The Canaan Dog is a breed of that originates from Israel.  They are believed to be a very old breed, drawing on tombs a Beni-Hassan, dating sometime between 2200-2000 BC, depict dogs that greatly resemble the Canaan Dog of today.
   
    Canaan Dogs stand between 19-24 inches and weigh between 35-55 pounds.  They are pariah in appearance, medium build, with upright ears and a curled tail that is laid over the back.  They have a short double coat, which is normally solid and either black, brown, or white.  The coat may also be spotted of all three colors.  Most Canaan Dogs in the United States are white and black.
   
    It is believed that the Canaan Dog is an ancient breed, dating back to Biblical times.  The ancestors of today’s dog were used as guard and herding dogs by the ancient Israelites.  They were common in the region until the dispersion of the Israelites by the Romans over 2,000 years ago.  The dogs managed to avoid extinction by seeking refuge in the Negev Desert, and became undomesticated mostly.  Some were kept by the Bedouins.  In more recent years the dog was remembered, and used for several tasks throughout World War II.  Tasks included sentry, messengers, and mine locaters.  In 1949 a breeding program was established, and the first Canaan Dogs were imported to the United States in 1965.
   
    Canaan Dogs are an independent and intelligent breed.  They excel at almost any task, be it as a watch dog, herding, or agility.  It is important to keep them stimulated mentally, as they can become bored with repetitive exercises.  Socialization at a young age is recommended, they can be wary of strangers and dog aggressive, especially if the dog is of the same sex.  The Canaan Dog tends to be territorial and a single person dog.