Cirneco del Etna

Hearing the foreign phrase “Cirneco del Etna”, few people can guess that this is not about the sort of wine or foreign resort, but about the breed of dogs - small greyhounds, whose history goes back centuries. And not surprisingly, the breed is quite rare and to meet this animal on the street is a great success. Despite the slight spread of Cirneco, the breed has its fans and is gradually gaining momentum. What are these dogs famous for and what should the future owners of such a miracle know?

The origin of the breed

There is a legend according to which 1000 of these dogs were guards and watchmen of a religious building dedicated to the spirit of Adranos volcano, which was built by ancient people on one of the slopes of Etna. People believed that Cirneco was able to distinguish an honest person from a thief and an unbeliever.

Researchers of the breed speak of her impressive age, which exceeds 2500 years. Genetic analyzes confirm that the dogs appeared before the Birth of Christ. Among the close relatives of the Cirneco, the Pharaoh's dog is noted, but other Mediterranean dogs participated in the formation of the breed.

The origin of the rock occurred on the sunny Sicilian lands, near the volcano Etna. And thanks to the isolation of the island, its formation took place in natural conditions, without the intervention of people and the impact of other breeds.

The modest size of these greyhounds is attributed to the fact that the island was not distinguished by an abundance of food. However, small dimensions do not prevent Cirneco del Etna from being excellent hunters, able to get a rabbit or other small game.

Description of Cirneco del Etna

The spread of the breed outside Sicily is associated with the name of Baroness Agatha Paterno-Castello, a big fan of Cirneco del Etna. Due to the presence of documents describing the characteristics of the breed and their improvement, already in the late 40s of the 20th century, the breed standard was developed and approved, and half a century later it was updated.

The standard states that a representative of the breed is an animal with short, smooth hair, an elegant muscular physique. The body and limbs are proportional, the overall format is square. The growth of dogs is 42-50 cm, and the weight varies from 10 to 12 kg. Males are larger than females. In accordance with the standard, pets have the following external features:

1. Head Elongated, with an elongated muzzle and a straight line of the nose. The eyes are small, sometimes even small, located on the sides, the look is soft, interested, without notes of discontent or aggression. A special feature of Cirneco is a bright ocher or bright amber iris. Auricles are close, large, are in a standing position, taper to the tips. Lips are subtle, tightly compressed.
2. Torso . The neck is long, with a clearly defined muscular relief and tight skin, it has no suspension. The line of the back is straight, goes smoothly, the bottom of the body is lean and dry.
3. Limbs . Straight, well-muscled, strong and stable, ending in paws, gathered in a tight lump. Claws brownish or flesh-colored.
4. Tail It has a low fit, the entire length has the same thickness, saber-shaped or in the form of a "whip". When the dog is excited, he rises "pipe".

The peculiarity of dogs of this breed is absolute immunity to high temperatures. Dogs can run on freshly cooled lava, which in humans can burn skin.

Wool and allowable colors

The coat of cirneco del etna is straight, harsh, smooth in the head, ears and limbs. On the body and tail, the hair is slightly elongated, but not more than 3 cm, it is just as smooth and tight to the surface.

The standard provides for several types of dog coloring:

1. Wool of the same color - fawn tones - dark or light, weakened colors - isabella, “sable”, etc. are also possible.
2. Red wool with white markings - weak or strongly pronounced. They can be located in the head, sternum, limbs, tip of the tail and peritoneum. Individuals with a white collar are valued less.

Individuals are allowed with white wool, white with markings of red color, and also red color with light or darkish hairs.

The nature of the breed

The owners of the Sicilian greyhound argue that it is a very friendly pet, which quickly becomes attached to the family, but does not lose some independence. The dog is glad to be close to the household and the owner, and at the same time often demonstrates his affection for them.

Cirneco del Etna do not like to be alone, therefore, if people are often absent for a long time at home, it is better to choose a puppy of another breed. They are very sociable, they perfectly carry over the trips on any transport, during travel there are no particular difficulties.

Such a pet is not intrusive and sensitively feels the mood of the owner. Plus, you can also call the "silence" of dogs of this breed, they do not give a vote without a serious reason.

The breed is rare, so there is very little information about how these dogs relate to the younger members of the family. But according to the available data, if a Cirneco puppy grows at the same time as a baby, a special, strong bond is established between them and remains throughout life.

Like all greyhounds, these dogs do not have guard and guarding qualities, therefore they treat strangers friendly, joyfully and greet guests with interest. Pets express all their love and joy, jumping on a person and trying to lick him. If a person considers such behavior of a dog unacceptable, then he can be corrected during dog training.

Cirneco rather quickly find a common language with their own kind, especially with dogs belonging to the same breed. This allows owners to get several pets at once, unless conditions allow.

But with other animals such a pet will be difficult to get along with, since the Sicilian greyhound has well-developed hunting instincts. Cats, rabbits and other animals will always be nothing more than a beautiful prey for a Cirneco, and there is no doubt that sooner or later the dog will begin to hunt.

The danger for other pets is that the greyhound does not just drive the beast, but works to kill. There are cases when the puppy grew up with a kitten, and they still managed to improve the attitude, but this is rather an exception to the rule.

Experts warn - the greyhound can run away after the animal running past, so you should drive your pet exclusively on a leash, in order to avoid disastrous consequences.

For what purposes do you use Cirneco del Etna dogs?

At home in Sicily, more than one thousand years old, dogs of the Cirneco breed have been used to hunt rabbits. Given their vast experience, instincts and abilities, dogs successfully perform the task, despite the difficult stony-desert terrain of the foothills of Etna.

The last half century of these dogs are bred for sports and exhibition careers. Pets give excellent results in field trials, perfectly show themselves in competitions on coursing and agility.

It is possible to start a dog of the Cirneco del Etna breed as a companion - this pet will give a lot of positive emotions and be able to attract all family members.

How to educate and train Cirneco del Etna

Representatives of this Sicilian breed have high intelligence and a tendency to dominate, so owners should take care of the early socialization of their four-legged friend, in order to avoid various problems in the future.

Such a pet will not tolerate carelessness or rudeness, in addition, the owner should immediately eliminate the use of physical punishment during training and education of the dog. But at the same time, the dog requires an owner with a firm hand and character, which will combine severity, justice and patience in training.

Cirneco need increased physical and mental stress, and classes should be regular, but do not bother the dog. The owner is recommended to start a special diary, where the schedule will be and the progress of the pet. Important consistency and diversity.

You should not exhaust your pet with long walking or exercise on the court. The dog can accompany the family during the hike, morning runs, and Cirneco is worth taking with you on the hunt. The dog can make long runs alongside the owner's bike.

Features of maintenance and care

People who want to have a dog of such a rare breed should take into account that its representatives are characterized by increased activity and vigor, but they are not suitable for permanent street living. But being in an apartment all the time is not the best option for them. The most suitable accommodation in a private house, with the ability to walk on the local area or in the aviary, especially in the warm season.

Cirneco del Etna has a short, smooth coat that does not require complex care. It is enough to clean the coat 2-3 times a month using a special rubber mitten or a brush made of natural bristle. Such procedures allow not only to remove pollution, but also dead hair, making the coat shiny.

Cirneco is not bathed often, usually when the pet is very dirty. Apply detergents for dogs that are suitable for this type of wool. Special attention should be paid to the dog's claws - they should be short, because otherwise they can cause injury to the animal.

If the puppy's claws grow too long, that is, the risk of improper formation of the bones of the limbs, the paws may become flattened or loose. You can cut the claws yourself, if the owner is afraid, you can see how the professional does it and then repeat the manipulations. For the procedure is to purchase a special tool - kogterez.

The teeth of the dogs of this breed for a long time retain whiteness, are not covered with bloom, and no tartar forms on the surface. But experts recommend paying attention to regular care - brushing your teeth, removing soft patina. To do this, you should use toothpaste for dogs and a brush, which can be purchased at a veterinary pharmacy or pet store. For extreme cases, you can use a solution of baking soda, a piece of fresh tomato or fresh juice of this vegetable.

As well as representatives of other breeds, Cirneco is recommended to be taught to various hygienic procedures from an early age. The puppy tolerates manipulation easier and shows less displeasure. If everything is done correctly, the pet will gradually get used to it and it will be easier to care for it. In addition, in this case, subsequent visits to the veterinarian and medical procedures will be less stressful for the pet.

Breed diseases

The breed is differently called the Sicilian dog or the greyhound, however, this is not entirely correct, since, according to the classification and origin, it belongs to the native breeds. Its representatives are not afraid of either low or high temperatures, and their health can only be envied.

Perhaps there are any genetic diseases inherent in these animals, but because of the small study of the breed and its rarity, nothing is known about them.

Where better to buy a puppy and how to choose

As already noted, Cirneco del Etna is a rare breed of dog, so purchasing a puppy can be difficult. There are nurseries in the country, but they are not located in all cities, which means you will have to make a trip to buy a puppy. You can also contact the breeders with a good reputation and experience in the breeding of this particular breed.

Experts do not recommend buying a pet from random breeders, as there is a risk to acquire a crossbreed or an animal with abnormalities or disease, especially when it comes to offspring who have no documents. The same can be said about buying in the avian market.

The cost of the Cirneco del Etna puppies depends on various factors and above all on the class:

• Show class - kids who best meet the standard, suitable for breeding and participation in exhibitions cost about 100000-120000 rubles;
• Breed class - puppies, which due to minimal deviations from the standard "do not reach out" to the show class, but they are allowed to the exhibitions and are quite suitable for the continuation of the race. Their price varies from 100,000 to 50,000 rubles;
• pet class - like puppies of the above classes, such babies have a pedigree, but there is a special mark in it - “not for breeding”. Such a pet looks no different from its counterparts, except that not all indicators correspond to the standard. The average cost of a Cirneco del Etna pet puppy class is 30,000 rubles.

If the future owner wants to buy a puppy not from a Russian, but from a European kennel, he can rely on this value. Also, the price is influenced by the following factors:

• offspring from off-breeding or local;
• how many puppies are in the litter;
• titles and achievements of offspring parents.

Often there is a situation when the puppies are not available. In this case, you should be patient and reserve your future pet in the nursery or with an experienced breeder.

Photo of Cirneco del Etna

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Top nurseries

In Moscow, 1 cattery is breeding pets - Kennel Colisto`s http://www.cirneco.ru/colistos

Cirneco del Etna is a dog that has a lot of advantages, but requires a return from the owner. She charges her energy, does not get bored and becomes not just a pet, but a real family member and a devoted friend.