Some of our ancestors might have starved without the rabbit or bird their dogs helped capture for the stew pot. Some breeds are all around hunters, but some were specialized in their form of hunting, such as the Cirneco dell ‘Etna. This small Italian hound-type dog was used in Sicily for rabbit hunting particularly in the area surrounding Mount Etna where the dogs hunt on terrain formed by volcanic lava which can involve “tracking” on rocky, jagged slopes and in thick brush. These dogs locate, flush, follow and direct hunters to the prey (mostly rabbit) with a lively set pace (less so if the ground is uneven) and a meticulous thoroughness that can only be admired. When a rabbit is close at hand, a Cirneco may let loose with a shrill bark which can intensify when the dog has reached the rabbit’s hiding place. The dog may start digging furiously, and its barking may turn to howling leaving no doubt that the prey is near.

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