The Cirneco dell Etna or Sicilian Hound is a primitive Sighthound originating from Sicily, Italy. He is of the same ancestry like Pharaoh Hound, Podenco Canario, and all other hounds originating from the Old World. The breed was brought by the Phoenicians from the ancient Cyrenaica to Sicily, some 3.000 years ago. There, limited by space, it left isolated for centuries, with the biggest population around the volcanic Mount Etna, hence such name. The breed is included in the Primitive Types – Hunting Dogs group in the class of primitive dogs, and it’s very rare outside its native island. Cirneco dell Etna is an agile, medium-sized hunting dog, who is, in his native country, primarily used in hunting rabbits. It is the smallest of all Mediterranean hounds with whom he shares so many common qualities. Sicilian Hound life expectancy is somewhere between 12 and 15 years. Continue Reading →