Cirneco dell'Etna

The Cirneco dell'Etna is a slender Sicilian hunting dog associated with the slopes and countryside around Mount Etna. It is a primitive-style rabbit hound with upright ears, fine skin, a short coat, and an athletic body built for speed, agility, and heat. The breed is often compared with other Mediterranean sighthound-like dogs, but it has its own Sicilian history and working character.

Living with a Cirneco dell'Etna calls for secure fencing, daily movement, and patient training that respects an independent hunting mind. Many are warmly attached in the home yet quick to notice motion outdoors, so recall and small-animal management need care. The short coat is simple to groom, but the dog may need warmth in cold climates. Breeders should protect sound structure, stable temperament, and the light, efficient movement that makes the breed more than a decorative rare dog.

Colors: Apricot, Bicolor, Black, Black and Tan, Black and White, Black Mask, Blue, Blue and Tan, Blue Merle, Blue Roan, Blue Tick, Brindle, Brown, Brown and Tan, Brown and White, Chestnut Brown, Chocolate, Cream, Dapple, Domino, Fawn, Fawn and White, Gold, Gray, Harlequin, Irish Marked, Light Brown, Liver, Liver Mask, Mantle, Mask, Merle, Mottled, Parti-Color, Piebald, Red, Red and White, Red Merle, Red Roan, Red Tick, Reverse Brindle, Roan, Sable, Saddle, Silver, Speckled, Spotted, Tan, Ticked, Tricolor, Tuxedo, White, Yellow