.

The Bedouin are never willing to sell or give away a dog that they have raised as a working dog. The dogs are too valuable to them and too important as working dogs. However, they are willing to help us to find puppies, and to catch wild adults for us on occasion.

This wild and Bedouin population of dogs is a great resource for breeders of the Canaan dog. This breed is considered a breed in development by the FCI. This means that unregistered stock can be brought in, judged as to its suitability to the breed standard, test bred to a fully pedigreed animal and the offspring examined, and can then be entered in the stud book. This is a possibility that is not available to other breeds of dog that are suffering more and more from a lack of genetic diversity.

The Canaan is an extremely hardy and strong dog, with all the qualities necessary to survive in harsh conditions and is perfectly capable of surviving on his own without the presence of humans. But at the same time, they are dogs that, when kept as working dogs or pets, are extremely devoted to their owners. I have had a number of dogs that came from the wild or the Bedouins, of various ages ranging from puppies to full adults of several years of age, and they have all adjusted very quickly to domestication, and have been highly devoted and loyal and as amenable to training and control as those born in my bedroom.

The photos (above) are from the most recent trip into the desert to look for Canaans in November 2007. We were able to bring back a puppy on this trip, which is developing into a lovely young dog with good potential for breeding in the future.