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Cirneco dell’Etna

independent / friendly / affectionate
Hound Group >>

Average sizes and life
expectancy of the breed.

Height

18-19.5 inches (male)

16.5-18 inches (female)

Weight

22-26 pounds (male)

17-22 pounds (female)

Life Expectancy

12-14 years

Breed Traits & Characteristics

Affectionate With Family
  • Independent Lovey-Dovey
    80% 80%
How affectionate a breed is likely to be with family members, or other people he knows well. Some breeds can be aloof with everyone but their owner, while other breeds treat everyone they know like their best friend.
Good With Young Children
  • Not Recommended Good With Children
    60% 60%
A breed's level of tolerance and patience with childrens' behavior, and overall family-friendly nature. Dogs should always be supervised around young children, or children of any age who have little exposure to dogs.
GOOD WITH OTHER DOGS
  • Not Recommended Good With Other Dogs
    80% 80%
How generally friendly a breed is towards other dogs. Dogs should always be supervised for interactions and introductions with other dogs, but some breeds are innately more likely to get along with other dogs, both at home and in public.

Shedding Level

  • No Shedding Hair Everywhere
    20% 20%
How much fur and hair you can expect the breed to leave behind. Breeds with high shedding will need to be brushed more frequently, are more likely to trigger certain types of allergies, and are more likely to require more consistent vacuuming and lint-rolling.

Coat Grooming Frequency

  • Monthly Daily
    20% 20%
How frequently a breed requires bathing, brushing, trimming, or other kinds of coat maintenance. Consider how much time, patience, and budget you have for this type of care when looking at the grooming effort needed. All breeds require regular nail trimming.

Drooling Level

  • Less Likely to Drool Always Have a Towel
    20% 20%
How drool-prone a breed tends to be. If you're a neat freak, dogs that can leave ropes of slobber on your arm or big wet spots on your clothes may not be the right choice for you.

Coat Type

Corded
Curly
Double
Hairless
Rough
Silky
Smooth
Wavy
Wiry
Canine coats come in many different types, depending on the breed's purpose. Each coat type comes with different grooming needs, allergen potential, and shedding level. You may also just prefer the look or feel of certain coat types over others when choosing a family pet.

Coat Length

Long
Medium
Short
How long the breed's coat is expected to be. Some long-haired breeds can be trimmed short, but this will require additional upkeep to maintain.

Openness To Strangers

  • Reserved Everyone Is My Best Friend
    60% 60%
How welcoming a breed is likely to be towards strangers. Some breeds will be reserved or cautious around all strangers, regardless of the location, while other breeds will be happy to meet a new human whenever one is around!

Playfulness Level

  • Only When You Want To Play Non-Stop
    80% 80%
How enthusiastic about play a breed is likely to be, even past the age of puppyhood. Some breeds will continue wanting to play tug-of-war or fetch well into their adult years, while others will be happy to just relax on the couch with you most of the time.

Watchdog/Protective Nature

  • What's Mine Is Yours Vigilant
    60% 60%
A breed's tendency to alert you that strangers are around. These breeds are more likely to react to any potential threat, whether it's the mailman or a squirrel outside the window. These breeds are likely to warm to strangers who enter the house and are accepted by their family.

Adaptability Level

  • Lives For Routine Highly Adaptable
    80% 80%
How easily a breed handles change. This can include changes in living conditions, noise, weather, daily schedule, and other variations in day-to-day life.

Trainability Level

  • Self-Willed Eager to Please
    80% 80%
How easy it will be to train your dog, and how willing your dog will be to learn new things. Some breeds just want to make their owner proud, while others prefer to do what they want, when they want to, wherever they want!

Energy Level

  • Couch Potato High Energy
    60% 60%
The amount of exercise and mental stimulation a breed needs. High energy breeds are ready to go and eager for their next adventure. They'll spend their time running, jumping, and playing throughout the day. Low energy breeds are like couch potatoes - they're happy to simply lay around and snooze.

Barking Level

  • Only To Alert Very Vocal
    40% 40%
How often this breed vocalizes, whether it's with barks or howls. While some breeds will bark at every passer-by or bird in the window, others will only bark in particular situations. Some barkless breeds can still be vocal, using other sounds to express themselves.

Mental Stimulation Needs

  • Happy to Lounge Needs a Job or Activity
    60% 60%
How much mental stimulation a breed needs to stay happy and healthy. Purpose-bred dogs can have jobs that require decision-making, problem-solving, concentration, or other qualities, and without the brain exercise they need, they'll create their own projects to keep their minds busy -- and they probably won't be the kind of projects you'd like.

Affectionate With Family

  • Independent Lovey-Dovey
    80% 80%

How affectionate a breed is likely to be with family members, or other people he knows well. Some breeds can be aloof with everyone but their owner, while other breeds treat everyone they know like their best friend.

Good With Young Children

  • Not Recommended Good With Children
    60% 60%
A breed's level of tolerance and patience with childrens' behavior, and overall family-friendly nature. Dogs should always be supervised around young children, or children of any age who have little exposure to dogs.

GOOD WITH OTHER DOGS

  • Not Recommended Good With Other Dogs
    80% 80%
How generally friendly a breed is towards other dogs. Dogs should always be supervised for interactions and introductions with other dogs, but some breeds are innately more likely to get along with other dogs, both at home and in public.

Shedding Level

  • No Shedding Hair Everywhere
    20% 20%
How much fur and hair you can expect the breed to leave behind. Breeds with high shedding will need to be brushed more frequently, are more likely to trigger certain types of allergies, and are more likely to require more consistent vacuuming and lint-rolling.

Coat Grooming Frequency

  • Monthly Daily
    20% 20%
How frequently a breed requires bathing, brushing, trimming, or other kinds of coat maintenance. Consider how much time, patience, and budget you have for this type of care when looking at the grooming effort needed. All breeds require regular nail trimming.

Drooling Level

  • Less Likely to Drool Always Have a Towel
    20% 20%
How drool-prone a breed tends to be. If you're a neat freak, dogs that can leave ropes of slobber on your arm or big wet spots on your clothes may not be the right choice for you.

Coat Type

Corded
Curly
Double
Hairless
Rough
Silky
Smooth
Wavy
Wiry
Canine coats come in many different types, depending on the breed's purpose. Each coat type comes with different grooming needs, allergen potential, and shedding level. You may also just prefer the look or feel of certain coat types over others when choosing a family pet.

Coat Length

Long
Medium
Short
How long the breed's coat is expected to be. Some long-haired breeds can be trimmed short, but this will require additional upkeep to maintain.

Openness To Strangers

  • Reserved Everyone Is My Best Friend
    60% 60%
How welcoming a breed is likely to be towards strangers. Some breeds will be reserved or cautious around all strangers, regardless of the location, while other breeds will be happy to meet a new human whenever one is around!

Playfulness Level

  • Only When You Want To Play Non-Stop
    80% 80%
How enthusiastic about play a breed is likely to be, even past the age of puppyhood. Some breeds will continue wanting to play tug-of-war or fetch well into their adult years, while others will be happy to just relax on the couch with you most of the time.

Watchdog/Protective Nature

  • What's Mine Is Yours Vigilant
    60% 60%
A breed's tendency to alert you that strangers are around. These breeds are more likely to react to any potential threat, whether it's the mailman or a squirrel outside the window. These breeds are likely to warm to strangers who enter the house and are accepted by their family.

Adaptability Level

  • Lives For Routine Highly Adaptable
    80% 80%
How easily a breed handles change. This can include changes in living conditions, noise, weather, daily schedule, and other variations in day-to-day life.

Trainability Level

  • Self-Willed Eager to Please
    80% 80%
How easy it will be to train your dog, and how willing your dog will be to learn new things. Some breeds just want to make their owner proud, while others prefer to do what they want, when they want to, wherever they want!

Energy Level

  • Couch Potato High Energy
    60% 60%
The amount of exercise and mental stimulation a breed needs. High energy breeds are ready to go and eager for their next adventure. They'll spend their time running, jumping, and playing throughout the day. Low energy breeds are like couch potatoes - they're happy to simply lay around and snooze.

Barking Level

  • Only To Alert Very Vocal
    40% 40%
How often this breed vocalizes, whether it's with barks or howls. While some breeds will bark at every passer-by or bird in the window, others will only bark in particular situations. Some barkless breeds can still be vocal, using other sounds to express themselves.

Mental Stimulation Needs

  • Happy to Lounge Needs a Job or Activity
    60% 60%
How much mental stimulation a breed needs to stay happy and healthy. Purpose-bred dogs can have jobs that require decision-making, problem-solving, concentration, or other qualities, and without the brain exercise they need, they'll create their own projects to keep their minds busy -- and they probably won't be the kind of projects you'd like.

About the Breed

The sleek and sinewy Cirneco dell’Etna, the ancient coursing hound of Sicily, is an athletic hunter given to quick bursts of speed. As house dogs, Cirnechi is mild, low-maintenance companions cherished for their loyal and gentle nature. Standing under 20 inches, the Cirneco (‘cheer-NEK-o’; Cirnechi is the plural) is often described as resembling a smaller version of the Pharaoh Hound, its cousin from the island of Malta. This slender but rugged hunter’s coat ranges from light to dark tan or chestnut. The large, upright ears point up to the alert expression of the eyes, whose amber or ochre color smartly complements the coat.

These slim and lanky Sicilians are, in many ways, your classic sighthounds: friendly, self-reliant, and, of course, incredibly quick. However, compared to the typical sighthound, it is stated that Cirnechi is a little easier to train. These life remains from antiquity have leaped into the 21st century largely unaltered by changing fashions and tastes.

What To Expect When Caring For a Cirneco dell’Etna

Owning a dog is not just a privilege; it’s a responsibility. They depend on us for, at minimum, food and shelter, and deserve much more. When you take a dog into your life, you need to understand the commitment that dog ownership entails.

Health

The Cirneco dell'Etna breed is strong and robust. He will live a long and happy life as a pet if given top-notch nourishment, consistent veterinarian care, parasite control, and the necessary mental and physical stimulation. The owner should check the dog's ears for any indications of infection once per week, and the Cirneco's teeth should be brushed frequently using a toothpaste made for dogs.
,

Grooming

The silky, short-haired coat of the Cirneco requires little maintenance. He should maintain his finest appearance with gentle weekly brushing with a soft bristle brush or hound glove and just the odd bath as required. Regularly check his ears for debris or the accumulation of excess wax, and clean them as necessary using soft gauze and an ear-cleaning solution; the dog's breeder or the veterinarian can suggest a good brand. If not naturally worn down, the nails should be regularly cut because excessively long nails might hurt the dog.

Exercise

The Cirneco's strong intelligence and inquisitive disposition require moderate physical activity and mental stimulation. He functions best when he has a job to accomplish, whether it's competing in dog shows or other canine competitions or being a fun-loving family member. He likes going on long hikes and doing things with his friends. He shouldn't be allowed off lead in locations that are not securely confined due to his strong hunting instincts because he might not be able to resist the impulse to chase after what he perceives as prey. He thrives in a secure backyard where he can play with his owner, but he shouldn't be left outside unattended for extended periods of time since that would make him lonely and depressed.

Training

The Cirneco is amiable and affectionate and makes a great family companion. It possesses the strong, independent mentality needed for a hunter. They react well to moderate training techniques and can be trained for obedience, rally, agility, tracking, and, of course, hunting, which is the breed's traditional purpose. Particularly popular among Cirnechi is lure coursing. Care must be used while introducing the Cirneco to cats and small animals due to the breed's strong predatory drive. It is advised to socialize puppies early and enroll them in puppy training sessions to help them develop into well-mannered, well-adjusted adults.

Nutrition

The Cirneco should be fed high-quality dog food appropriate to the dog's age (puppy, adult, or senior) and activity level. Learn about which human foods are safe for dogs, and which are not. Check with your vet or the dog's breeder if you have any questions or concerns about your dog's weight or diet. Clean, fresh water should always be available.

History

It is believed that the “sighthounds” or “coursing hounds,” the canine family of incredibly quick hunters derived from the Greyhound model, were developed by the ancient Egyptians. The “Egyptian Hound”‘s offspring were created and traded throughout the ancient world’s Middle East and Mediterranean region.
It is likely that the breed has existed in Sicily since its ancestors arrived on its rugged shores some 3,000 years ago in the holds of ships steered by those master traders of the ancient world, the Phoenicians. The name Cirneco is a clue to the breed’s origins; it is derived from a Greek word meaning “dog of Cyrene (Libya)”. Cirnechi-like dogs first appeared on Sicilian coins circa 500 B.C.
On the steep slopes of Mount Etna, Europe’s largest active volcano, Cirnechi—also known as Sicilian Greyhounds—have been chasing rabbit, hare, and game birds for countless years. Don’t let the Cirneco dell’Etna breed’s dainty appearance mislead you; this hardworking dog can survive for hours on the hunt in its native country’s scorching temperature and rough terrain without food or drink.
The Cirneco was on the verge of extinction by the early 1930s. The breed is set to go extinct, according to an impassioned article by veterinarian Dr. Maurizio Migneco. A nobleman from Sicily, Baroness Agata Paternó Castello, became interested in it and spent the following 26 years developing the breed there.