The Etna Cirneco: A Small And Agile Hunter

The Etna cirneco is a breed of small dog. It is a little known species and it looks like a mestizo, but behind it there are some dogs with a lot of history and a great heart. We will tell you everything about the Etna cirneque.

History of the Etna cirneque

The Etna cirneco is a type of hound that inhabits the island of Sicily. However, it is a millennial breed of dog, believed to have descended from the hunting dogs of Ancient Egypt. And it is likely that the Phoenicians would have carried this breed around the entire Mediterranean.

We find evidence of the existence of this race in coins, mosaics or vessels from several centuries before Christ. It is believed to be one of the oldest hunting dog breeds in existence.

features

The Etna cirneco is a medium-sized dog, with a slim, elegant and compact body, but with defined and strong musculature. For their part, males measure between 45 and 50 centimeters to the withers and can weigh from 12 to 15 kilos, while the females are slightly smaller, since they measure between 40 and 45 centimeters and reach up to eight or 10 kilos. of weight.

They have short and thick hair, softer in the area of ​​the ears and legs. It can appear in all shades of brown, from the lightest beige to the most intense brown, although it can appear with white mixed in its body : belly, chest, head, etc.

The head is narrow and the snout is long and pointed ; the stop , that is, the descent between the skull and the muzzle is not very pronounced. Its ears are pointed and turned forward, they are set high on the skull and quite close to each other. The eyes are small and can be amber, ocher or hazel color; they can never be black, gray or yellow.

Behavior

The cirneco of Etna is a type of hound dog, so it is a hunting canine. Their specialty is tracking small animals, such as rabbits, and chasing them until they are caught.

It is a dog with agile and elegant movements, as it likes to jump between the rocks and moves with ease on the slopes of the mountains such as those of the Etna volcano, where it comes from. In hunting, it is quiet and intelligent.

But it should also be noted that he is happy adopting the role of a companion dog.  This breed is faithful and affectionate with its master and can even watch over his house.

He is a calm dog, but with high levels of energy that he needs to burn; he is always alert and can become dependent on his master. They are tolerant and persevering, and during the hunt they are independent dogs, so they  need specific training to collaborate with their master during the hunt.

Care

The Etna cirneco needs little care. His hair is short, so with regular baths and weekly brushes it will be beautiful and lustrous . In times of shedding, it is advisable to increase the amount of brushing to remove dead hair and prevent skin problems.

The breed does not have common congenital diseases, although like all hunting dogs, frequent checks should be done for external parasites. Ticks carry dangerous diseases and you may catch some during your walks in the wild.

You do not need more veterinary check-ups than those common to all dogs. It is necessary to bring the internal and external deworming up to date, as well as the vaccinations.

They are normally healthy and strong dogs. For your physical and mental well-being you need long walks in freedom, especially you like mountainous and rugged terrain where you can release your energy in a relaxed way.

They are stubborn dogs with whom training based on punishment or the imposition of orders will not work. With positive reinforcement and enjoyable experiences, and being an intelligent dog, it is easy to train.

The Etna cirneque is a dog of a primitive breed that spread through the lands around the Mediterranean but found its home in Sicily.  It is, therefore, a breed of dog with a lot of history and strength.

They are affectionate and faithful hunters who rely on their smell and instinct to get their prey. Like all podencos, they are also active dogs that enjoy freedom and suffer great amounts of stress in cities.