In a nutshell: An agility oddball, handle at your own risk

Also known as: Canaans

Description: A rare guardian herding breed from Israel, Canaan Dogs have a very good physical attributes for Agility. They are rather cobby, long-legged, well angulated and springy, about the size of a large Border Collie. They have a short double coat and come in many colors: white, tan, cream, black and white, black with white points, sand, etc. Canaans have a very nice athletic look and are very healthy. They have short coats and stay clean with daily brushing and a monthly bath.

Temperament: Well, here is the snag. They are extremely smart and not really ready to please. One has to work hard to establish a bond with a Canaan Dog, but once bonded, a Canaan Dog is the most loyal friend you'll ever have. Canaan Dogs do not like repetition and are bored easily. They learn very fast and want to move on. They are also very aloof and need a lot of exposure to the sights and sounds of an Agility event. Being guardian dogs by instinct, Canaan Dogs are prone to spend all their energy on 'guarding' the whole trial! They can also be people and/or dog aggressive . The above "negatives" can be overcome with consistent and firm training.

Advantages as an agility dog: Natural athleticism: Canaans rarely drop bars and can jump from any awkward position and turn in the air, as they don't lock up their spine when jumping and are extremely pliable. Canaan Dogs are also absolutely fearless: no equipment fear there! Canaans possess a long flowing stride and cover a lot of ground even at a moderate speed. They send away well and can work close to the handler with no discomfort. Canaans are very precise and can be taught various exact behaviors, such as contacts with ease. Oh, one more thing: people gather ringside to see a Canaan Dog run, kid of an instant celebrity status.

Disadvantages as an agility dog: You can't make a Canaan Dog do things he doesn't see a point doing. It will question your leadership time and again. Mentally, they mature rather slowly, and you should be prepared to invest a lot of time and effort on educating and socializing your Canaan Dog. Aggression in young dogs can be an issue.

Rating out of 10: Hmm... that's a hard one. On one hand, one could say "1", because Canaan Dogs are not for an average handler. It's best to have some dog training experience before you take on a Canaan, On the other hand, if you are up to the challenge a fair rating could be a 7!

Examples of dogs that have done well in agility: Canaan Dogs are quite rare, so not many of them have made their mark in Agility. In the United States, Space The Final Frontier, is the most titled and successful Agility Canaan.

What's it like to live with as a pet: Very secure. OK, jokes aside, if you invest time and effort to socialize and train your Canaan, he will be a great companion and house pet. Otherwise, consider a different breed, as it's not easy to train a Canaan Dog. They are extremely tidy and clean, easily house broken and don't need much maintenance.

Source: Olga Chaiko.

Photo credit: Tien Tran Photography. Dog: Space The Final Frontier, Canaan Dog. Handler