Canaan Dog

The Canaan dog is like the original dog that entered the life of mankind at the dawn of domestication. A few are still roaming the Israeli desert or living with Bedouin, helping to herd sheep and to guard. For the last 42 years, Myrna Shiboleth has been raising Canaan dogs at her farm, Shaar Hagai, in Israel. She has been instrumental in preserving and strengthening the stock of Canaans, which are now recognized, shown, and loved worldwide. She is now fighting to retain her home so that she can continue her unique work of preserving the Canaan dog.

Special from Myrna Shiboleth, Shaar Hagai, Israel

A birthday tribute to my two wonderful children, Elana and Ari. And to Canaan Dog Keren, who has been with me for nearly all of her 10 solar years. And in celebration of Tu B'Shvaat, the New Year/Birthday of the Trees.

You shall leave in joy and be led home secure. Before you, mount and hill shall shout aloud, And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

Myrna Shiboleth, an American determined to train and breed animals, settled in Israel, became a citizen of Israel, and took up the cause of preserving the Canaan dog. Her home, her family, and her work are threatened.

Why is the world so strange and wonderful? There are so many things I do not understand, and I don't have anyone, dog or person, to woof to about them.

I get along pretty well with most people. And most people love me because I bark.

The Canaani Way To love, to serve, to protect, to hunt, to play

It is amazing to see the young male cat, Chunky, and the older Canaani female dog, Keren, living in harmony. Keren and Chunky have become real pals. Might this example of interspecies communication be a model for how humans of different cultures or identities could relate to each other?

Two Canaans with feisty reputations met and got along like normal Canaan dogs.