Richard Minto	Ellen Minto

Ellen Minto began her involvement with the Canaan Dog in 1984 in her home country, the USA, with the purchase of an 18-month old Canaan bitch, Beth Din's Tabatha Beruriah ("Xena"), from Hinda Bergman. "Xena" was followed six months later by "Ariel" (Ariel Shin Ha'Aretz of Briel) whom she purchased from Bryna Comsky. "Ariel", a super black and white of excellent quality and type, won Best Puppy at the first National Specialty he attended at 7-months of age under judge, Maxwell Riddle. He then went on to win Best of Breed at the next (and only) four National Specialties in which he was entered- - - one under Israeli judge, Mr Avi Marshak. Ellen whelped her first litter of Canaan Dogs in 1985 and bred a number of high- quality Canaan puppies under her former kennel name of Briel Kennels. A puppy from her first litter, Briel's Adiv Ben Ariel, won Best Puppy In Match his first time out at the then prestigious and large (over 700 dogs) Hudson Valley Rare Breed Show. Ellen imported three Canaan Dogs to the USA from Shaar Hagai Kennels in Israel to help expand the genepool over there. However, when she moved to England, due to the quarantine restrictions Ellen took only one of these dogs with her, Gvir Me Shaar Hagai. At one time Ellen sat on the board of the Canaan Dog Club of America, Inc and she was one of the founders and the first President of the Israel Canaan Dog Club of America, Inc., though she is no longer a member of either organisation. She has been the Secretary and newsletter editor for The Canaan Dog Club of the United Kingdom since 1996. Richard and Ellen met through their mutual admiration and love of the Canaan Dog while attending the first International Canaan Dog Show in Netanya, Israel in November 1993. Whilst he was working in Tunisia, Richard had been gifted with a semi-wild born* Canaan bitch by a member of a Bedouin clan who, along with the pack of dogs, had originated in Jordan. Richard subsequently took "Bobby" (Minto's Libyan Jewel) back to England with him when he returned. She was bred to a registered Israeli import, Sivan Me Shaar Hagai, and produced six beautiful puppies on 19th December 1993. Both "Bobby" and her litter were registered by the Israel Kennel Club under what they call "miun". Under this system the dog must be judged by a licensed judge of the breed (in this case Myrna Shiboleth) as being at least "very good" according to the breed standard. The dog must then be bred to a fully pedigreed and proven Canaan, and the offspring are then judged for their apparent purity and conformity to type at a minimum of 9 months of age. "Bobby's" puppies were judged at 4 months and again at one year of age. They were then registered by the Israel Kennel Club and subsequently by The Kennel Club in England. One of these puppies grew into our "Digger" (The Lion of Judah at Anacan). The registration of Bobby and her litter by The Kennel Club gave England, and the world, some important new bloodlines. Her children and grandchildren can now be found in seven countries! Richard is currently Chairman of The Canaan Dog Club of the United Kingdom. (*The pack was following this particular Bedouin clan rather than living in the wilderness. The dogs in the pack still remained "wild" as they were never domesticated by the Bedouins.) Anacan Canaan Dogs are bred for the correct "collie type" of Canaan Dog** using Isr CH Laish me B'nei HaBitachon as their model. Laish is considered one of the most successful dogs bred by the breed's "founder", Professor Rudolphina Menzel, and was one of the foundation dogs of the Shaar Hagai Kennels in Israel. The success of the Mintos small breeding programme can be verified by the photos of their dogs within this site and their recorded successes in the show ring. (**Read Drs R & R Menzel's "Observations On The Pariah Dog" for a full explanation of Canaan Dog "type".) Our Type Model Isr CH Laish me B'nei HaBitachon Ellen spent the 7 years prior to her move to England working as the office manager/veterinary nurse for a small veterinary clinic in upstate New York. She, at one time, owned her own horse and enjoyed trail riding. In addition to exhibiting and breeding purebred dogs Ellen enjoys reading (when she gets the time), writing, playing with her computer and travel. Spare time is very scarce nowadays as Ellen is running the boarding kennel & cattery which the Mintos purchased at the end of November 2004. Richard had quite an exciting life before meeting Ellen. (It's still exciting, but in a different way now!) Richard at one time owned his own boat, enjoyed canoeing, skiing and motor racing. Alas, he no longer has the money to pursue those hobbies. Richard has always enjoyed travelling and hopes to do a lot more of it. About our affix (and a bit of bragging) The Kennel Club disallowed the use of Ellen's former kennel name, Briel, as it was considered to be too close to an affix that was already registered with them. So after some thought she came up with ANACAN, which is an anagram for CANAAN. Richard and Ellen began to show their dogs in the UK May 1995 and the ANACAN affix soon became well known around the world. At that time there were only two shows which offered classes for Canaan Dogs, so our Canaans were always shown in AVNSC (Any Variety Not Separately Classified) and in those days the Leonbergers were still in the Utility group. We often had classes of 15 or more and were up against the Manorguard Leonbergers, but "Digger" held his own, winning a number of Best AVNSC's -- even going over a champion Chow and a champion Wired-Hair Vizla in two instances. In 1999 we 'did the double' at Crufts when our "Digger" won Best of Breed and our "Jasmine" won Best of Opposite Sex. We repeated the win in March 2000 when our "Beulah" took Best of Breed and our "Gvir" won Best of Opposite Sex. In 2004 Our "Remy" won Crufts' Best of Breed, with our "Ziggy" taking Reserve Best Dog and our "Tara" taking Reserve Best Bitch! Canaan Dogs of Anacan has been home of the Pedigree Chum/Dog World overall Top Canaan Dog in the UK since we began showing our Canaans in the UK. The first one of our Canaans to win this title was our "Jasmine" (Mornavega The Chosen One of Anacan) in 1995. In '96,'97, '98, 2000, and again in 2001 The Lion of Judah At Anacan ("Digger") was the winner. 1999 saw our Anacan Ziggy ("Digger's half-brother) win the title, breaking "Digger's" perfect record. Top Canaan Dog 2002 & 2003 was Digger and Jasmine's daughter, Anacan Forever Amber With Lorianna, owned by Lorna Hastings. (The 2004 Top Canaan was bred by Lorna Hastings out ot Anacan Forever Amber With Lorianna and was sired by our Gvir Me Shaar Hagai At Anacan.) "Digger" was shortlisted in the group at the Bournemouth Championship show on 12th August 2000.....the first time ever for a Canaan Dog in the UK! He is the top-winning Canaan in the UK to-date and the sire of the first, and only two to-date, Canaans to win a Best in Show at all-breed open shows in the UK --- 1st Anacan The Israelite At Dunline (owned by Rob & Jan McLeod) and then Anacan Ziggy, owned by Richard & Ellen. He has also been the breed Top Stud Dog 2002 & 2003. As the Canaan Dog is not yet a CC breed here, our dogs cannot earn the title of champion. But if they could, "Digger" would be a record CC winner in the breed as well. You can read about our other Canaans and their successes by clicking on the "Our Canaans" link below. Ellen & Richard have worked hard for their success, sacrificing much in the way of time and finances in the promotion of the breed and the Canaan Dog Club of the United Kingdom. Their success has not come easy or overnight. They have also given freely of their time and knowledge to help others to get a start in the breed, with some being grateful and with others allowing envy to get the better of them. But they will continue to do their best to safeguard the breed they love as long as they are physically able.

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