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To begin with, I live alone with three Canaan Dogs.
But when you live with three Canaan Dogs do you really live alone? The oldest,
Maccabi, turned 6 last July. I sometimes feel
that he is my soul mate as Maccabi and I communicate on a very deep level.
He often looks deeply into my eyes as if to show me he understands. Wherever
I am, he positions himself at a reasonable distance facing me, always ready
to follow should I change locations.
He is the only male of the three dogs and definitely
plays a different role in the pack than the other two. Maccabi is usually
the quiet one. He is totally aware of his surroundings and is self-appointed
as the guardian of the house…while Keshet, the older of the females, is the
barker and keeps passer-bys and squirrels aware of her territorial rights.
The three dogs are kept crated during the day while I am at work and when
I come home, Maccabi is always the first to discover if I am introducing
something new into the environment while the other two could care less. In
the morning when I crate the dogs, I give them a treat of a biscuit or pig’s
ear. The two females devour the treat(s) before I leave the house but Maccabi
invariably holds onto whatever he gets until I come home and let them out.
I travel once or twice a month for business
and while away, I have a pet sitter visit the house in the mornings and evenings
to feed and exercise the dogs. I have been told that Maccabi rarely eats
while I am away and tends to wait by the front door for my return. Because
I speak English and Hebrew to the dogs, they all respond to either language
and appear to be comfortable with both.
My mom passed away last September and being Jewish,
I say the Mourner’s Prayer (Kaddish) every morning before going to work.
When Maccabi hears me, he runs and stands by my side with his paws on my arm
while I recite the prayer. He waits until I finish as if to show me that he
will be by my side no matter what.
Having three Canaan Dogs has clearly
shown me how each has his /her own personality, likes and dislikes. Watching
Maccabi (dad), Keshet (mom) and Maya (daughter), interact has taught me a
great deal about their unique culture and how I fit into our pack.
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