Text by Inka & Erja Luomanmäki, kennel Iosono, do not copy without permission

Cirneco dell'Etna

The Cirneco dell'Etna is a primitive Sicilian hunting dog. Nowadays the Cirneco is mainly kept as a pet outside of Sicily but in Sicily the breed is still used for rabbit hunting. The Cirneco is one of the oldest breeds in Europe, coins and engravings prove that Cirneco is many thousands of years old. In Finland and in the other parts of Europe the Cirneco belongs to FCI group 5 (spitz and primitive types). However, the Sighthound Clubs have adopted Cirneco in many countries. There are about 1500 registered Cirnechi in Italy, about 150-200 puppies are registered yearly. In the US there are over 250 Cirnechi and in Finland we have over 100 Cirnechi (2009). The first Cirneco was imported to Finland from Slovenia 1992.

The Cirneco is a clever, happy and playful dog. The puppies and youngsters are very lively and energetic but they calm down when they become adults. However, it's not rare that a Cirneco is playful even in it's old days. Descriping a Cirneco's temperament is not an easy task because there are so many different temperaments in our breed! The Cirnechi (plural of the Cirneco) are often very open-minded - especially when they have been sozialized well - but some dogs can be more reserved, but still friendly, towards strangers. The Cirnecos love their own family. The Cirneco loves to stay near the owner or people. Most dogs sleep under blankets in the same bed where the owners sleep.

I think the most important thing you can do is to socialize your puppy when acquiring one. You have to take the puppy to different places (like a city center, a railway station, shopping malls etc) many times a week during its first year especially before he gets 4-5 months old. You should get the puppy used to different people, dogs, noises and situations. A dog who has not been socialized can be nervous and shy and he may show this by barking at people and dogs.

The Cirneco needs a determinative education, however you have to be very careful and tender while educating him. They have a long memory and they remember very well if someone has treated them badly.

The Cirneco doesn't have a lot of will to please you, they can be quite stubborn and independent. However, they are very quick learners but they only do what they are told if they feel they gain something useful from doing it. Especially if you have something good (cheese or sausage) in your hand, you are surely obeyed with 100 %! The Cirnechi have more will to please than other sighthounds or Basenjis. A Cirneco puppy owners needs a lot of sense of humour, determination and patience.

The Cirneco usually gets well along with other dogs especially in his own pack. However, some dogs don't get well along with the dogs of the same sex. This is individual and it can probably be caused by bad socialization. Some males can be dominative over other male dogs.

Most Cirnechi have got a strong hunting instinct. The best exercise is that you let him run free in a safe place. It is better to let the Cirneco be free only in a place where are no roads nearby or then the place must be fenced. We have kept our Cirnechi free in the forest only one by one; if they are in one pack and they see a rabbit - they surely run after it and nobody knows when they get back. Usually, the Cirneco keeps an eye after you even while hunting. The Cirneco uses all of his senses while hunting; sight, scent and hearing. Cirneco needs quite a lot exercise but when it is cold or it rains the Cirnechi don't like to be out. One longer walk and 2-3 shorter walks are good for an ordinary day.

Cirneco can still have some traits of guarding - they can may bark when the doorbell rings. The Cirnechi were used as the guards of temples several thousands years ago in Sicily and only lately the people of Sicily started using them for hunting. Being the only dog in the family makes the Cirneco to be quite quiet. But when there are more dogs in the pack they usually use their voice quite a lot.

The coat of the Cirneco is very easy to take care, the Cirneco needs washing rarely. They don't shed much and you never have to vacuum because of hairs. Cirneco needs a warm jacket in the Finnish winter time because they don't have a thick coat to protect from cold.

You can do dog shows, lure coursing, blood tracking and agility with the Cirneco. It depends just on you how much you want to teach to your Cirneco and how much patience you have got! Cirneco loves running so I recommend every puppy owner to take part into lure coursing practises. Cirneco is a healthy breed, there are no hereditary diseases found in the breed. However, some food allergies have been recorded as well as with other breeds.

Cirneco resembles a Pharaoh Hound but it is smaller, more square and more slender in its body proportions. The size is of the males is 46-50 cm (18.11 to 19.68 in) and 42-46 cm (16.53 to 18.11 in) with the females.