MyDogBreeds
Spanish Water Dog is originated from Spain but Canaan Dog is originated from Israel. Spanish Water Dog may grow 11 cm / 4 inches shorter than Canaan Dog. Both Spanish Water Dog and Canaan Dog are having almost same weight. Both Spanish Water Dog and Canaan Dog has almost same life span. Both Spanish Water Dog and Canaan Dog has almost same litter size. Spanish Water Dog requires Moderate maintenance. But Canaan Dog requires Low maintenance
Bred in Spain to guard and herd sheep, the Spanish Water Dog was also used in hunting because he could retrieve in water. The breed is closely aligned with other water dogs like the Irish Water Spaniel, Portuguese Water Dog and French Barbel. It is especially true that the Spanish Water Dog and the Portuguese Water Dog share some of the same ancestors. The two breeds are closely related.
In the early days of the breed, they were separated into three different sizes and types. The dogs from Northern Spain were smaller than the others and came from the regions of Cantabria and Asturias. These lighter colored dogs eventually became their own breed – the Cantabria Water Dog. The second group came from western Andalusia marsh lands. He had a long chorded coat. The third group was the strongest and largest and came from the southern Andalusian sierras. This was by far the largest and most influential group, most of whom were herders. Eventually the groups interbred and today’s SWD carries the traits of all three. They were and still are a very versatile breed. In addition to herding they fished or retrieved for hunters.
The breed was revived in the 1970”s by two breeders, Santiago Montesinos and Antonio Garcia Perez travelled through southern Spain to buy or borrow dogs for breeding. By 1980, they had established the Spanish Water Dog Club of Spain and reestablished the breed. They fought to the breed recognized in Spain first. After five years of hard work, the Federation Cynologique Internationale recognized the breed permanently in 1999.
The UKC, or United Kennel Club, of the United States, recognized the breed in 2001, accepting them for confirmation by 2004. In the United States the breed was championed by Ken and Jerry Mann to attain that UKC recognition. Still the AKC, or American Kennel Club, held out on their recognition. The Manns showed the SWD in 2000 in the AKC Rare Breed Conformation and the UKC multi-breed show in 2004.
The Manns also used their breed for herding in the United States in entered them into the herding competition. In the they advocated for and got the SWD into the herding group for confirmation with the UKC in 2013. The American Kennel Club approved the requests of the Spanish Water Dog Club, Inc and recognized the breed in 2005 as foundation stock. By 2008 the AKC recognized the SWD to be able to compete in field trials by not conformation. In 2015 the SWD will be admitting to AKC conformation and fully recognized as a member of the herding group. They were also recognized by the American Herding Breed Association in 2007.
The Canaan Dog is an attractive dog and is Israel’s national breed. Research reveals that the dog’s history can be traced way back to 2200BC.
The dog’s origins go back to the pariah dog of the Middle East. It is believed that the dog has been perceived as a sacred animal and that he was both guard- and herd dog of the ancient Israelites.
A certain Dr Rudolphina Menzel moved from Vienna to Israel and was asked to establish a service dog organization. She trained and bred them, finding them to be highly trainable. She began a breeding program in 1934, providing working dogs for the military and starting a selective breeding program for the Canaan dog. The Israel Kennel Club dog recognized the Canaan for the first time in 1953.
The Spanish Water Dog is an athletic, medium size, robust breed that is not as tall as it is long. In countries like the US, the tails are docked but it is not a conformation fault if they are not. The carry themselves with pride and elegance, have a strong head and expressive eyes which are brown. They have flat skulls and wide set eyes. Their paw pads, eye-rims and nose should be darker than their coat or at least the same color. Their eyes are chestnut, hazel or dark brown and their ears are medium height and triangular. His coat is curly and his topline is straight. With a broad chest and arched rib, he is a very athletic looking dog. The breed has much respiratory capacity with broad shoulders and straight sturdy legs. The breed has rounded feet , tight toes, and resistant pads.
The Canaan Dog is lean, standing at between 51–61cm and weighing roughly 18-25kg. The medium sized Canaan Dog’s coat is medium length and can be sandy to brown, white or black or a mix of these. The eyes are dark and inquisitive, the ears are erect and the high set bushy tail is curled over the back.
The Canaan Dog is alert, intelligent, confident and territorial. They are wary of strangers and because they’re alert they’re constantly aware of movement, making them a superb watchdog. However, the dog isn’t aggressive and he makes an excellent family pet, even around children and other pets.
He will need training and socialization though to make him obedient and amicable. He is a strong-willed dog. He is co-operative when being trained and responds well. They are energetic and will make a good companion for runners and cyclists.
3.Adaptability - very adaptable with the right exercise. Neither heat nor cold bother them.
The Canaan Dog is an intelligent dog and this makes him easy to train. He is a strong-willed, independent dog and will require training and socialization to make him obedient. He is an affectionate and loving dog and will make a wonderful family pet.
The Canaan Dog is also a fairly healthy, robust breed and appeals to many dog owners who don’t have to spend money on professional grooming for him. He doesn’t require much – isn’t high maintenance at all and he is just waiting to become a member of a human family where he can be loved and cared for just like any other family member.
The Spanish Water Dog has much of the same health problems as the other water dogs and dogs their size and heritage. Here are some of the health issues they are prone to.
• Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency – inability to digest food – can be treated.
• CHG – Congenital Hypothyroidism with Goiter – inherited and pups don’t grow correctly.
• Neuroaxonal Dystrophy – cognitive and muscular dysfunction. Vitamin E and insulin deficiency
The Canaan Dog has a strong immune system and with good care from his owner he can reach 15 years of age. He has been used to living in harsh conditions in the deserts of Israel.
If you want to buy a Canaan dog, as with any dog, a good breeder will be able to produce health certificates for the puppy's parents. These certificates confirm that the dog has been tested and cleared of certain common conditions that affect dogs.
Because hip dysplasia is such a common problem with dogs, you may want to see health certificates from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OCA).
A form of cancer that you might expect to see in this breed is Lymphosarcoma, a cancer which affects the lymphoid system. The lymphoid system is a critical part of the dog’s immune system to fight off viruses and bacteria.
1.Feeding the puppy – Because of the breed propensity to some genetic dietary issues it is important to feed high quality food made from mostly meat. Avoid grains as much as possible. Don’t feed adult foods to the puppies. Feed puppy breed specific or medium size dogs.
2.Feeding the adult - Feed the adult as little grain and as much protein as possible. Feed adult breed specific or medium size dog’s food.
4. Games and Exercises – This is a working breed. Remember they are both herders and hunters and need exercise. They love strenuous hiking, running, jogging, long walks, swimming and playing fetch. Don’t over work the puppy/young dog until they have matured and their growth plates close.
The Canaan Dog needs a steady diet of high-quality food, whether you provide your own home-made food or you buy commercially manufactured food. A healthy diet full of minerals and vitamins is essential for good health. If you’re not sure how to feed your Canaan dog, your veterinarian can advise you according to your dog’s age.
Remember that dogs are carnivorous so even though raw meat can be pretty expensive, you want to include it in his diet from time to time to stave off itchy, dry skin rashes and other illnesses. Always see to it that there is a bowl of fresh, cool water 24/7.
The Canaan Dog is a low maintenance breed who has moderate, seasonal shedding. The coat is easy to groom. He will need a good brush twice a week to keep him free of loose hairs and to keep his coat shiny.
Other kinds of grooming are also important such as brushing his teeth 2 or 3x a week to remove tartar build-up. Bad teeth can affect the immune system and make him ill.
Canaans are going to require a moderate amount of exercise. Just like with any dog, you can’t just buy a cute puppy and when he becomes an adult and no longer cute to you, forget about him in the backyard. A dog is a 15 year responsibility and he will need regular walks and games from you to guarantee his health and happiness.