This dog belongs to the primitive type of hunting, or hound dog. It is a sleuth with a hound build, extremely elegant with an alternative and vivacious expression, erect and very mobile ears, short tawny hair. It has always been used as a specialist for wild rabbit hunting on rugged lava terrain. It is the oldest Italian breed, a direct descendant of the wolfhound of the Pharaohs, who bred them at least 2,000 years ago. The iconographic depictions on the pharaonic tombs are proof of this. The Phoenicians carried on intensive trading throughout the entire Mediterranean basin and put Egypt in contact with Sicily. In fact on many coins of the eastern Sicily city-states, such as Adrano, the Cirneco is depicted and therefore must have been held in high regard. There are verious hypotheses regarding the name Cirneco, the most credited one being that it derives from the Latin "cernere" meaning "to look for attentively", which corresponds to the way this animal works. The Cirneco is light-weight and harmonious; very reactive, and endowed with an excellent sense of smell. It moves nimbly on the rugged volcanic terrain, more inclined to trot while working, but springs to a fast gallop when chasing the roused prey. It is full of class an dignity, proud, independent, though quite trainable, and has a good constitution. Rustic, frugal and very resistant to adverse conditions.