• The Canaan Dog is not the best choice for first-time dog owners.
• Canaans are a primitive breed and are more concerned with pack order than some breeds. They will attempt to wrest "pack" leadership from a passive owner.
• They need extensive and continual socialization throughout their life to help them recognize what is a threat and what is not.
• Canaan Dogs can be dog-aggressive. Some cannot live with a dog of the same sex, and some extend the aggression to any dog that they meet.
• Canaans are aloof with strangers.
• Canaan Dogs bark when something is new or different in their territory. They can become nuisance barkers if they aren't taught when to stop or if they're frequently left alone for long periods.
• They do not make good guard dogs as their suspicion of new people and things can make them indiscriminate about who and what is a threat.
• Canaan Dogs require a securely fenced yard.
• They like to dig and can turn your nicely manicured lawn into a plot that resembles the surface of the moon.
• Their intelligence makes them highly trainable, but their independent nature and difficulty with motivation can make it questionable whether they will choose to listen to you. When it comes to training, they have a "what's in it for me?" attitude.
• They shed profusely twice a year and shed smaller amounts throughout the rest of the year.
• Canaan Dogs are a rare breed, with only about 1,600 in the world. If you want a Canaan Dog puppy, expect to spend time on a waiting list.
• To get a healthy dog, never buy a puppy from an irresponsible breeder, puppy mill, or pet store. Look for a reputable breeder who tests her breeding dogs to make sure they're free of genetic diseases that they might pass onto the puppies, and that they have sound temperaments.

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