Generally accepted as the national breed of Israel, the Canaan Dog has his origins in the feral dog of the Middle East, the pariah dog, and selective breeding is evolving a distinct breed type. The current breed standard is based closely on that of the Federation Cynologique Internationale (FCI). The breed has recently been reintroduced to the UK and a few have been registered here in past decades, but it is only in the last few years that the breed has begun to be exhibited at our shows.

He stands up to 60 centimetres (24 inches) at the shoulder, which means he is at the upper end of the medium-sized dogs. He is an effective guarding dog, alert and versatile, and no doubt as time goes on, he will settle to a definite British pattern.