Canaan Dog vs Bearded Collie - Breed Comparison | PetzLover

This long-haired herding breed was bred by mixing the two sheepdog breeds: the Scottish dogs and the Polish sheepdogs. The Bearded Collie gained the popularity during the last century by winning some of the Dog Shows. This friendly dog with the beautiful coat is surely one of the most specific pets. Nowadays, the Bearded Collie is very popular. The organizations for breeding, saving, rescuing and adopting this breed can be found in the USA.

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 Beardie is easy to recognize because of the longer hairs on the cheeks, chin and under the lower lip. This medium-sized Bouncing Beardie is usually the great family pet because he is very friendly and loving. This breed is extremely active and they are energetic despite their longer bodies. They grow up to have more than one coat colour, but they are all born one coloured. They always have white or cream markings. This smart dog can be very stubborn and independent, if you keep your dog in a yard, he will use every chance to escape.

Appearance:

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.

Temperament:

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.

Children friendliness

The Bouncing Beardie is great with children. They are very playful, jumpy and have generally very sweet and gentle personality. Children love them because they never get tired. If properly socialized, this dog can be the main attraction for any child.

Special talents

Herding, agility shows, obedience competitions, treibball, show dogs, trally...

Adaptability

This breed is very friendly. If your family is about to raise the Bearded Collie, prepare to have a pet that is highly affectionate and bonded with the members of the family. They don’t do well if left alone. They usually don’t bark and they are never destructible, but loneliness somehow triggers odd behaviour with this breed. They are not usually scared of strangers. If they are trained and socialized, you will be able to take your Beardie anywhere you go.

Learning ability

Some say that is very easy to train the Bearded Collie. The rule for this breed is to start the obedience training while they are very small. They are generally very independent, and they will try to do things in their own way. If you start your training early before your Beardie forms this kind of personality, you will have a wonderful pet.

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.

This breed is generally very healthy. They don’t have some major health issues. Some of the issues that are registered are:

Progressive retinal atrophy

The degenerative disease that causes the blindness.

Thyroid glands diseases

When the hormone produced by the thyroid gland is abnormally low.

Hip dysplasia

That is generally the hereditary disease, can also be caused by bad diet or injuries.

Allergies

To food, chemicals, pollen, dust...

Ear infections

That usually happens because of their dropped ears that are not very easy to clean.

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.

Diet tips

Raising your Bearded Collie pup on a high-quality food is usually enough for a puppy. Make sure that portions are appropriate for his age and weight. Once your pet is more than six months old, they will need only two meals per day. They get obese very easy. Don’t train them with the treats.

Tips for good health

To care for your Bearded Collie, you must be aware of the grooming responsibilities that come with this longhaired pet. During the shedding period, it is required to brush them daily. Bathing is not a regular necessity but it will be easier to keep him clean and well groomed if you care about your pet all the time. Some people like to shorten the coat for their Beardie, and it is usually done during summer. Make sure to take him to regular ear, eye, teeth and hip vet checks.

Tips for games and exercises

The Bearded Collie is a breed that requires daily activity. They have very playful nature and they love to run, play and spend time outdoors. The best option will be a big yard so that Beardie can run for hours without the leash.

Diet:

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.

Grooming:

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.

Exercise:

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.