A Canaan For All Seasons



 

 

I recently had an inquiry about what climate suits the Canaan Dog best. Interestingly, this desert breed native to Israel,  fairs well in any season and adapts to many climates. Since my crew lives in Alberta, they have to endure very long and cold winters. Their "desert" is a 160-acreage blanketed in snow and ice from as early as October to the meltdown in April or May.  I did a post last year about their adaptability to the colder climates, which you can view by clicking HERE

 

A few pictorial ramblings of the Crew enjoying all the "seasons".

 

WINTER

 

Rook January 2013 - stops to strike a pose on his icy driveway

 

The lovely Miss Ash taking a break after her "dogma" hike on the range

Rook says " Hey look at me! I am practising my act as a Canaan  Dog doing a scary bear dancing as the sun sets!" He is hoping to try out for Cirque du'Soleil:-)


SPRING

Miss Cybelle takes a dip in one of our fresh spring sloughs

Ash  searches the slough like Jacques Cousteau on a quest for new marine life



SUMMER

My golden boy " Rook"

Ash in quest for mice and moles among the sea of gold

 

Miss "Bibs" following the yellow brick road

 

FALL

 

Cybelle and Rook - Fall time tag

 

Miss Ash moo'ving along a stubborn heifer

Rook helps with the fire wood

 

 

The CREW says " We are Canaans for All Seasons!"

 

Summer Time "Rook"

 

Winter Time Crew "Cybelle" & "Maccabee"

 

Spring Time Pack

 

 



The "Art" of the Crew - My Muses

The Crew, family, and many people, have been on me lately to coax me back into my real passion - my Art. A few pics of paintings I have sold. I am sure there will be more to blog about  with my "muses" who are inspiring me to get back into my passion again. So, for now, here are a  few pieces that are helping me focus on my "first love". In the new year,  I need to schedule more studio time  in between working as an editor and rancher. The Crew says they have no problems helping me regain my passion:-) My paintings are based on my own photography, which has helped me travel back to my love of fine art. 

"Young Herder"  Ash- mixed media - gouache and layers of  ink. My first love back as a student at the Ontario College of Art was gouache. I am now experimenting with using inks as a foreground medium with  gouache in the background. I like this technique since I can play with the dualism of transparency and opacity in the same framework. And I love working in layers.

Oil on canvas "My Muse"  Maccabee

Stay tuned for more bodies of work as I add to my portfolio - I hope to establish a web site in the new year to showcase my paintings.

Is the Canaan Dog facing extinction?

A young Springtime "Maccabee"

The Ancient Biblical Dog of Israel

It is with sadness to read the news that the "Canaan Dog", also known as "Kelev K'naani", may be in fear of fading “into history”. This breed is already very rare in numbers, and those that have been fortunate to have one of these extraordinary dogs in their lives may now be facing a reality that we hope does not come to pass.

Here is a link to an article of interest for owners and supporters of the breed, and those that are researching about the ancient “biblical dog” that still inhabits the Negev desert, but is becoming even smaller in numbers.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/in-israel-a-battle-to-save-the-ancient-canaan-dog/2012/03/21/gIQA1IQEfS_story.html

Our Maccabee keeps watch over the herd as the sun sets

Some Interesting facts about the breed

Canaan Dogs are “un-manufactured” by man. They have natural dog characteristics that have allowed them to survive for over 4,000 years. The Canaan Dog has a rich and unique history. Unlike such breeds as the Golden Retriever or the Wheaton Terrier the Canaan Dog was not bred for a specific job. They evolved in the wilderness and developed their characteristics and instincts over 4000 years - which includes their sharp eyes, their acute hearing, and their keen sense of smell - and most importantly, their strong desire for self-preservation as key to their survival .They have worked with Man as guardian animals for villages and flocks. After the Roman conquest of Israel they drifted back to the Sinai desert to live. Occasionally they would be caught and used as protection for Bedouin tribes. But a true effort to domesticate them didn’t happen until the 1930s when the Menzels emigrated to Palestine. Their programme was so successful that the Canaan Dog became a working dog for the Haganah and later the IDF (Israel Defense Force). And despite this unique path that has brought them to become companion animals they are at heart dogs.

"Maccabee" my "Muse"

"Macc" watching over the herd

Here are a few links to read more about the history and traits of the Canaan Dog:

http://sufatsheleg.jimdo.com/the-menzels/

http://sufatsheleg.jimdo.com/canaan-dog-traits/

And a link to a great educational video about the breed:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MF8xl9FVvow

I can not imagine a better breed for me! My desert crew continues to fill my life with companionship, adventure, and fulfills a role in a working capacity. I know that this post will resonate with those who cherish and work with their breed of choice. Below are just a few favourite pics of my crew doing what comes naturally!

Me and two of my Canaan Crew members "Cybelle" & "Maccabee" after  some cattle ranch chores.

"Ash" watching over her land during a windy July storm

Miss "Ash" after a stormy day on her land but continues to stay poised in the classic "regal and alert" position common to Canaan Dogs when in the watchdog mode. No wonder these guys were used as sentries guarding the camps back in their homeland. 

Master "Macc" in his sentry pose  - he always wanted to keep watch over the land even when the sun started to set

Youngster "Rook" learning to drive free-ranging cattle to their next rotational graze zone in a respectful manner with crew member "Ash" as backup.

Some of the crew working cattle chores from spring to fall on the range

Crew members young "Rook" & Miss "Ash" watching over their kingdom on a summer day

"Ash" X Macc 2010 litter - Ash with her four beautiful babes "Tempest, Ziva, Jasper and Cammie 

Miss Ash at home watching over her range

We hope that this remarkable breed "never fades from history", so on a more positive note, please visit our  news about “Tracking” with the crew. 

“Taming” Of “The Crew” (Tips & Tricks)

I had an inquiry about my training techniques with the "Desert Crew", specifically as "Working Dogs" on the Range.


Here are some observations of what I think works best with my Crew! 

Ash working on her extended "down-stays" at obedience class with lots of treat distractions! And boy does she love uncooked hotdogs - such a good crew member! I tend to work early on with this "trick" and increase the distraction and length of time. And I should add that she had to keep her focus with five German Shepards in the background doing their protection work.

I try and work training sessions into my everyday routine. "The Crew" certainly gets to enjoy a lot more freedom living in the country, but it also has its challenges – and, as much as I love them they can’t be spoiled since I rely on them to work stock, alert me to predators and keep me and the land safe.

There are so many training methods now a days and like anything, trial and error are apart of the experience. “Get inside the head” of your dog is where one needs to start. You won’t understand their personality or be able to identify their strengths and weaknesses unless you spend time with them on a daily basis. 

A Few Things That I Try and Reinforce With "The Crew": 

I work “lie downs” and extended "stays" inside and outside the house with distractions. But, I don’t ask for a lie down when working cattle - they need to be upright to manage free-range cattle or they can get hurt. When working with stock, they need to know when we need to work and when to leave grazing cows alone. So, I always work in “Stops” in my everyday routine. A Stop can be a Stand or a Sit – whichever the dog prefers. It just has to mean that they will “freeze” their position when I ask. ‘Stops” are a big part of obedience in training on stock and sometimes I will use the word “halt” as well. Lately, I am practising  this command a lot with my young crew member Rook who is just over a year old - and male Canaan Dogs do not fully mature mentally and physically until at least four years of age, so starting consistency in training as early as possible is the best bet if you want a well-behaved "Desert Boy!"

Since I also "Love Tracking" with my crew, I invented some “find it games”  to reinforce the“ nose- to- ground” technique  in between our formal tracking classes–  I find this is a great game to throw into the mix since it brings out their natural instincts and keeps them active and stimulated and wanting to work with me.  For this game, I keep the crew in the house and bury some treats outside. Then, I bring them out and say go “find”. This keeps up their love of tracking and strengthens the “nose-to-ground philosophy" as opposed to air scenting techniques. To see our recent  formal "Tracking" class with Miss Ash visit this link on the blog:  http://albertacanaandogcrew.blogspot.ca/2012/02/tracking-along-with-ash-february.html 

Below are a few pics of the working sessions I try and do on a daily routine despite the weather and how busy I can be. Training is always something you can strive for each day - but without consistency and persistence you can't expect "them dawgs" to understand "the rules of the home", or the "laws of the land." And, for those that know me, I am not a fan of animals on the couch. "Four on the floor" is what I want which helps maintain our relationship between "Who is the Boss":-) 

A fav pic of Ash and Cybelle doing their down-stays with a treat as a distraction - I like to do this exercise a few times a week because I find it strengthens the "focus" on "who remains the boss at all times". 

Ash working with youngster Rook on what a "Stop means" when the boss asks:-) 

Youngster 'Rook" - Oh, wait, I should "Stop" now?" 

Rook - "Look at my perfect Stop - Stand on command!" - "I think I am getting it!"

I "embossed this pic using a filter" since I wanted to show their nice sits "together  as crew members " - plus wonderful head studies of a male and female Canaan Dog - they both show the "correct" difference between a male and female CD

Ash having some fun working the "find it game" for a bit of tracking practise between classes

Rook having some fun working the "find it game" for a bit of tracking practise after his work on "stops"

I always end a training session with a bit of playtime - Rook having a romp on his driveway after a good day of training! 

It's always great to see "A Big Happy Smile" after some training!

And "This Is Why" teaching stops are important early on - some past pics of Ash, Cybelle, and Rook being respectful of the Stock when the Herd does not have to be moved to a new graze zone or be rounded up. "Peace on the Pasture between the Beasts".

Ash as a pup learning to stop and be watchful of a young calf

Cybelle being respectful of the herd at their new watering hole

Young Rook  watching over the herd

And this page post could not be complete without  mentioning Our  First Crew Member "Macc" who taught us all about the trials and tribulations about  how to train our "Crew" as working companions.  We Miss You Macc, - your affection, education, and dedication live on with the Crew!

We are looking forward to the green pastures ahead with "The Crew!"

Young Master Rook learning to "Stop" and "just watch  over the herd" when they don't have to be moved to their next grazing zone. 

The Desert Dogs of Raven, AB (Asherah, Cybelle, Rook & Maccabee "in spirit")

"Ash", "Cybelle", "Rook" & "Macc"

After some convincing from friends, I finally decided to start a blog. My website is getting rather robust with seasonal pics and chronicles of my Canaan crew so perhaps extending our adventures to a blog might give me more room to share my love and journey with this breed.

"Miss Ash  on her homestead 

This first entry is dedicated to the "Crew" that continues to teach me new things and challenges me to keep up with their observations of life on our ranch in Raven, Alberta. 

"Our desert dogs were woven into our lives more deeply than we knew at the time. They would come to reconnect us in a different way and connect us with others who would become apart of our new adventure out west. They would teach us how to adapt when we were together, and survive when we were apart." (In loving memory of my soulmate Larry whom we lost tragically in 2009.) Sleep well dear friend. We will celebrate you in our journey ahead. Lovingly, Michelle and our Canaan Crew