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CIRNECO DELL'ETNA |
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This Pharaoh
Hound look-alike was brought to Sicily in the Phoenician heyday; when
dogs of this type were a hot item. He has been kept and bred in the shadow
of Mount Etna for 3,000 years.
The large island
of Sicily, located at the toe of Italy, is the major home of the Cirneco.
In more ancient times the breed also was known further north on Corsica,
and the Greek name for that latter island, Cyrnecos, may have contributed
to his name. Mount Etna, the 10,000-foot active volcano on Sicily's eastern
side, provides the other portion of his name. The roots and history of
this breed are the same as the Pharaoh's and the Ibizan's, repeated on
a different island. In fact,
in times past the Cirneco was also called the Pharaoh Dog, due to its
identical taproots in Egypt.
Even before
recorded history, a temple dedicated to the local divinity has existed
at Ardano on Sicily. This holy place was supposedly guarded by the Cirneco
dogs who had "a supernatural instinct to attack the sacreligious
and thief but to welcome enthusiastically the devout."
The breed
is prevalent around Ardano, and it is now the only breed which hunts
on the slopes of Mount Etna. They were officially recognized by the
ENCI (the Italian Kennel Club) about 1940, due mainly to the efforts
of Professor Giuseppe Solaro. The FCI has also recognized the breed
as distinct from the Pharaoh Hound.
As hunters,
they are smaller versions of their relatives from Malta and Ibiza. Although
basically sighthounds of an ancient sort, they can also hunt by scent.
The Cirneco is a specialist on rabbit and hare, but is so silent that
it can also sneak up on any kind of feathered game. He is a lively and
friendly companion not known outside of his localized area in Italy.
Unfortunately, he is becoming extremely rare at home as well.
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