Middle Eastern shepherd dogs of the past did not allow their wards to escape, protected them from predators and thieves and sounded the alarm when danger approached. But over the centuries, with the invasion of the Roman conquerors and the resettlement of the inhabitants of the country to the far corners of the earth, the Canaan Dog became unemployed. He retired to the hilly desert in southern Israel, leading a wild lifestyle that depended on his quick wits and physical fitness. Sometimes he continued his nomadic life, earning a living as Bedouin desert dwellers, or served as a guard for the Druze, the religious communities of the mountaineers who settled on Mount Carmel and in other areas of present-day Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan. and Israel. Thanks to this harsh lifestyle, the dog has become a cunning athlete, ideally suited to the environment.