It was a ... year

You’re in luck.  I had originally written a lengthy year-end tome on “purpose” in the dog world, drawing on concepts from such varied thinkers as Churchill, Nietzsche, and Dilbert.  Then I thought, “Who needs this kind of crap after the kind of year 2020 was?” and I threw it away.  Suffice it to say that in 2020 we showed Canaan Dogs when we could, we ran Fast CAT and lure coursing with Canaan Dogs when we could, and we bred Canaan Dogs when we could.  Why? Because we love this rare and unique breed, and we want others to learn about and appreciate it so that the Canaan Dog survives long after we are gone.   

And now for the year-end summary: We lost our beloved 15-year-old Salina in December.  Because of her love of the public, and her many years of Meet-The-Breeds, benched shows, and other exhibits, Salina was likely the most petted Canaan Dog in history.  During her extraordinary career she earned a variety of performance titles, as well as an AKC Best Veteran in show at the incredible age of 13-1/2.  She won three consecutive Best Veteran in Sweeps at the CDCA National, multiple UKC Best Veteran and Best Altered in Shows, and CDCA Dog of the Year.  CH UKC ALCH Eastland Salina So Special RN CGC TKN FDC, we miss you and will love you forever.

On Valentine’s Day we welcomed Anni and Vino’s four healthy and beautiful puppies.  The three boys are already wonderful emissaries for the breed on two continents.  We kept Kari, the lone girl.  She has brought joy and dozens of shredded toys to our home.  Although her show opportunities have been limited, she’s already “singled out” in her pursuit of an AKC Championship, and she won Canaan Dog Puppy of the Year at the AKC Royal Canin National Stakes last month in Orlando.  She’s Revelation Sukaryat Lev, “Kari.”

Vino continued to demonstrate his varied talents.  In addition to siring our wonderful Valentine’s Day Four litter, he won an Award of Merit at Westminster and, before shows shut down in March, earned enough breed points to end up the #8 conformation Canaan Dog for 2020.  He also decided he really liked Fast CAT and lure coursing, and in a single year earned his CA, BCAT, DCAT, FCAT, FCAT2 (the first in breed history), and even an FCAT3 (also the first in breed history).  He was the third fastest Canaan Dog in America for the year.  He was bred by Isabella Zirri and is CH Velikayas SH Yayin Shen Ari CA FCAT3, “Vino.”

Anni had the hardest job of the year, whelping and raising the Valentine’s Day Four puppies.  She is a tremendous mother.  Her Fast CAT attempts didn’t go well (she saw no point in chasing a simple plastic bag), but she somehow found the time and energy to end the year as the #1 Owner Handled Canaan Dog and the #2 Canaan Dog in Grand Champion points.  She’s only a couple of points shy of her Silver Grand Championship, and as of Jan. 1, 2021, she is the first and only member of her breed to earn an AKC National Owner-Handled Series Platinum Level of Achievement.  Nice job GCHB Pleasant Hill Anni Aharona of Carters Creek, “Anni.”

​And last, but by no means least, there’s Avi.  Avi ended 2020 as the #1 Canaan Dog in breed, all-breed, and Grand Champion points.  He became the first and only Canaan Dog in history to earn a Platinum Grand Championship, and one of the very, very few dogs of any breed to add an FCAT to that.  He won the breed at Westminster, and at his very last show of the year an unprecedented group placement at the National Dog Show, which was viewed by over 30 million people on Thanksgiving Day.  He’s an incredible ambassador for his breed, MBIS MRBIS MBISS GCHP UKC GRCH NBOB Pleasant Hill Avram of Carters Creek CA FCAT CDCA HCX and DOTY, “Avi.”   

​And with that, David, Cynthia, and the rest of the Revelation Knaani family all wish you a Happy New Year.