Cirneco Breed Information

"ITALIAN KENNEL CLUB - FEDERATION CYNOLOGIQUE INTERNATIONALE CIRNECO DELL'ETNA BREED STANDARD Updated and approved by the Italian Kennel Club 11/27/1989 "

GENERAL APPEARANCE: primitive dog type of elegant and slender build, medium size, not cumbersome, but strong and hardy. The morphological conformation is a long/limbed dog of light construction, square outline; the coat is fine.

IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS: length of body equal to the height at the withers (square outline). Depth of chest is slightly less than the height from ground to elbow. Length of the muzzle does not reach half the length of the head (the ratio skull-muzzle is of 10 to 8, but preference is given to dogs whose length of muzzle reaches that of the skull.

BEHAVIOUR AND TEMPERAMENT: hunting dog, adapted to difficult terrain suitable especially to the hunting of wild rabbits; endowed with a strong temperament, it is at the same time gentle and affectionate.

HEAD - SKULL : oval shaped lengthwise, the planes of the skull and muzzle are slightly divergent or parallel. The upper profile of the skull is so slightly convex as to appear almost flat; the width of the skull between the zygomatic arches must not be more than half the length of the head; the eyebrows are not very protruding; the frontal furrow is only slightly marked; the occipital crest and the occipital protuberance are only slightly developed.

FOREFACE - NOSE: of quite rectangular shape, rather large, its colour corresponding to colour of the coat (quite dark chestnut, light chestnut, flesh colour).

MUZZLE:the length of the muzzle is at least 80% of the length of the skull; its depth or height (measured at the middle of the muzzle) is at least half the length of the muzzle itself, its width (measured at the middle of the muzzle) is less than half its length. The muzzle is therefore pointed with a straight bridge of nose; its lower lateral profile is defined by the mandible.

LIPS:fine, thin and taught, only just covering the teeth of the lower jaw. The commissure at the corner of the lips is hardly visible.

JAWS: normally developed although do not appear strong; lower jaw lightly developed, with receding chin. Incisors, set square in the jaws, are perfectly in line and adapted.

CHEEKS: flat

TEETH: well developed and complete, scissor bite.

EYES: the eyes, which seem rather small, are of a not too dark ochre colour, amber and also grey, never brown or dark hazel; in lateral position; soft expression; oval shaped, with pigmentation of the eyelid rims corresponding to the colour of the nose.

EARS: set very high and close together, erect and rigid, the opening towards the front; triangular shape with narrow tip, must not be cropped. Their length is not more than half the length of the head.

NECK - PROFILE: upper profile well arched (convex).

LENGTH: same length as the head.

SHAPE: of similar shape to a truncated cone; the muscles are visible; especially along the crest of the neck.

SKIN: fine, taught and very close; no dewlap.

BODY - TOPLINE: straight, sloping from the withers towards the croup.

WITHERS: raised above dorsal line, narrow because of the convergence of the shoulder blades; join harmoniously into the neck without any break in the line.

BACK:upper profile straight, with moderately developed muscles; the length of the chest part measures about 3 times the length of the loin; the length of the loin reaches about 1/5 of the height at the withers and its width is close to its length; muscles are short and firm but not very conspicuous.

CROUP: upper profile rather flat, obliqueness below the horizontal reaching around 45 degrees. The length of this lean and solid sloping croup reaches about the third of the height at the withers, and its width is nearly half of its length; muscles of the croup are not conspicuous.

CHEST:the length of the chest is slightly more than half the height at the withers (about 57%) and its width (measured at the widest part) is slightly less than the third of the height at the withers, the chest reaches to, or nearly, the level of the elbow, but without going beyond that level; the ribs are only slightly sprung, but never flat; the perimeter of the chest, which is more than the height of the withers by about 1/8th, determines a rather narrow chest .

UNDERLINE: the lower profile corresponds with an evenly ascending line along the belly without any sudden interruption. Belly lean and tucked up, flanks of equal length to that of the renal region.

TAIL: low set, rather thick and equal thickness in its entire length, reaching the point of hock or slightly longer, carried sabre fashion when in repose, it is lifted over the back, trumpet fashion, when the dog is alert; short hair.

QUARTERS - FOREQUARTERS: Seen in profile a vertical line drawn from the point of the shoulder touches the tip of the toes. Another vertical line, starting at the elbow joint and ending at half-length of the pastern, divides the forearm and the wrist in two more or less equal parts. Seen from the front, the limb must correspond to a vertical line lowered from the point of the shoulder which divides forearm, wrist, pastern and foot in two equal parts. The height of the foreleg from the ground to the elbow is slightly more than half the height at the withers.

SHOULDER: the length of the shoulder blade must reach about 1/3 of the height at the withers with obliqueness below the horizontal of 55 degrees; the upper tips of the blades are close to each other; the angle between the shoulder and upper-arm (scapula-humeral) measures 115- 120 degrees.

UPPERARM:its length is equal to half the length of the leg measured from ground to elbow; the arm is almost parallel to the median plane of the body, slightly oblique below the horizontal, with noticeable and distinct muscles.

ELBOW: set at level or below the line of the brisket, parallel to the median plane of the body; the angle between the upper arm and the forearm (humeral-radial angle) measures about 150 degrees.

FOREARM:its length is equal to the third of the height at the withers; straight and parallel; the cubital-carpal groove is well marked; bone structure is light but solid .

WRIST: extends the straight line of the forearm; pisiform bone prominent .

PASTERN: its length must not be less than 1/6 of the height of the foreleg, measured from the ground to the elbow; wider than the wrist, but flat and dry, the pastern is slightly sloping from back to front; bone structure is flat and lean.

FOREFOOT:oval shaped (hare foot) with well knit and arched toes; nails strong and curved, brown or fleshy pink nearing brown, but never black; pads hard of the same colour as the nails.

HINDQUARTERS: Seen in profile, a vertical line, which descends from the rear point of the buttock to the ground, touches, or just, the tips of the toes. Seen from behind, a vertical line drawn from the rear point of the buttock to the ground, splits in two equal parts the point of the hock, the hind pastern and the hind foot. The length of the hind limb measures about 93% of the height at the withers.

UPPER THIGH:long and wide. Its length measures the third of the height at the withers; muscles are flat and the rear edge of the upper thigh is slightly convex; its width (outer surface) is equal to _ of its length; the angle between the pelvis and upper thigh (ileum-femoral angle) measures about 115 degrees.

LOWER THIGH: of slightly inferior length to that of the upper thigh, shows an obliqueness of 55 degrees below the horizontal. The covering muscles are lean and very distinct; bone structure is light; the groove along the Achilles tendon is well marked.

STIFLE JOINT:must be on the vertical which goes from the buttock to the ground; the angle at the stifle joint (tibial-femoral) is about 120 degrees.

HOCK:the distance from the sole of the foot to the point of the hock is not more than 27% of the height at the withers; its outer surface is wide; the angle at the hock joint (tibial-tarsal) is about 135 degrees.

HIND PASTERN: its length is equal to a third of the length of the foreleg measured from ground to elbow; of cylindrical shape and in vertical position, thus perpendicular to the ground; no dewclaws.

HINDFEET:slightly oval with all the same characteristics as the forefoot.

GAIT / MOVEMENT: gallop, with intermittent trotting phases.

SKIN: fine and taut, colour varies according to that of the coat. The mucous membranes and the skin of the nose are in the colours described for the nose and must never show black nor be depigmented.

COAT- EXTURE: hair smooth on the head, on the ears and legs; semi long (about 3 cm) but sleek and close lying on the body and the tail; hair straight and of vitreous texture.

COLOR: a) self-coloured tan, darker or lighter shades or diluted like Isabella, sandy colour, etc.. b) tan with more or less extensive white, white blaze on the head, white mark on the chest, white feet, white tip on tail, white belly; a white collar is less appreciated). Self-coloured white or white with orange patches is tolerated; a tan coat with a mixture of slightly lighter and darker hairs is allowed.

SIZE: males: from 46 to 50 cm [18.11 to 19.68 in]. Tolerance up to 52 cm [20.47 in]. females: from 42 to 46 cm [16.53 to 18.11 in]. Tolerance up to 50 cm [19.68 in].

WEIGHT: males: 10 to 12 kg [22.04 to 26.45 lbs]. females: 8 to 10 kg . [17.63 to 22.04 lbs].

FAULTS: any departure from the foregoing points constitutes a fault which when judging must be penalised according to its seriousness and extension.

ELIMINATING FAULTS: convergence of the skull/foreface planes; concave foreface (dish-face); accentuated undershot mouth; black pigmentation, even slight; totally hanging ears or bat ears; black nails; black pads; tail curved over the back; self-coloured brown or liver; black or brown patches; presence of black or brown hairs; height lower than 2 cm [0.78 in] under the minimum indicated by the standard for both males and females; height exceeding 52 cm [20.47 in] for males and 50 cm [19.68 in] for females; brindle coat; black mucous membranes.

DISQUALIFYING FAULTS: walleye, overshot mouth, total depigmentation. NOTE: males should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

FCI translation revised August 2001 by Jane Moore

Magna Graecia shown above pre existed the Romans and was under Hellenic influence.
The first coins discovered with i Cirnechi are from this period making the breed at least
as old as the 5th  century B.C.

THE CIRNECO DELL'ETNA
BY JANE MOORE

The Cirneco dell'Etna is a small hound-type dog used in Sicily for rabbit hunting and commonly misnomered as the "Sicilian greyhound" when translated. It is found all over the Italian island and particularly in the area surrounding the active volcano, Mount Etna, where the dogs hunt on terrain formed by volcanic lava. Its presence in Sicily is noteworthy as one of the few ancient breeds that have undergone very little manipulation by man. Instead, the breed has been rigorously selected by nature for its ability to work for hours in the heat without food and water. Thus, the dog we have today is an extremely hardy breed, free from inherited health problems. Affectionate and friendly, it is considered easier to train than some of its sighthound cousins. The Cirneco dell'Etna is registered as an Italian breed with the Italian Kennel Club (ENCI) and the Federation Cynologique International (FCI) where it is classified in the fifth group as a primitive hunting dog.

The first impression when observing a Cirneco, with its stunning tan or chestnut color, triangular shape prick ears and long pointed muzzle, is that we are looking at a miniature Pharaoh Hound. The similarity is striking, but the discerning eye will soon note the substantial difference in the conformation of the two breeds. In fact, careful examination and comparison of the FCI Cirneco dell'Etna breed standard with the AKC Pharaoh Hound standard reveal eleven points where ideal breed characteristics differ most notably in size and shape. The Cirneco is smaller, with a maximum height of 19.69 inches for males and 18.11 inches for females (versus the Pharaoh Hound maximums of 25 and 24 inches respectively), has a square outline and other differences including ear set, tail shape and set and color markings.

"Cirneco" is pronounced "cheer-NAY-ko" and its plural is Cirnechi (cheer-NAY- kee). Most linguists believe that the word "Cirneco" is derived from the Greek "Kyrenaikos", that is "cane cirenaico", or dog from Cyrene, in what is now Libya in North Africa. The name first appears in writing in a 1533 bylaw in Sicily imposing sanctions against anyone using "cernechi" for hunting, as they were considered damaging to prey.

ORIGINS OF THE CIRNECO DELL'ETNA

The Cirneco has been in Sicily for thousands of years. Most authors agree that the origins of the hound-type dog lie among ancient Egyptian prick-eared dogs. Bas-reliefs discovered along the Nile and dated around 4000 B.C. depict what could be the Cirneco today. Most probably, the Phoenicians spread these prick-eared, hound-type dogs as they sailed along their trade routes between Northern Africa and the Mediterranean coasts. Ancient records of hounds with upright ears and a pointed muzzle are found in many countries in that part of the world.

The Italian cynologist and author, Fiorenzo Fiorone, deduces from the absence of a true "hound" in Sicily, that the Cirneco is the result of a progressive adaptation of the dogs left by the Phoenicians along the coasts of Sicily. He suggests that the lack of wide-open spaces, the limited food available for the dogs and continuous inbreeding produced a sort of "miniaturizing effect" which is common to all the animals of the Italian islands.

The most vivid proof of the presence of the Cirneco in Sicily for at least the past 2500 years is the many coins minted between the 5th and 3rd centuries B.C. depicting exemplars of the breed. In particular, the Cirneco is used on coins minted at Segesta, with about 150 variations occurring on silver coins and about 100 on bronze coins. In other Sicilian towns, including Erice, Piakos, Motia and Palermo, the dog had symbolic/religious significance and was often depicted by the local mint. Many coins made by the Mamertini, a band of Italian mercenaries who conquered Messina in 286 B.C., depicted the Sicilian god Adranos, personification of the Etna volcano, on one side and a Cirneco on the other. Specimens of this type of coin exist at the Syracuse Museum, the British Museum in London, the Camerata private collection in Sicily, and the Cobb Institute of Archeology at Mississippi State University.

Other pieces of art which testify to the presence of the Cirneco in ancient times are the mosaics of the Roman Villa Imperiale at Piazza Armerina (Enna, Sicily) built in the 2nd or 3rd century A.D. and a beautiful "lekithos" found at Cuma and dated circa 380 B.C., conserved in the Museum of Fine Arts/Boston, depicting a team of five hound-like dogs very similar to the modern Cirneco.

Cirnechi can be found all over the island of Sicily but the cradle of the breed is considered the area surrounding Mount Etna. In 400 B.C., Dionysus was said to have built a temple dedicated to the God Adranos on the southwestern slope of the volcano, just outside the city of Adrano. Many dogs were bred there and legend claims that a thousand Cirnechi guarded the temple. These dogs had the divine ability to recognize thieves and disbelievers, whom they attacked. They also accompanied and guided pilgrims to the temple, being particularly benevolent to those visitors who showed signs of being intoxicated. In 1973, when Fiorenzo Fiorone published his book "Cani da Caccia" (Hunting dogs), he reported there were still a few thousand Cirnechi in the area of Adrano.

The mountain of Etna, where Cirnechi were hunting for food  for many centuries.

(Mount Etna by Thomas Cole http://www.1artclub.com/mount-etna-2/)

MODERN HISTORY OF THE CIRNECO DELL'ETNA

The Cirneco was rarely seen and little known outside Sicily until 1932. In that year, Dr. Maurizio Migneco, a veterinarian from Adrano, published an article in the journal il Cacciatore Italiano (The Italian Hunter) denouncing the state of oblivion into which this ancient Italian breed had fallen. The Cirneco's cause was taken up by a group headed by the Baroness Agata Paternó Castello of the Dukes of Carcaci, a Sicilian aristocrat who was to dedicate the next 26 years to the development of the breed, until her untimely death in 1958. The Baroness thoroughly studied this ancient hunting dog and its origins. At that time, most Cirnechi were in the hands of peasants and there were no breeders capable of selecting and conserving the breed type. "Donna Agata" searched all over Sicily and began selecting dogs epitomizing the breed. She spent years breeding and selecting under the kennel name Aetnensis. When she was sure that she had recovered type and conformation, she consulted Professor Giuseppe Solaro, an eminent zoologist, who studied the dogs' shape, proportions, and work method. He wrote the first breed standard, which was approved by the Italian Kennel Club (ENCI) in 1939, only seven years after Dr. Migneco's cry for action. At last the Cirneco was recognized officially as a breed with the name "Il Cirneco dell'Etna". The first Italian Show Champion was declared in 1952: the bitch Aetnensis Pupa, bred by the Baroness. The Breed Club, recognized by ENCI in 1956, was founded in 1951 in Catania with Dr. Migneco as its first president. The Club secretary was "the lady of the Cirnechi" herself, Donna Agata. ENCI's Technical Committee updated the breed standard in 1989 to bring it in line with the FCI format.

In the 50 years since the proclamation of the first Show Champion, the Cirneco has been bred consistently in Sicily and on the Italian mainland. Cirnechi have also been exported to many European countries where their elegant conformation has helped make them a success in the show ring and many have become FCI International Show Champions. The dog's affectionate temperament and adaptability make it an excellent family companion. In France, Finland and the USA, Cirnechi participate in official Lure Coursing Events and many have become champions in this discipline. In its home country Cirnechi are run in Field trials and participate in Agility competitions.

The Cirneco dell'Etna, a dog of antiquity, has emerged as a resilient and hardy breed in its evolution into the twenty-first century.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bonatti, Nizzoli di Carentino Giovanni, Note per una monografia sul Cirneco dell'Etna (Canis Etneus), 1972, Il Cacciatore Siciliano

Capra, Ernesto e Giovanna, Le Quattordici Razze Canine Italiane,1995, EOS Editrice Oleggio

Fiorone, Fiorenzo, Cani da Caccia, 1973, De Agostini

La Commare, Alberto, Il Cane degli Dei, 1998 No.5, I Nostri Cani, ENCI

Modica, Felice, Il Cirneco dell'Etna, 1996, Habitat Editori, Siena

Sciara, Filippo, Il Cirneco di Sicilia, Evoluzione Attraverso i Secoli, No.9/1994, Il Progresso Veterinario,

Tricomi Domenico, Il Cirneco dell'Etna, 1998, Edizione Cinque, Biella

Urzi, Giuseppe, Il Cirneco, 1998, ENCI Milano

Urzi, Giuseppe, Il Cirneco dell Etna Monografia, 1997 No.3, I Nostri Cani, ENCI

Urzi, Giuseppe, Ricominciamo da Zero, 1995 No.3, I Nostri Cani, ENCI

FCI, Cirneco dell'Etna Breed Standard, published November 11, 1989

AKC, Pharaoh Hound Breed Standard, as Approved May 10, 1983, Effective April 3, 1989

Bed warmer / primitive hunter

If you are considering adopting a Cirneco, here are some things you should know:

The Cirneco is VERY special, there are less that 200 registered Cirnechi in North America and only a handfull in Canada.

The Cirneco is small, hardy and loves to hunt- so expect a reaction when a cat or squirrel passes by.

The Cirneco is an active, ancient breed who is eager to please and loves to be alongside you at all times. In essence, you'll have another shadow!

The Cirneco is curious and playful while also being vigilant and dominant.

Never leave your Cirneco alone with your family cat until you are certain they get along. 

Your tone of voice and a firm NO! will quickly let your Cirneco know who is the pack leader.

Cirnechi need the protection of fenced running areas.  Only trained cirnechi can be trusted off leash and then only in "safe" areas far from roads and highways. 

The Cirneco loves nothing more than to crawl under the covers at the end of a long day.

These are extraordinarily special companions - never forget how blessed we are to have them.