Canards were long regarded as inherently destabilizing. It wasn't until the advent of onboard computer control that their advantages could be used safely. The following extract from the Wikipedia article enforces that...

Static canard designs can have complex interactions in airflow between the canard and the main wing, leading to issues with stability and behaviour in the stall. This limits their applicability. The development of fly-by-wire and artificial stability towards the end of the century opened the way for computerized controls to begin turning these complex effects from stability concerns into maneuverability advantages.