Cirneco Dell'etna Story

Seven-year-old Daniel Muratore was chatting pleasantly with the housekeeper when she pushed the vacuum in his direction. He bounced out of the way, but the familys 5-year-old Cirneco dellEtna, Alma, raced into the room and attacked the machine -- all four feet up on the bag, teeth sunk in, recalls Audrey Muratore of Houston.

They may be compact in size, but Cirneci possess all the qualities of a much larger hunting breed: loyalty, creative thinking, determination, and courage.

For the past 3,000 years, Cirneci -- pronounced cheer-NAY-kee -- have hunted the area of Mount Etna, a volcano on the island of Sicily. By sight, sound, and scent, they pursued rabbits and small game, and sometimes boar.

Pick up this month's issue of Dog Fancy for the full story.

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