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Submitted 10th January 2008 A belated Happy New Year to all of you! The old year ended with a bang for some as there is a tie for Top Canaan Dog 2007. Congratulations goes to both Lorna Hastings and her Am/Lux Ch Lorianna Sirius Star (by Int/Ger/Lux Ch Nizzana Hadad for Lorianna ex Int/Ger/Lux Ch Lorianna Lucky Star) and to Pam O'Loughlin's and her Babrees Desert Orchid via Caolita (by It/Int Ch Velikayas Lahatutan ex Layla me Shaar Hagai), who both ended the year with 12 points. Lorna is also the owner of the Top Stud Dog 2007, Int/Ger/Lux Ch Nizzana Hadad for Lorianna (by Anacan Masterpiece ex Babrees Bat Benyas at Nizzana), who follows in his sire's pawprints in winning this accolade, as well as the Top Brood Bitch 2007, Int/Ger/Lux Ch Lorianna Lucky Star (by Gvir me Shaar Hagai at Anacan (imp) ex Anacan Forever Amber With Lorianna). Well done to all the winners and best wishes for their continued success in 2008. The Canaan Dog Club of the United Kingdom's new judges' list is ready for distribution. Should any club secretary who is not sent one automatically wish to receive a copy, please contact me. Additionally, I have been asked to mention that the club's AGM will be held on Sunday, 17th February 2008 at Peakirk Village Hall, nr Peterborough. My 'Digger' (The Lion of Judah at Anacan) celebrated his 14th birthday on the 19th December and exchanged annual birthday greetings with his (almost) twin brother, 'Charon', who resides in Berlin. Where have all the years gone? Now an old man, 'Digger' has done much to raise the profile of the breed, and indeed is in the pedigrees of 3 of the Top Canaans of 2007 (all but Babrees Desert Orchid via Caolita). He has certainly made his mark on the breed and I hope we have him with us for at least a couple more years. I don't know if you got a chance to watch the television programme on The Wolfman (Shaun Ellis). Mr Ellis raised 3 wolf cubs, living among them as a wolf and teaching them how to be wolves as they grew. It was fascinating, though I don't think I would want to feed wolf cubs from my mouth or have to roll in dead prey to let the pack know what they were having for dinner. During the programme, Shaun explained the workings of the wolf pack. The similarities to Canaan behaviour in so many areas were very apparent. The alpha wolf did not have to show any aggression to control the pack. Our 'Bobby' (Minto's Libyan Jewel), who was wild born, was the only true alpha dog we have owned. Just as the wolf in Mr Ellis' pack, she never had to growl or be aggressive to control not only her pack of Canaans, but also the pack of dogs we walked with in a local park. All she had to do was give them this look she had, and they would fall in line. Then there was in the wolf pack “the enforcer”, and this is the wolf that would use aggression to protect the alpha. It was interesting that the most wary or 'nervous' wolf, was “the lookout” who would let the pack know if he thought danger was approaching. I find this to be true with my Canaans, that is the most 'wary' are also the ones who do all the barking if anyone or anything strange approaches the property or is heard by them, thus the born 'lookouts'. They even had in the pack a wolf whose function is to dissipate aggression by more or less acting the clown. I've seen this type of behaviour with our Canaans where one will come between two dogs and lick their faces, roll over on its back, and generally act soppy. Now I know why. I hope to get a chance to read Mr Ellis' books on wolves.