Cirneco dell'Etna

Lorenzo at Crufts 2006
Click for more about Lorenzo

*** NEW UK Cirneco dell'Etna Owners Club ***

*** What's a Cirneco? ***
*** Where can I get more info? ***
*** Where can I get a puppy? ***
*** What is this site for? ***
*** Meet Cirnechi for real ***
*** Cirnechi pages on this site ***

A Cheer-nay-what?

The Cirneco dell'Etna (pron: "cheer-nay-ko") is a small hound from Sicily. While it is found all over the Italian island, it is particularly in the area surrounding Mount Etna, an active volcano, where they are used for rabbit hunting on the rough volcanic terrain.

The Cirneco is an ancient breed that has changed very little for perhaps 3000 years. They undoubtedly share ancestry with the other similar breeds of the Old World, such as the Ibezan Hound and clearly the Pharaoh Hound, with which Cirnechi (the plural of Cirneco, pronounced "cheer-nay-kee") are frequently confused. Over the millennia, man has hardly altered them, and we really have to thank nature for giving the breed its ability to work for many hours in the heat with little food and water. Cirnechi are extremely hardy and free from inherited health problems. Loyal, friendly and very affectionate, they are attentive, keen to learn, and highly intelligent, though a little mischievous!

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Where can I get more information?

Any info you find here is purely the opinion of the author.

NEW OWNERS CLUB!!!! David Morris has taken lead and has made a positive step toward starting a UK club for the Cirneco dell'Etna. The new site is at www.cirnecodelletnaclub.co.uk. If you are interested in joining the UK based Cirneco Dell'Etna owners club please register on the site!

If you wish to obtain further authoritative information about Cirnechi visit any or all of these sites;

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Where can I get my own Cirneco?

We don't sell Cirnechi from these pages. Please visit any of the following breeders sites;

As Cirnechi remain a rare breed, finding a puppy will require patience. Be under no illusion that they are readily available, only a handful of pups are born each year.

We don't breed or source puppies directly through this site. We'd recommend that any prospecting Cirneco parents first contact any of the above breeders.

Others who may be able to provide you with a wonderful addition to your family in the shape of a Cirneco pup are Jennifer Holzke's Sambuca Show Dogs - in the USA, and Jonathan Lappin's Eindackel Kennel in Northern Ireland is planning for a litter in 2009.

You'll find other breeders that I have had no contact with in this massive list provided by Kennel Iosono in Finland. Iosono hounds descend from the Italian Hadranensis kennel as does our Lorenzo.

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Where can I see Cirnechi?

*** Cirnechi at Crufts ***

Crufts - "The World's Greatest Dog Show" next takes place from 5th to 8th March 2009 at the Birmingham NEC (UK). There's always a Cirneco stand in the Hounds section of the ever growing Discover Dogs area. See pictures of the 2006 Cirneco stand here. Check crufts.org.uk for official info about Crufts!

*** Cirnechi at Earls Court ***

The annual Kennel Club's Discover Dogs event takes place 14th and 15th November 2009 at Earls Court 2, London. Several UK owned Cirnechi and their families attend over the weekend, and you can meet them to find out first hand what these beautiful little hounds are like to live with. Click here for more info about the event and click here to see pictures of the Cirneco stand and Lorenzo at Discover Dogs 2006.

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Aims of this site

This domain was created late in March 2006 (just after returning from Crufts - pictures in Lorenzo's pages). I had intended this site solely as a showcase for my beautiful hound Lorenzo, however as soon as the site was up, I realised I'd love to share it with any other Cirnechi who want to show off.

As a result of conversations with interested people at Crufts in 2007 we decided it could be the ideal portal for all those wishing to keep up to date with news about the breed in the UK and become the place to find breeders who can get you a gorgeous Cirneco. However, work commitments (we are not dog breeders!) have prevented regular updates to this site. Fortunately, David Morris has come to the rescue of UK Cirneco fans and has now sown the seed of a new Cirneco dell'Etna owners club.

If you want to be kept informed about all things Cirneco in the UK, please contact David Morris via the new Cirneco dell'Etna club site at www.cirnecodelletnaclub.co.uk.

If you have previously asked us to keep your details, we will NOT be automatically passing them to the club, as we agreed not to divulge your info! Please do contact the club directly.

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So who has pages at the moment?

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To contact us email

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© Alex Burnham