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Cirneco dell'Etna

The Cirneco dell'Etna is a small Sicilian hunting dog from the slopes of Mount Etna, closely related to the Pharaoh Hound and depicted on Sicilian coins from 500 BC.

It hunts rabbit using sight, scent and hearing together, working in extreme heat over volcanic rock.

It stands 42 to 52 centimetres, weighs 8 to 12 kilograms and lives twelve to fourteen years, with a very short tan coat and large upright ears. It is one of the healthiest breeds in existence — thousands of years of function-based selection with no show-driven exaggeration — and it is affectionate at home while being an independent, driven hunter outdoors.

Origin
Mount Etna, Sicily; an ancient hunting breed
Size
42–52 cm; 8–12 kg
Lifespan
12–14 years
Coat
Very short tan coat; minimal grooming
Temperament
Affectionate at home, independent and driven when hunting
Health
Exceptionally sound; few inherited conditions

2 cirneco dell'etna photos, newest first

  • Pickle, a cirneco delletna

    Pickle

    Pickle was promoted to photographer arranging a portrait of one potato; unfortunately, one toy suitcase circles endlessly.

    FrostyOtter · 1 week ago

  • Pickle, a cirneco delletna

    Pickle

    This is Pickle pretending not to have been on the sofa.

    MerryBadger · 2 weeks ago

Living with a cirneco dell'etna

One of the genuinely healthy breeds, with no significant inherited disease — a consequence of never having been bred for looks.

The thin coat and low body fat mean they feel the cold badly. A coat in winter and warm bedding are necessary, not indulgent.

The prey drive is high and they hunt independently; recall around wildlife is unreliable and fencing needs to be secure — they jump and climb well.

They are heat-adapted and enjoy sun, but still need shade and water.

Exercise needs are real but manageable: a good run daily. The coat needs a wipe over and nothing more.

General guidance, not veterinary advice. Individual dogs vary, and anything about a specific animal is a question for a vet who has seen it.

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