Cirneco dell'Etna
A male Cirneco dell'Etna
Alternative names
Sicilian Greyhound
Country of origin
Italy
Common nicknames
Cirneco
Classification and breed standards
FCI:	Group 5 Section 7 #199	Stds
KC (UK):	Hound	Stds
Notes
The KC (UK) does not have an official breed standard

The Cirneco dell'Etna (plural Cirnechi) is a small hound originally from Sicily. This dog breed was historically used to hunt rabbits and can work for hours without food or water. The breed also has a keen sense of smell but is primarily a sighthound and built for speed over terrain such as that of Mount Etna. It is the smallest of the ancient Egyptian hounds which included Cirnechi, Pharaoh hounds and Ibizan hounds. Cirnechi were believed to have been brought to Sicily over 3000 years ago by the Phoenician traders. The Cirneco dell'Etna is a wise looking hound and carries dignity as it hunts. Today they are more increasingly kept as show dogs and pets due to their low coat maintenance and friendly nature although they do need regular exercise being an active sighthound. A Cirneco should measure from 43-51cm (17-20in) and weigh between 10-12kg (22-26lb). Image File history File links Size of this preview: 631 × 600 pixels Full resolution (850 × 808 pixel, file size: 371 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Cirneco dellEtna ... Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) (English, World Canine Organization), is an international Kennel Club based in Thuin, Belgium. ... The Kennel Club in the United Kingdom is a club aiming to improve the relationships between dogs and their owners. ... Hounds have been used for hunting since ancient times, as suggested by this statue of the goddess Diana hunting. ... Sicily (Sicilia in Italian and Sicilian) is an autonomous region of Italy and the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, with an area of 25,708 km² (9,926 sq. ... This Chihuahua mix and Great Dane show the wide range of dog breed sizes. ...

External links

• The Cirneco dell'Etna Club of America
• Cirneco dell'Etna UK owners
• Cirneco dell'Etna information