Sicilian Greyhound: history of the breed, photo with description, features of care

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-07 12:45

What or who can be called "Cirneco dell'Etna"? Thoughts come to mind of some Italian dish, the name of a handsome singer, or the newest brand of car. Everything is simpler: this is the name of the Sicilian Greyhound, which has a simply chic exterior and independent disposition.

Version of origin

For a long time there were disputes between breeders and lovers of the breed about the origin of its representatives. People were divided into two teams: one considered the dog's homeland to Egypt, the second leaned towards Sicily.

So the dispute would have continued, but dog breeders intervened. They took the DNA of the Sicilian greyhound and concluded that the animal comes from Egypt.

How did the dog end up in one of the regions of Italy? Sailed along with the Phoenicians, who inhabited the territory of Africa. In what year it happened, history is silent. But the fact that the Sicilian Greyhound (Cirneco dell'Etna) is one of the oldest breeds is confirmed in the form of minted coins with the image of the animal.

Breedformed at the foot of Mount Etna, as indicated in its name. People practically did not take part in the selection of the animal: the Sicilian greyhounds went through natural selection. The result is a hardy and beautiful dog.

Beginning of selection and first standard

The history of the Sicilian Greyhound breed will tell readers that dogs have not been distributed outside of Italy for a long time. Until in 1932, a veterinarian from Adrano (a city in Italy) published an article dedicated to these beauties. With his light hand, one noble lady had an interest in these greyhounds. A woman named Agatha Paterno Castello was an aristocrat, quite we althy and curious. The availability of money and interest led to the study of the breed. The lady began to breed her, selecting the best representatives living in the country for matings.

Seven years after the publication of the article, the first breed standard appears. It was compiled by one of the outstanding zoologists of that time - Professor Solaro.

Breed Standard

The first descriptions of the Sicilian Greyhound are different from the current ones. The standard was amended in 1989.

The date of publication of the officially valid FCI standard is 30.10.2016. According to him, the Sicilian Greyhound belongs to the hunting dog breeds with working tests.

• General appearance: elongated body lines, elegant and refined, with a determined character.
• The head is long, the skull is broad. The transition from the forehead to the muzzle is underlined. The occiput is weakly expressed.
• Muzzle equal to the width of the skull, elongated.
• The eyes are small, amber or hazel.
• Ears are large, set high. Their shape is triangular. The ears are wide at the base, tapering at the tip.
• The nose is large, has a straight profile.
• Jaws well developed, but not massive. Scissor bite.
• The neck of the Cirneco dell'Etna Sicilian Greyhound is long and muscular.
• The chest is deep with rounded ribs.
• The back is straight, the loin is short.
• The croup is dry and strong, its slope is 45°.
• The limbs are long and muscular.
• The tail is set low. At the base it is wide, along the entire length it has the same thickness. Its length reaches the hock.
• The coat is short and smooth with a dense texture.
• Allowed color options: red and red with white.
• Height male from 46 to 50 cm, weight from 10 to 13 kg.
• The height of females varies between 44-48 cm, weight is 8-11 kg.

Cirneco dell'Etna: features of the care and maintenance of the Sicilian Greyhound

When starting such a breed, you should be prepared for long walks with it. The greyhound is not suitable for home keeping, because it needs constant movement. The apartment is too small for an animalcould get rid of the accumulated energy.

People who live in their own home with a fenced yard can safely get a Sicilian greyhound, the care of which requires compliance with some rules:

• In the cold season, representatives of the breed walk in clothes. The dog comes from Africa, she is afraid of the cold. On the Internet you can find information that the animal can withstand temperatures down to -25 °. One need only look at a photo of a Sicilian greyhound to be convinced of the falsity of such statements.
• It so happened that the dog lives in an apartment. It is impossible to leave her alone for a long time, because the representatives of the breed are very contact. A bored greyhound can turn a cozy home into a dump. She will destroy everything she can get her hands on.

• As written above, the Sicilian beauty needs long walks in open areas. Letting her off the leash in the city is a crazy idea. The dog will take a cat or a cyclist for prey, and will rush in pursuit. Greyhounds develop tremendous speed, which does not allow them to dodge a dangerous object in time, whether it is a speeding car or a lone tree. It sounds strange, but more often than not, urban dogs break on trees. That is why a long walk in the field is required so that the pet can run without the risk of death.
• The Sicilian Greyhound (Cirneco) does not require special care for its coat. It is enough to comb it once a week. Representatives of the breed hate water, bathing without the need is highly undesirable.
• Dog eyeswipe with a damp swab, removing unnatural secretions and cleaning from possible dust or sand.
• Claws are trimmed once a month.
• Ears are examined every day. In the event of an inflammatory process, redness or an unpleasant odor, the animal should be taken to the veterinarian.

Life expectancy and diseases

Representatives of the breed are primitive aboriginal dogs formed as a result of natural selection. They practically do not get sick. However, there are certain risks. Possible illnesses include the following:

• Ear inflammation and otitis.
• Chipped teeth, pulpitis, problems with the oral cavity.
• Eye injuries.

According to the characteristics of the breed, the Sicilian Greyhound lives quite a long time - from 12 to 15 years.

Food

Today, most dog owners prefer to feed them "dry". Often they buy the cheapest food, shortening the life of the pet.

When getting a Sicilian Greyhound, you should consider the cost of its diet. Representatives of the breed eat only natural food. The main products allowed for the animal:

• Lean meat. Preference is given to rabbit meat - it is easily digestible and has all the necessary substances. In second place is veal, in third is poultry meat, with the exception of chicken, which is the strongest allergen foranimal.
• Raw vegetables, except those containing high amounts of starch.

The owner receives all the necessary nutritional advice when buying a puppy.

Attitude towards children

The Sicilian Greyhound is patient with children. But patience is not the same as wanting to coddle them. Representatives of the breed are used for hunting, and not as babysitters.

When a baby comes into contact with a pet, you should carefully observe the actions of both. A preschool child can hurt a dog, which will put him in his place by using his teeth.

Treating strangers

Representatives of the breed are wary of strangers. They will hardly rush and bite, but they will not tolerate familiarity. If the stranger is too intrusive, the dog will warn of his unwillingness to communicate. Another question is in what form she will do it.

Attitude towards pets

Cirneko gets along well with other dogs, patiently treats cats living in the same house with her. If a representative of the breed lives in an apartment, it is highly not recommended to start a rabbit or rodent. Greyhounds are used during hare hunting, and a pet is a prey for her.

Character

The character of the Sicilian Greyhound in a nutshell: freedom-loving and mobile. This is not enough for a complete picture, so we will develop this topic.

Representatives of the breed are very intelligent, but just as stubborn. They grasp any commands on the fly, quickly memorizing them. But they are in no hurry to fulfill it, even at the request of the owner. Cirneco is capablelook at him with loving eyes, pretending that she is stupid and does not understand what the owner needs. Being engaged in training a greyhound, it is necessary to constantly maintain interest in it. Motivation, timely reinforcement, praise - the key to successful learning. The Sicilian Hound is stubborn, it is stupid to seek obedience from her with the help of physical force. The dog will shrink, stop trusting the owner, and conflict is guaranteed.

Having won the respect of a dog, you should not rely on his ingratiating attitude. Greyhounds are not shepherd dogs looking into the owner's mouth. Cirneco will always defend their position, trying to become a leader in relations with the owner. At the same time, representatives of the breed are deeply devoted to the owner, and therefore will protect him to the last breath.

Breed virtues

The positive qualities of the Cirneco can safely be attributed to their devotion. It is written above that representatives of the breed are ready to fight for the owner not for life, but for death.

The main virtues of a dog:

• Developed charm. Hunters will appreciate this fact.
• Stamina. The dog is able to accompany his master anywhere and everywhere, he does not know fatigue.
• High speed. Representatives of the breed, as described above, develop such speed that they are not always able to dodge a tree that gets in the way.
• A mobile mind will please owners who are ready to put the dog on the same level with themselves, without requiring unquestioning submission from it.
• Loyal attitude towards children and animals. This does not mean that the dog is eager to become a nanny. The relationship with the baby is written above; for an older child, the dog will become a good friend. Of course, under the condition of a delicate and tactful attitude towards the cirneco on his part.

Flaws

Sicilian Greyhounds are considered stubborn dogs. They need to explain and ask, Cirneco orders are not tolerated. The breed is not suitable for people who see the dog as just an animal, obliged to stupidly obey. A few other qualities that the new owner may not like.

• Curiosity. Representatives of the breed are inquisitive, they willingly get acquainted with the home environment, trying everything that is possible on the tooth. The puppy will be happy to taste the owner's shoes or boots, children's toys, wires. While the pet is growing, all things must be hidden from his sharp teeth.
• Mobility. On the one hand, this is wonderful, because it will come in handy on a hunt. But at home, especially when keeping a dog in an apartment, the lack of proper workload will lead to trouble. A bored cirneco is a tornado that destroys everything in its path. The dog needs many hours of walks, flavored with physical activity.
• Difficulty in training. It is written above that the dog is smart and grasps everything on the fly. But to obey is below her dignity, representatives of the breed are reluctant to carry out commands. Stubbornness is the problem with training.
• Lack of contact with strangers. Greyhounds do not welcome new acquaintances, being contenthost society. Cirneco will not be enthusiastic about the attempts of a stranger to stroke her or treat her with something tasty. It is unlikely that he will accept a treat; he will react to too persistent attempts to caress at his own discretion. May bite a tactless person or growl menacingly.
• An ill-mannered cirneco, chasing a cat or a cyclist, will not stop when he hears the call of the owner. This is fraught with the death of an animal under the wheels of a car or from hitting a tree. Therefore, it is recommended to take an obedience course with a professional dog handler in order to control your pet.

Owner Reviews

The owners of these dogs are honest about their pros and cons. Here are the reviews of the owners of the Sicilian Greyhound you can hear:

• The elegant appearance of the animal will leave few indifferent.
• Representatives of the breed practically do not bark.
• They can not be overfed, food costs are democratic.
• Absolutely fearless creatures.
• Greyhounds don't smell bad.
• Shedding periods go unnoticed.
• Very rarely get sick.
• Does not tolerate cold and drafts.
• The character resemble cats. Shebutny, curious, trained on their own, not under duress.
• May steal food from the table.
• Puppies under 1.5 try everything in their field of vision.
• They love long walks.
• Representatives of the breed will not look into the eyes, holding master's slippers in their teeth.
• Clothes are a must in winter: dogs freeze quickly due to lack of undercoat.

Judging by the reviews, the owners are very happy with their pets. Shortcomings in behavior and content are more than offset by the virtues of the Sicilian greyhounds.

Conclusion

So we looked at the main characteristics of the breed. Its representatives, as described above, have an amazing exterior, stubborn character and a whole bunch of energy.

When dreaming of a cirneco, it is worth weighing your own possibilities. Are future owners ready to spend several hours a day walking her in the case of apartment maintenance? Will the animal be comfortable in the conditions created by the owner? Is it possible to feed a representative of the breed with rabbit meat or veal?

You need to answer the questions asked, first of all, to yourself.