The dog known as ETNA Cirneco, also called Sicilian Galgo or Cirneco Dell’etna, it is a breed originally from Sicily, Italy. Although possibly its true origin comes from Egypt, due to the great similarity with the Egyptian dog breeds. These dogs have the ability to live in difficult land and is a hunting dog, mainly wild rabbits. This breed is very little known, in fact, they are not very easily out of Sicily.
Size: Little.
Weight: Between 8 and 12kg.
Hair type: Curly and long.
Character: Affectionate, gentle
Health: Strong and healthy
Life expectancy: Between 12 and 14 years.
Origin of the Etna Cirneco
Due to its great resemblance to the Pharaoh dog, it is presumed to belong to the same family. Therefore, it is believed that this race, along with other hunting species, comes from the Middle East, specifically from Egypt. Anyway, the story of this dog collects thousands of years, as an image very similar to that of the Cirneco de Etna was found in coins of ancient Rome. Tests of their existence in mosaics, vessels and even statues were also found. All these findings are several centuries before Christ. On the other hand, It is presumed that his name comes from Cyrene, a city where, according to Aristotle, there were dogs of this type. Then, based on all these details, it is said that the Phoenicians brought these dogs to Sicilian lands and there were adopted by the peasants, who were responsible for maintaining the pure race. In principle, They were used as hunting dogs, but today they also have as pets.
Characteristics of the Sicilian greyhound
This millenary race has preserved its purity for hundreds of years, and is characterized by its excellence as a hunter dog, very agile, fast and with an excellent sense of smell. Despite being a primitive -looking dog, it is very elegant. They have an average age that ranges between 12 and 14 years of life.
Temper
It is also called "Sicilian tracker dog", is an animal with a very lively, tremendously active and tenacious temperament, so it requires constant physical activity. It is characterized by having a very strong, safe and independent personality, which leads him to decide on his own. It has great resistance and does not tire so easily and, in addition, it can be a affectionate pet, very nice, faithful, cheerful and sociable, which loves to play and run with its owners. And, of course, He is always waiting to receive the love and attention of his family.
Physical features of Cirneco Dell’etna
As for their physical features, it should be noted that their forms stand out for being provided and marked muscles, especially in their limbs. In its masculine species, it can measure between 46 and 60 cm and reach a weight of between 10 and 12 kg. On the other hand, the women of the breed have a size that goes from 42 to 46 cm and can weigh between 8 and 10 kg.
They have a slightly elongated head, sharp snout, a particular light brown truffle, almond and small eyes that can be of ocher, amber or gray tones; and pointed ears. They are thin and very short fur, so they are vulnerable to excessive cold. For this reason, they prefer to pass inside the house with the whole family in the seasons of low temperatures. The tones of your fur can be varied, usually homogeneous such as coppery, roasted brown, beige and orange. However, in some cases they can be presented with some white spots.
Sicilian hunter care
At the time of taking care of a pet, you should know that you are assuming a great responsibility. Well, we all know that, on the care provided, your quality and years of life will depend. We already know about the Dell’etna Cirneco that is a very strong and healthy canine, therefore the care it requires are very basic and specific, such as their daily physical training and, obviously, the veterinary requirements that any dog needs.
Feeding
This aspect is very important, because you should know that your cirneco depends on your health and appearance. Therefore, it is recommended that you eat dry foods, of good quality, containing all the necessary nutrients for their development. In addition, one of the advantages of feeding them with quality feed, is that they help keep the dog's teeth clean, thus avoiding the appearance of bacteria and tartar.
Bathroom, drying and brushing hair
In this case we are talking about a race that has very short hair, which becomes an advantage, because it is not prone to tangle. Therefore, keeping your beautiful and lustrous fur is extremely easy. You just have to bathe your greyhound once a month, unless it gets too dirty and it is necessary to do it before the indicated period. It is advisable to use a special shampoo with a PH7, which is very similar to the pH of your skin.
As we have already mentioned, This breed of dogs is very susceptible to cold, so you should not let it dry outdoors. It is advisable to use a hair dryer for drying, but always with the prudence necessary not to burn your skin. Regarding brushing, it will be enough to do so two to three times a week, to eliminate the dirt that can be accumulated. On the other hand, it is important that in the periods in which the dog moves the hair, you increase the frequency of brushing with the aim of eliminating dead hair and, thus, prevent skin problems from suffering.
Hygiene
Hygiene is very important for both human beings and pets. However, hygienic needs are very diverse between them. But there are basic criteria that must be fulfilled to guarantee the best conditions to those faithful and affectionate friends. If this is the case of an animal that is constantly stroking and there is a great physical approach, hygiene patterns must be stricter. One of the aspects to which to be more attentive is dental hygiene, to avoid problems of bad breath and the accumulation of bacterial plaque and tartar in the denture of your puppy. You can fight this with dental brushes, of course, with special dogs and brushes. And there are also cookies and special bones for the cleaning of the teeth of these spoiled animals. In any case, you must create the habit of your pet since it is a puppy, to maintain good dental hygiene and avoid oral infections. But, if you decide to resort to edible accessories for this purpose, you must be attentive so that its use does not become an excessive calorie intake and affect the health of the dog.
Vaccines and deworming
As a human being, a dog from puppy should be applied all doses of vaccines and antiparasitic treatments necessary to have good health. This, of course, must do so under the supervision and indication of the veterinarian. Remember that it is the specialist doctor who is trained to handle this process. It deals as much as possible to collect all the information about the animal's medical history at the time of adopting it, in this way the veterinarian will be able to indicate more accurately the treatments that the dog is needed, whether vaccines or antiparasitaries. In case of contagion with a parasite, you should always go to the veterinarian to take the necessary measures, to eradicate the problem and to prevent future infections. Currently you have very easy to use accessories to repel these horrible parasites that can damage your dog's health, such as pipettes or necklaces. Regarding the frequency of control with the veterinarian, it is recommended that you take your faithful friend about twice a year for evaluation. In this way, it is possible to detect any pathological condition in time and so you will be ensuring the good health of your canine.
Diseases
This kind of dog Does not suffer from common inherited diseases Thanks to the purity of its race, since it has not been mixed. However, like all dogs, it can suffer from physical ailments, such as skin diseases that manifest with allergies or irritations, and may also suffer from diseases in bones. They can be prone to infections in the eyes, ears or skin. Therefore, a constant review of these parts of your body is recommended in order to avoid the accumulation of fungi and bacteria. Since we are talking about a hunter dog, after a day of the field you must check it carefully, especially the ears and legs, because they may have nailed particles or that they have hit external parasites, such as ticks or fleas, in the skin or in the fur. These parasites can transmit very dangerous diseases to your canine.
Training
In any dog race, it is necessary to focus on adequate training guidelines, in order to achieve a good coexistence between the pet and its owners, trying as far as possible, that it is the most harmonious and happy for everyone.
Physical training
When training a dog of this race, you must know its characteristics, temperament and weaknesses well. Given its status as a hunter and primitive dog, The Etna Cirneco develops very well on steep lands. On the other hand, the training of these animals must focus. mainly, in the wear of excess energy that characterizes them. At the same time, you can choose to include games that, together with exercise, will contribute directly to their education. After a strong physical training, you can move on to a quieter session of about ten minutes, to teach you new things. Always taking into account that it is very important to use positive techniques, it is never recommended to use abuse of any kind to train an animal. It is important that the dog feels loved, careful and respected to respond positively to training. Every time you can do things well, you must give it a prize, which can be a cookie or a tender caress. In this way, the animal will learn to do what you ask. To the extent that your dog feels rewarded, he will respond with adequate behavior. If you are fortunate to have it from puppy, it is much better, but you can also train a slightly older animal. In any case, do not forget that the physical and emotional well -being of your pet should be predicted to the training objectives.
The Etna Cirneco, due to its hunter status, is an extremely active dog. Therefore You need to constantly exercise. If you want to ensure proper physical and mental health to your dog, the recommendation is to take it to take a walk about two or three times a day, to exercise, explore and socialize. You should know that, if an Etna Cirneco spends a lot of inactive time, it will feel uncomfortable, which can arouse its anxiety and even become an annoying barking and destructive dog.
Interaction with other pets
Normally this breed of dogs do not represent any inconvenience to live with other pets that are of their size or a little larger and, even more, if they have socialized with them since they are small. However, you must be a little care with smaller pets, since they are not so compatible and tolerate them less.
Relationship with the little ones
The Etna Cirneco It is a very friendly dog, affectionate, familiar, faithful, playful, tolerant and, if it is well trained, it is docile and obedient. Therefore, it can have a very good relationship with the little ones in the house. A dog of this breed He is an intelligent and loyal partner for your children, ideal to play with them and entertain them. However, do not forget that it is an animal and, therefore, it can feel the need for a little tranquility when children become unbearable. If you liked this post, you will like these too:
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