American Kennel Club
Recognizes the Canaan Dog

After thirty years of hard work and dedication by The Canaan Dog Club of America, the goal of AKC recognition was finally realized on September 9, 1996. On that date the Board of Directors of the American Kennel Club voted to accept the Canaan Dog into the AKC registry and named the Canaan Dog Club of America as the "Parent Club" for the breed. On August 12, 1997, the Canaan Dog became eligible to compete in the Herding Group.

Only dogs registered with the Canaan Dog Club of America will be eligible for registration with the AKC as the foundation stock of the Canaan Dog. As of June 1, 1997, only dogs which are out of the foundation stock or are registered with a foreign registry which is recognized by the AKC will be eligible for registration by the AKC. As the parent country for the breed, Israeli dogs with a three-generation pedigree are also eligible for registration with the AKC. If your Canaan Dog is not registered with the AKC you should contact your breeder.

The revised CDCA breed standard, approved by the AKC in 1995, is the standard by which the Canaan Dog will be judged at AKC shows. (Note: neither the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) breed standard nor the United Kennel Club (UKC) / Israel Kennel Club of America (ICDCA) breed standard are used in judging AKC-sanctioned matches.)

As the Parent Club for the Canaan Dog, the CDCA held its first AKC Sanctioned A Match on November 9, 1996, in Napa, CA.

Membership applications for the CDCA are available from the CDCA Membership Chair. Litter registration and individual registration forms are available from the AKC.

In honor of official AKC recognition, the Canaan Dog was featured on the cover of the August 1997 issue of the AKC Gazette.