Cirneco Dell Etna

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Cirneco Dell Etna

A breed standard is the guideline which describes the ideal characteristics, temperament, and appearance of a breed and ensures that the breed is fit for function with soundness essential. Breeders and judges should at all times be careful to avoid obvious conditions and exaggerations, as well as being mindful of features which could be detrimental in any way to the health, welfare or soundness of this breed.

Breed Standard - Cirneco Dell Etna

TRANSLATION: Mrs. Jane Moore. Revised by Mrs. Renée Sporre- Willes. Official language (EN).

ORIGIN: Italy.

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE OFFICIAL VALID STANDARD: 30.10.2016.

UTILIZATION: Hunting dog – in particular used for wild rabbit.

F.C.I.-CLASSIFICATION: Group 5 Spitz and primitive types.
                                        Section 7 Primitive type Hunting Dogs.
                                        With working trial in Italy.

BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY: The Cirneco has been present in Sicily since ancient times. A Mediterranean dog of ancient origins that probably descends from hunting dogs that existed in the era of the pharaohs in Ancient Egypt and was introduced to the Mediterranean basin by the Phoenicians with Sicily as the elected region of adoption. Evidence of the presence of the Cirneco on the island is provided by his portrayal on coins, incisions and mosaics dating from many centuries before Christ and was always considered the most ancient, eclectic and highly regarded hunting dog.

GENERAL APPEARANCE: Medium sized primitive type of dog with an elegant and slender shape, compact and strong built with a fine coat and upright ears, always alert. The conformation is built on sub-longish lines.

IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS:
The length of the body is equal to the height at the withers (square). The depth of the chest is slightly less than the height from elbow to ground. Length of head is 4/10th of the height of the withers. The muzzle never to be shorter than skull. Dolichocephalic skull and with a cephalic index of less than 50%.
 
Stop with an angle of approximately 150°. The length of the loin is approximately one fifth of the height at the withers and its width is nearly the same as its length. The length of the croup is about a third of the height at the withers and its width is nearly half its length. Depth of chest slightly less than half the height at the withers (about 43%) and width (measured at the widest part of the chest) is less of a third (about 27%) of the height at the withers. The thoracic perimeter exceeds the height of the withers by about 1/8th.

BEHAVIOUR/TEMPERAMENT: The Cirneco is strong-willed, uncompromising, affectionate and alert, a resolute dog, very attached to his owner. Fundamentally a hunting dog who uses his keen sense of smell, but is also an excellent companion. The specific skill is searching for scent and pursuing wild rabbit and other small game both fur and feather. The ideal hunting ground is among the nooks and crannies of rock faces and in particular the terrain formed by volcanic lava on the slopes of Mount Etna where the Cirneco leaps from one rock to another, surefooted and elegant. The breed uses sight only to select the most suitable location and nothing escapes his attention. The hearing is used to pick up the movement of the rabbit when it has gone to ground, but it is the powerful, reliable sense of smell that allows the dog to follow a trail and flush out the prey.

HEAD
CRANIAL REGION:
Skull: Longish skull with the width being less than half the total length of the head. Lengthwise seen from above tends towards an oval shape; upper longitudinal axes of the skull and the muzzle are parallel or only slightly divergent. The upper profile of the skull is only slightly convex, to appear almost flat, the width at the level of the zygomatic arches is less than half the total length of the head. Superciliary arches slightly elevated, frontal region slightly elevated and receding, frontal furrow slightly marked, occipital crest barely visible and occipital protuberances only slightly pronounced.
Stop: Slightly accentuated.
 
FACIAL REGION:
Cheeks: Flat.

EYES: Rather small. Colour should be ochre, amber or hazel, never grey, brown or yellow. Set at a semi-lateral position and with soft expression. Oval shaped eye-rims of the same colour as the nose.

EARS: Set very high and close together, carried upright and rigid with frontal opening. Natural of a triangular shape with a narrow tip that tilts slightly backwards. Cartilage thick at the base. When alert, the vertical axes are parallel or almost parallel. The length of the ears should not exceed half the total length of the head.

NECK: Upper profile well arched; length the same as the head. Neck set harmoniously into the withers with a smooth outline. Shape of neck similar to a truncated cone and well muscled especially along the crest of the neck.

BODY:
Withers: High, narrow due to the convergence of the shoulder blades. Back: Upper profile straight without conspicuous muscles.
 
Underline and belly: The contour of the lower profile rises smoothly, lean without excessive tuck up. Flanks same length as the loin.

TAIL: Low set, fairly thick at base and of equal thickness for most of its length. Reaching to the hocks or slightly longer. Carried sabre fashion when at rest and scythe shaped over the back when alert. Hair semi-long and close.

LIMBS
FOREQUARTERS:
Carpus (Wrist): Straight line following on from the forearm. Protruding pisiform bone.
 
Metacarpus (Pastern): Length not less than one sixth of the height of the foreleg from the ground to the elbow, wider than the wrist. Slight inclination from back to front. Bone flat and lean.

Forefeet: Slightly oval shaped, arched with tight toes. Strong curved nails of brown or pinkish flesh-colour tending towards brown – never black. Hard pads with pigmentation matching the colour of the nails.

HINDQUARTERS:
Hind feet: Slightly oval shaped, arched with tight toes. Strong curved nails of brown o pinkish flesh-colour tending towards brown – never black. Hard pads with pigmentation matching the colour of the nails.

GAIT / MOVEMENT: Short, brisk steps or springy fast trot.

SKIN: Fine and taut all over the body. Pigmentation varies according to the colour of the coat, must never have black spots or depigmentation.
 
COAT
Hair: Of vitreous and dense texture, smooth on head ears and legs, semi-long (2.5 cm approximately) sleek and fitting on the body and tail.

b) Tan and white: White blaze or mark on head; white mark or blaze on chest; white feet; point of tail; belly; but white collar less appreciated. The tan coat with mixture of slightly lighter and darker hairs is permitted.

SIZE AND WEIGHT:
Height at the withers:    Males: 46 – 50 cm.
                                     Females: 44 – 48 cm.
                                     Females: 8 – 11 kg.

FAULTS: Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog and on its ability to perform its traditional work.

SEVERE FAULTS:
•    Divergence of skull-muzzle axes.
•    Short muzzle.
•    Accentuated occipital crest and frontal region.
•    Accentuated stop.
•    Ears with thin cartilage, semi-pendent or divergent.
•    Short neck, dewlap.
•    Feet long, wide, flat, splayed toes.
•    Rear dewclaws.
 
VERY SERIOUS FAULTS:
•    Aggressive or overly shy dogs.
•    Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities.
•    Accentuated divergence of skull-muzzle axes.
•    Nose leather black or without any pigmentation.
•    Concave nose ridge (dish-face).
•    Undershot bite.
•    Overshot bite.
•    Wall eye.
•    Pendent ears.
•    Black eye rims, toe nails, pads, digital pads.
•    Tail curled over the back; absence of tail (anury) or stump tail (brachyury).
•    Coat colour that is solid brown, black or brindle. Black or brown patches or black or brown hairs.
•    Height not within the upper or lower tolerance.

N.B.:
•    Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
•    Only functionally and clinically healthy dogs, with breed typical conformation, should be used for breeding.
 


Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog and on the dog’s ability to perform its traditional work.