Key Attributes -
Boxing Helena's Chaz
- No, she is not a whippet! But she is a hound-type dog, and very much like a whippet in many ways. Pictured here is Boxing Helena’
s Chaz – call name Isis -- one of the first two Cirneco Dell’Etna dogs imported in to Canada. Litter sister Café, now living in Calgary,
is the other. For those unfamiliar with the Cirneco (pronounced cheer-NAY-ko) this is a small Sicilian hound-type rabbit hunting
dog found across Sicily and particularly in the area of the Mount Etna volcano.
- Isis comes to Canada from Bart Scheerens at Boxing Helena Kennels in Belgium, from his first litter of Cirneco Dell'Etna puppies.
Since the Cirneco currently does not have registration status with the Canadian or American Kennel Clubs, we look forward to
watching Icy grow up, then taking her back to Europe to show her to her championship in the FCI countries in which she is eligible
to compete. In Europe Cirneco's are shown in Group 5 (primitive breeds).
- According to Jane Moore, a resident of Italy who is perhaps the most noted Cirneco breeder/owner in the world today “The
Cirneco has been in Sicily for thousands of years. Most authors agree that the origins of the hound-type dog lie among ancient
Egyptian prick-eared dogs. Bas-reliefs discovered along the Nile and dated around 4000 B.C. depict what could be the Cirneco
today. Most probably, the Phoenicians spread these prick-eared, hound-type dogs as they sailed along their trade routes between
Northern Africa and the Mediterranean coasts. Ancient records of hounds with upright ears and a pointed muzzle are found in
many countries in that part of the world.”
- This small dog is an extremely hardy breed, free from inherited health problems. It is registered as an Italian breed with the Italian
Kennel Club (ENCI) and the Federation Cynologique International (FCI) where it is classified in Group 5 as a primitive hunting dog.
Cirnechi compete in dogs shows across the FCI countries in Europe, but they are not recognized by either the American or
Canadian Kennel clubs who operate their own eligible breed registers.
- A rich red chestnut in colour –with no black pigmentation of any kind allowed and erect ears a requirement (a wonderful, ironic
contrast for whippet breeders to enjoy!) -- the Cirneco most closely resembles a small Pharaoh Hound, but there are substantial
differences between the breeds, not the least of which is in terms of size and, as people will tell you, in temperament with the
Cirneco very easy to get along with. Permissible size for the female Cirneco is between 16 and 18 inches, while the male cannot
be taller than 19.5 inches — size standards that ironically pretty well used to be applicable to the English whippet in the past.
- Cirnechi are a rare breed, which is being carefully husbanded by those who love, and zealously wish to preserve the breed.
- Icy will grow up at Avalonia and then, we hope, make occasional trips to Europe to be shown. You can follow her development on
her individual web page. Photos of her sire, dam and littermates, plus regular updates, can be found on the Boxing Helena
website.
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