Cirneco dell’Etna puppies

About the Cirneco dell’Etna

The Cirneco dell'Etna is a Sicilian hunting dog from the volcanic slopes of Mount Etna, where it worked rabbit across broken lava using scent, sight and hearing together, often for hours in the heat. It belongs to the ancient Mediterranean hound family and is built light: 8.6 to 12.7 kg on a leggy frame, with a short smooth coat, a narrow head and large upright ears. At home it is affectionate and easy company. Out hunting it works independently and pays little attention to instructions.

Exercise needs are moderate in volume but the mind wants occupying, so scent games and training sessions matter as much as walks. The coat needs almost nothing beyond a weekly rub with a hound glove, though the thin coat means it feels the cold. It suits an owner who wants an athletic, tidy, low maintenance dog and has a secure garden. The mistake is trusting recall off lead, because a moving rabbit outranks any owner.

What to expect at eight weeks

At eight weeks a Cirneco dell’Etna puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A medium breed puppy at eight weeks is a manageable armful that will not stay that way. Most of the growth happens between now and six months, so buy for the adult dog where you can. Expect moderate energy, in short bursts separated by long naps. Grooming is straightforward, but start handling the coat, feet and ears in week one anyway so it is never a fight later. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything it meets calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of its life.

Health worth knowing about

Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.

• Hip dysplasia, screened by hip evaluation of breeding stock
• Inherited eye disease, screened by an ophthalmologist evaluation
• Patellar luxation, a slipping kneecap, found on a patella evaluation

From Cirneco dell’Etna breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/cirneco-delletna/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

Your Cirneco dell’Etna puppy's first six months

• Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
• Worming and parasite schedule.
• Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Medium for a Cirneco dell’Etna.
• Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 8.6 to 12.7 kg adult range.
• Puppy names and the first week checklist.

Other medium breeds

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