Cynthia Dodson & David Golden | Revelation Knaani Canaan Dogs

Interview with Cynthia Dodson & David Golden, Breeders of Revelation Knaani Canaan Dogs

1. Please tell us a little bit about yourself. Where do you live? How many years in dogs? How many years as a breeder? What is your kennel name?
2. What are the hallmarks of your breed and why are they important for maintaining breed type?
3. In your opinion, are there enough puppy homes to support breeding a litter this year?
4. How have you implemented new technologies in science and communications as a breeder?
5. In your community, have you noticed a change in the public’s perception of purebred dogs?
6. Have you noticed any trends in the sport? Anything to be concerned about?
7. What are some of the positive changes you’ve seen in the sport in recent years?

Cynthia Dodson & David Golden

1. We are Cynthia Dodson and David Golden of Revelation Knaani Canaan Dogs. We and our dogs live on nine acres in the Virginia horse country west of Washington, D.C. We have lived with and loved Canaan Dogs for 27 years, and we have been breeding them for the past decade.

2. Because the Canaan Dog is one of the most ancient of breeds that developed naturally thousands of years ago, it does not have hallmarks, or unique distinctive features, in the same manner as breeds purposely bred by man. Instead, the Canaan Dog’s hallmark, if you can call it that, is as “The Natural Dog.” A dog developed by nature, not by man. Therefore, many other breeds have as hallmarks characteristics that are inherent in the Canaan Dog, such as a strong, medium-sized square body, level topline with a slight arch over the loin, curled brushy tail, wedge-shaped head with low-set erect ears, double coat, and moderate angulation resulting in an efficient, ground-covering trot. They are naturally alert, inquisitive, and watchful. Being The Natural Dog does not mean, however, that they are boring or plain. A good Canaan Dog is (and this might be a catchier hallmark) Elegance in Simplicity.

3. Yes, there are not many Canaan Dog breeders, and litter sizes are relatively small. That is why in 2024 the Canaan Dog was the 195th least popular breed, based on AKC (American Kennel Club) registrations. Notwithstanding this, Canaan Dog owners tend to be fiercely loyal, and many end up with multiple Canaans over their lifetimes. In addition, the breed’s fascinating origins and history attract enough new families to ensure that we always have plenty of wonderful homes for our puppies.

4. Our potential breeding animals, of course, undergo the basic health screening tests required by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) in order to obtain Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) numbers, in addition to certain other tests we have determined to be important (e.g., for degenerative myelopathy). In more recent years we have also employed broad-based, breeder-focused DNA testing. While the results can at first seem overwhelming, and some of the information can be misleading, we have found that baseline data can be very useful. That said, we also firmly believe that breeding Canaan Dogs is as much an art as a science. In making breeding decisions, we follow not just the data but the dogs too.

The true technological revolution has been in the area of communications. It is now possible to communicate quickly and inexpensively with all the stakeholders involved in a breeding, wherever they may be located. In addition, we can even quickly overcome language barriers that in the past would have delayed or even derailed cross-border breeding plans.

5. Maybe. We work very hard to get our dogs out and about to educate the public about the Canaan Dog and well-bred purebred dogs more generally. We almost always receive a positive reception, and not just at formal Meet the Breeds-type events but at street festivals, parades, farmers’ markets, schools, hospitals and rehabilitation facilities, civic meetings, local stores, and even just walking around town. The people we meet are uniformly impressed with our dogs, and they seem genuinely interested in discussing the advantages of purebred dogs.

6. We have noticed a trend away from Conformation toward other dog sports. While it appears that entries across all dog sports are trending downward, we hear of many people moving their entry money from Conformation to Fast CAT, Agility, Scent Work, etc., largely because of the perceived arbitrary and capricious nature of Conformation judging.

7. The 4-6 Month Beginner Puppy Competition has been a very positive addition to most show clusters. A family with two Canaan Dogs we bred became hooked on Conformation after we encouraged them to participate in one of these competitions, and their dogs, which they are now showing themselves, are two of the top Conformation Canaans in the country.