The Cirneco is a primitive type of hunting dog from the mediterranian. It has always been used as a specialist for wild rabbit hunting on rugged lava terrain. It is the oldest Italian breed, a direct descendant of the wolfhound of the Pharaohs, who bred them at least 2,000 years ago. The iconographic depictions on the pharaonic tombs are proof of this. The Phoenicians carried on intensive trading throughout the entire Mediterranean basin and put Egypt in contact with Sicily. In fact on many coins of the eastern Sicily city-states, such as Adrano, the Cirneco is depicted and therefore must have been held in high regard.
There are verious hypotheses regarding the name Cirneco, the most credited one being that it derives from the Latin "cernere" meaning "to look for attentively", which corresponds to the way this animal works. The Cirneco is light-weight and harmonious; very reactive, and endowed with an excellent sense of smell. They move nimbly on the rugged volcanic terrain, more inclined to trot while working, but they spring to a fast gallop when chasing the roused prey. They are full of class and dignity, proud, independent, though quite trainable, and very resistant to adverse conditions.
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