As with any dog breed, it is the responsibility of the owner to be aware of any health conditions that may arise. Some dog breeds may be more susceptible to certain conditions.
Generally speaking, the Canaan Dog is one of the healthiest breeds with no known hereditary problems. To ensure the breeds longevity and to continue to ensure we have a healthy breed, breeders of the Canaan Dog have a responsibility to ensure that the breed remains so, not just for today but for all future generations.
The Canaan Dog Club of the United Kingdom encourages breeders to perform at heath tests on all their dogs, and to take into account the results when choosing to mate.
There are a number of health tests and various tools available to help breeders achieve this. Some of which includes testing dogs for hereditary problems such as Hip Dysplasia, Patella Luxation, PRA, etc. This wont guarantee the perfect dog, but it will ensure the breeder has as much information as possible to base their decisions on breeding upon than just the looks of the dog.
Hip Dysplasia
At at least 12 months of age, a Canaan Dog can be scored under the British Veterinary Association / Kennel Club scheme. Hip Dysplasia has not, to our knowledge, been seen in dogs in the UK, there are dogs out there with less desirable hip scores. It is important for breeders to ensure all their dogs and any dogs they breed are scored. This ensures that the breeds current situation does not worsen and that we don’t enable hip dysplasia to become a problem.
Patella Luxation
This check can also be performed on puppies at 8 weeks old before they leave the breeder for their new home. There is no official Kennel Club scheme for testing Patellas.
Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)
Eye tests for your Canaan Dog can be performed under a Kennel Club scheme at any age. The likelihood of anything showing up in tests prior to the Canaan Dog turning 3 years of age is very slim.