The Canaan Dog is sensitive, aware, and richly expressive of an eerily wide range of emotion, both vocally and through body language. Unusual among primitive dogs, who are all characteristically intelligent and independent,the Canaan Dog seeks quality relationships and quality time with human beings. But, being independent and self-respecting, the Canaan Dog also requires "personal time and space." After an enthusiastic play session, a Canaan Dog is just as likely want to go off to its own room or crate or bed and "meditate." Not needy or slavish, this is a dog who's interesting to be with, and genuinely interested in being with you.

Being descended from tough survivors in an inhospitable environment, the Canaan Dog makes the most of energy. Needing relatively little nutrition and exercise to survive (although they do need to eat and play!), the Canaan Dog does not waste energy, either. Indoors, the breed is relatively quiet and inactive, as its ancestors in the wild would have to have been content to curl up in their dens and wait out the heat of the day. When interacting with family members, such as in play or in taking treats, Canaan Dogs typically exhibit what has been termed by students of dog behavior as "low vigor." They typically neither gulp down food, nor snatch treats vigorously from your hand. In play, they are rarely given to "body slamming" by forgetting about personal body space. But by the same token, the Canaan Dog has great energy reserves to call upon when their humans want to go out and be active -- such as in going out for a jog, or a long day hike, for example. All this translates into a companion animal who is easy to keep, gentle, and naturally "polite," yet versatile.

Among domestic breeds, the Canaan Dog is unusually healthy, natural, and vital, maintaining good condition with minimal requirements of exercise and nutrition -- whether in normal, day to day, and year to year life, or in whelping and rearing their young. Typically, Canaan Dogs have long life spans, most of which are spent in vital, good health. It is commonplace for Canaan Dogs to enjoy at least 13 years of active, high quality, life. Many have lived even into their later teens, and many Canaan Dogs -- both male and female -- have reproduced in good health at ages well beyond the reproductive years even considered possible in other breeds.

Fed and maintained appropriately, the Canaan Dog needs very little maintenance grooming. An appropriate diet will maintain white teeth and fresh breath. Runny eyes, dirty ears, impacted anal glands, or hot spots are all practically non-existent in the Canaan Dog. Coat trimming and thinning are never necessary, and for show, according to the AKC breed standard, they're not even allowed. While the Canaan Dog sheds relatively little compared to many other double coated breeds, almost all dogs shed at least a little. Average housekeepers may be able to ignore Canaan Dog coats during most of the year, brushing rarely, and bathing only in dire emergency (such as after a roll in smelly, organic "doggy perfume"). Fastidious housekeepers may prefer to give their Canaan Dogs a two to three minute brush once a day, and a bath once a month. But during seasonal coat "blow-outs," almost all housekeepers will find that giving their Canaan Dogs a good daily brush and a weekly bath and soak to remove loose hairs will keep shedding well under control. About the only regular grooming chore will be weekly nail trimming or filing, which will be necessary throughout the year.

In common with other primitive breeds, Canaan Dogs normally have very little "doggy" odor, even when bathed infrequently. Additionally, they are naturally clean and tidy in matters of personal hygiene. Of course, like most all dogs, they can rarely resist rolling in a "ripe" animal carcass, or in another species' "leavings," but with regard to performing their own bodily functions, they would prefer to do their business in private, well away from paths and play areas -- at the back of a yard, against the fence, or under a hedge, or well off the trail when hiking outdoors.

Descended from canny survivors, the Canaan Dog is quick to learn and an able problem solver. Exceptionally quick to "get it," Canaan Dog puppies are usually the star pupils in puppy obedience classes. (Note: "easy to train," and "quick to learn," does not mean "always, and unquestioningly obedient.")

Descended from wild-living survivors who were territorial and necessarily alert to interlopers or potentially dangerous intruders, the Canaan Dog is still ready to sound the alarm to warn family members or to scare off unwelcome strangers, whether animal or human. But as survivors, who will refuse as long as possible to get within harm's reach, Canaan Dogs will tend not to attack potentially dangerous intruders, but instead, will circle, barking and fully aroused. Not a natural attack dog, the Canaan Dog is a first rate watch dog and alarm dog.

It is only sensible that all child-dog interactions be supervised by adults. However, most Canaan Dogs seem instinctively to recognize children as youngsters -- to be humored, protected, and played with when well-behaved, avoided when not.

When raised around cats, Canaan Dogs are usually good with them. (Outdoors, with neighborhood cats, however, Canaan Dogs may exhibit very different behavior!) With other carnivorous or omnivorous creatures, such as ferrets, skunks, etc, the Canaan Dog will probably be similarly tolerant. But while some Canaan Dogs may take no interest in a tortoise, or be intimidated by a large parrot, no natural, primitive dog -- as a rule -- should be expected to ignore or cuddle up with natural prey animals such as rodents, birds, reptiles (sometimes predators!), amphibians, or arthropods.

Admit it or not, most owners of companion dogs care about how their dogs look. In this regard, the Canaan Dog's gifts are not the least. As described by the breed's creators, the Drs. Menzel, the Canaan Dog combines beauty of form and noble elegance (moving with light, effortless, untiring grace), together with tough, natural, integrity of function -- making this breed an aesthetic joy to behold, and an inspiration to live with.