The Menzel's
Work of the Drs. Menzel, our most important resource.
On this page you will find diagrams, text, interpretations and photos of the Menzel's and their work. We are very fortunate in this breed to have documentation from the people who developed the pariah dogs of the desert region where they were located into the breed we today know as the Canaan Dog.
Pictured in the center is Dr. Rudolphina Menzel. The photograph was taken in 1968 at the institute for the blind in Israel
One of the most valuable items we have from the work of the Menzel's is the diagram below. This diagram shows the differences in the heads of various pariah dogs that the Drs. Menzel studied. Please note that the Canaan Dog is classified as a Type III, but also that some Type II were used for breeding purposes only. The Type III pariah dog is what the Menzel's developed as the Canaan Dog.
Diagram is taken from "The Book of The Dog", edited by Brian Vesey-Fitzgerald, First Published
In America 1948 by Borden Publishing Company, Los Angeles, page 969, "Observations on the Pariah Dog" By Drs. R. &. R. Menzel
This diagram clearly depicts the head differences between Type II (2nd from left) and Type III (3rd from left).
Also, from the same article as the diagram, there is further distinction between Type II and Type III:
"…Type II, Heavy medium Type (Dingo-like)…. This type is the equivalent of a lighter form of Type I, and here also the head, seen from above, is pear shaped, the skull being considerably broader than the muzzle. The animals in this group are rather short-legged, and the hair is rough, long, straight and stiff. In addition, some are prick-eared or semi-prick-eared, and consequently fluctuate in appearance between the type of the Dingo and the Arctic sledge-dogs (Eskimo-dogs, Samoyeds etc.)-in fact, in pictures it is sometimes difficult to distinguish them from the latter.
…Type III, Light medium Type, comprises those dogs most easily compared with a medium-coated collie, and varying in type between the collie and the Arctic sledge-dog. The appellation "collie-like" seems applicable to these dogs, who represent the aristocratic form of Type II. They are mostly square in build, with the belly "tucked-up" under the loins; they have nobler necks than Type II, often a typical mane and (even when short-haired) a more or less bushy tail, carried, as with preceding types, curled across the back when in a state of excitement… The head is obtuse wedge-shaped, and in comparison with Type II the dimension of length is far more than the breadth, so that the head appears more elongated, though the actual length is about the same. Stop and pre-orbital depression are very little developed and sometimes missing all together, the temporal bones are slightly arched, but not as flat as in Type IV (greyhound-like), cheekbones strong but not too arched, muzzle lighter and fangschnittwinkel slightly more acute than in the preceding Types…."
Quoted from "The Book of The Dog", edited by Brian Vesey-Fitzgerald, First Published In America 1948 by Borden Publishing Company, Los Angeles, page 973, "Observations on the Pariah Dog" By Drs. R. &. R. Menzel
Note - Fangschnittwinkel is the angle between the upper nose-line and the nose-chin-line. Depicted below
Diagram is taken from "The Book of The Dog", edited by Brian Vesey-Fitzgerald, First Published
In America 1948 by Borden Publishing Company, Los Angeles, page 971, "Observations on the Pariah Dog" By Drs. R. &. R. Menzel
Photograph of Dugma, the Menzel's model/example of the Canaan Dog
Additionally we have a Standard written by the Drs. Menzel in 1961, that Standard is below:
General Appearance: Collie like, Type III, accepted by the Israel Kennel Club. A dog of medium size, harmonically built, near to the wild dog type. Alert, shop, mistrustful, aggressive toward strangers, but in no way an attach dog. His watchfulness extends not only to strange people, but also to animals in the herding dog tradition. Toward his master he is especially devoted and tractable. If well-kept, he is strongly bound to his home area and shows no tendency to stray.
Size: 50 - 60 cm shoulder height (19-24 inches) - males considerably larger than females.
Proportion: Shape: square. Where length is slightly greater than height, results from shorter leg-bones, not on the length of the back or coupling. Deep chest, forechest not too narrow, underline well tucked up.
Substance: 18 - 25 kg (35-55 lbs.). Robust co-efficient 20-25.
Head: Well proportioned and noble, in no way heavy and clumsy, but also not too light. The head is blunt, wedge-shaped, of moderate length, forehead not too wide, but appears somewhat wider because of the low set-on of the ears. The distance from the indentation of the forehead (between the eyes) to the occipital point is clearly longer than the distance between both sets-on of the ears, but without excessive disproportion. The pre-orbital depression should be as slight as possible, preferably completely lacking, likewise the stop should be as slight as possible. The skull shall neither be too strongly arched nor as flat as a greyhound type dog. The furrow at the forehead and the middle furrow at the occiput only slightly noticeable, the jaw strong, not too long and of corresponding width, never cube-shaped nor greyhound-like. The comparison between the length of the muzzle and distance to the occiput from the stop is approximately 1:1; deviations from this ration shall tend toward longer length of muzzle. The shape of the head reminds one most of the headform of the collie, but differs from it by somewhat shorter muzzle, wider forehead and the prick ears, set on low and far apart. The lips should be tight and short, not pendulous; a somewhat heavier lip can be tolerated with heavier male heads. Arches at the forehead powerful, but rather flat than too strongly arched. Exceptions with heavy male heads.
Eyes: Closely placed, set in somewhat diagonally, as dark as possible. Unpigmented third eyelids with spotteds normal; allowed with other colors, but not desired.
Ears: Short, relatively wide prick ear desired, set low, so that it stands pointed outwards somewhat diagonally (not set on high and long, as that of a shepherd). Button-ear and all states between a prick ear and a light drop ear still permitted now, but not desired.
Bite: (teeth) Scissors bite preferred; pliers bite allowed; loss of premolars a major fault, the same for overshot and undershot bites.
Neck: The neck as noble as possible, upright. Well-developed withers.
Tail: Set on high, curled over back when excited; as bushy as possible.
Forequarters: Shoulders well laid back, the neck as noble as possible. Forelegs absolutely straight, medium bone, pasterns vertically to the ground.
Feet: Paws as round as possible and arched, hard soles.
Hindquarters: Less angulated, tail carried curled over back when excited, trot is short.
Coat: Middle-length double coat preferred, but long double coats and short double coats occur. Smooth coat, i.e., short hair and pronounced long hair less desirable. The development of the undercoat corresponds to the season. Pronounced mane with males desired. Legs should be well feathered; the tail should be as bushy as possible.
Color: sand colors to red-brown, whit, black. Large white areas are preferred with all colors. Pied of all kinds are permitted as are white or black masks. Boston terrier design frequent. Grey specimens, and black with brown legs are not desirable at the time in order to emphasize the difference to similar European sporting dogs.
Gait: Short, but brisk trot, "natural" trot desired.
Please note that this may or may not be the ORIGINAL Canaan Dog Standard as written by the Drs. Menzel. The text is taken from a copy that I received that was noted as a Standard written by the Drs. Menzel in 1961. Additionally THIS DOES NOT replace the current AKC Standard for the Canaan Dog, but published as additional information for interpretation.