CDCA: Are Canaan Dogs Aggressive?

by Renee Donaher

A question was recently posted to the international Canaan Dog List, Canaani-L, asking if Canaan Dogs "turn aggressive" as they mature. The answer is not a simple one. Canaan Dogs are derived from an ancient stock of pariah dog and they retain many natural canine behaviors. Generally, people intrigued by canine behavior enjoy Canaan Dogs. The breed requires extensive socialization and training for a longer period than most breeds and one's dedication in their rearing largely affects the resultant adult temperament. Prospective owners should seriously consider if they want a dog that requires active management versus a more passive co-existence.

As far as aggression is concerned, it isn't a black and white situation. The word aggressive is a broad term and covers a variety of behaviors to the layperson. Some people are not interested in the reason behind an act that might appear as aggression, nor do they care to understand the behavior and work with the dog. This may include a veterinarian, skilled trainer, daycare provider or even a close friend. If you choose to share your life with a Canaan Dog, it is important you do not fall subject to the misconceptions.

Understanding and working within the context of the Canaan Dog's fascinating personalities is part of the joy. Some Canaan Dogs express themselves vocally via grumbling, howling, moaning, or otherwise talking. This simple and truly charming aspect of the Canaan Dog personality can be confused for growling and deemed aggressive. Variations of vocalizations can occur as an invitation to play, displeasure with a request or activity, and/or as a greeting. Once you live with a Canaan Dog you learn to understand "Canaani-speak" and sometimes must translate it for leery friends and professionals.

Canaan Dog puppies are generally outgoing and well behaved in the department of house manners. Puppies can be termed "aggressive" when seen roughhousing in doggie play groups. Canaan Dogs generally play very loudly and roughly with other dogs. With their vocal repertoire of growls, barking, and snarls, I have heard playful young puppies called aggressive. This is not aggression. The puppies are just playing the way they know how and some people don't understand it. It is important to watch for other clues, such as the way the dogs are interacting, to see that it is all in fun.

Adolescent Canaan Dogs sometimes enter a fear period at around 9-12 months. For some, this period doesn't subside until around two years of age. During this period, the dog maybe hyper-neophobic; pull away from the touch of strangers, bark at benign things, have a wide-eyed stare and demonstrate avoidance. If the dog has not been raised and handled properly to this point, this stage may show itself in an extreme way to keep people at bay. Some people may consider this period aggressive should the dog even appear ready to bite out of fear. In general, the Canaan Dog is not a biter. Canaan Dogs will largely choose flight over fight as a stress response. An air of confidence on the part of the owner, without compromising what the dog must endure, is generally the approach taken to overcome this difficult period in the Canaan Dog's life.

At the age of around two, the maturing adult might become more territorial of his home turf. Home turf for a Canaan Dog means anything he considers "his" - which could include your local dog park (if you visit often enough), the family car, or other frequently visited places. A Canaan Dog will attempt to keep interlopers from invading his space unless they have been raised to regard his owner's opinion over his own.

Canaan Dogs (adults and pups) tend to be the dominant sort and will often be the "bully" or top dog. To people with breeds less wanting to lead, this can appear as aggression.

For example, when one of my adult bitches is taken to an off leash dog park she is the "controller". She is happy to ignore other dogs at my request, but if any other dogs start playing rough, she breaks it up. Her appearance between two wrestling dogs, accompanied by barking or grumbling at each, has been called aggression. She does not attack, bite, or otherwise torture the playing dogs. She simply stops them from playing. I do not call this aggression, but others do and it certainly does put a damper on the fun of the wrestling labs and their owners. Their territorial and dominant nature does not make the Canaan Dog a welcome life-long dog park participant. I have found it to only be enjoyable until maturity.

As an adult the types of aggression that need the owner's management the most would be same-sex, territorial, and prey-drive behaviors.

• Same-Sex Aggression - Adult Canaan Dogs generally do not immediately welcome same-sex playmates unless there is a definite delineation in status, such as one is neutered and one is not, or a significant age difference.
• Territorial - Unless welcomed by his owner and introduced properly, an adult Canaan Dog will aggressively run a strange dog off his territory. This is why it is important to have a securely fenced yard. Ideally, introduction of dogs should be done on neutral territory.
• Prey Drive - In some breeds, certain portions of the prey drive have been bred for and against. The Border Collie's chasing and stalking portion of the prey drive has been enhanced, but the catching and killing portions have minimized. A Canaan Dog has an intact prey drive. This means, he will quite naturally exhibit the entire prey behavior sequence of stalking, chasing, killing, and sometimes consuming small prey.

All of these forms of aggression are manageable in a well-trained and socialized Canaan Dog. But the question a prospective owner must ask him or herself is: do you want to be a manager? Canaan Dogs need management; otherwise they will walk all over a passive owner.

Canaan Dogs may be considered by some to be aggressive in some way, but that is largely due to passive management by the owner. Canaan Dog owners have to be aware that they have a savvy, intelligent, and very natural dog whose regard is earned with lots of early training and socialization. Canaan Dogs need management; otherwise they will walk all over a passive owner. If the Canaan Dog is raised properly, you will be rewarded with an entertaining, sensitive companion who can accompany you most anywhere. Those of us who have chosen Canaan Dogs as companions adore them. They make unique and fascinating companions in the right home.