Plate 091 · Mediterranean
Cirneco dell'Etna
埃特纳猎兔犬
“A rabbit hound from the slopes of Europe's largest active volcano.”
- Origin
- Italy
- Mount Etna, Sicily
- Region of origin
- Named after Mount Etna and found across Sicily; the marker is the reference point of the province of Catania, where the volcano stands.
- The point marks the region the breed comes from, not an exact birthplace.
- Era
- Described in 1932; standardized in 1939
- Today
- Hunting dog · Companion
Under editorial review — sources listed below.
History
01 · Origin
Mount Etna, Sicily
A slender Sicilian hunting dog that finds rabbits by scent as well as sight on the rocky slopes of Mount Etna.
02 · Historical role
What it was bred for
Hunting wild rabbit, traditionally working with a ferret.
03 · Breed development
How it changed
An ancient Egyptian or Phoenician origin is often claimed, and the Italian kennel club cites ancient coins; genetic studies disagree; a 2021 study comparing it with eight related breeds found the Maltese Pharaoh Hound (Kelb tal-Fenek) and the Segugio Italiano the closest of those eight. A veterinarian described the breed in 1932, a Sicilian noblewoman began breeding it in 1934, and ENCI recognized it in 1939.
04 · Today
Hunting dog · Companion
Still used to hunt rabbits; also kept as a companion and show dog.
Personality
- Independent
- Friendly
- Affectionate
- Alert
General breed tendencies, not guarantees — individual dogs vary with genetics, training and environment. Ratings: the AKC’s trait scores as its breed page gives them (the AKC’s 1–5 guidance for owners, not a measurement). Other profiles here use editorial ratings, a different source, so compare across them with care.
- Exercise
- Moderate exercise plus mental stimulation; long walks suit it.
- Grooming
- Minimal: a weekly rub with a soft brush or hound glove.
- Training
- Responds to gentle methods; strong hunting instincts mean it should stay on lead outside securely fenced areas.
Living with one
- Size
- Medium
- Lifespan
- 15–16 years
- Coat
- Short, smooth coat in shades of tan, solid or with white
Field note
'dell'Etna' was added to its name only in 1939, when its first standard was accepted.
Recognition & today
- AKC
- Hound Group
- Also recognized by
- FCI (Group 5, standard 199), ENCI (Italy)
- Popular in
- No reliable data
AKC: Hound Group, recognized 2015.
Wikipedia, citing the Italian kennel club, reports about 100–150 new Italian registrations a year from 2010 to 2018. AKC registrations: ranked 184 among breeds in 2025.
Sources2 references
- Cirneco dell'Etna — breed information — American Kennel Club
https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/cirneco-delletna/
Registry · accessed 2026-10-14 · Registry status, group, size, life expectancy and registration rank; history as the AKC tells it. Ratings: the AKC's own 1–5 owner-guidance trait scores as the page gives them (energy level, trainability, barking level, openness to strangers, good with other dogs), not measurements.
- Cirneco dell'Etna — Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cirneco_dell%27Etna
Encyclopedia · accessed 2026-10-14 · Claimed ancient origins and how the article qualifies them, 1932 description, 1934 breeding, ENCI recognition 1939, FCI 1956, conflicting genetic studies, Italian registrations.
Text is written by World Breeds from the references above; it does not reproduce registry descriptions. Location note: Named after Mount Etna and found across Sicily; the marker is the reference point of the province of Catania, where the volcano stands.
