Over de kennel Cyrenensis * Cirneco dell'Etna

Our Cirneco kennel was born in November 2007

I started my kennel when my first Cirneco dell' Etna came into my life. When I was able to take Ambra home, a new world opened up for me. Cirnechi are very special dogs. They are elegant and at the same time very robust, they look very tough and confident. But they are very tender, affectionate and incredibly beautiful.

Since Ambra came home I have only grown to love the breed more. My love for the breed has brought me to Sicily.
Our Gala grew up at the foot of the Etna volcano, where the oldest Cirnechi hunted. It is the cradle of the breed, the place carries centuries of history and experiences and inspires me!
The kennel recently moved to Belgium, the puppies are raised in Belgium. They all have Sicilian roots, Sicilian parents. We have close ties with Sicily and still travel there often. I officially registered the name Cyrenensis with the FCI in 2013.

Where can you find us

Our Cirneco dell'Etna kennel is located in Belgium.
We live near the North Sea where the dogs can enjoy themselves. Previously we were in the heart of the beautiful island of Sicily, the cradle of the breed! Sun, rivers, mountains, the sea, a fascinating landscape and a beautiful ecology! The island has it all!

My cirnechi grew up at the foot of Etna, in Bronte territory, in the Province of Catania. The municipality is famous for the production of pistachios, our landscape is characterized by ornamental gardens, peach orchards, pistachio fields, which are intertwined with fields of olive trees, forming a colorful patchwork over the hilly and rugged relief. An impressive landscape!

How we raise our Cirneco puppies

BARF, bones and raw meat

We strive for a natural approach to feeding and breeding the dogs. We are true to the idea - nature sets a good example! Nature offers the answer to all questions and every problem. This means that the puppies born in our kennel develop optimally and receive the best preparation for their future lives. They have the skills and knowledge to anticipate any problem they will encounter in their lives.

Our puppies train their paws from their first shaky steps. They move on a natural surface such as grass, stones, sand. We avoid smooth, flat surfaces as much as possible. From the age of 3 weeks we serve them a raw meal: vegetables, meat and bones. By pulling the meat off the bones, they move every muscle and use the entire spine. The bones contain the necessary calcium and all the necessary minerals and vitamins. receive them in the correct proportions and quantities.

The nutrition in combination with a healthy dose of exercise and interaction between the puppies guarantees that they develop strong bones, strong joints and a muscular body like top athletes, in this way we minimize the risk of abnormalities in the musculoskeletal system. The traditional problems such as dysplasia, weak ligaments and weak joints rarely occur with us!

Such a natural way of developing and growing the puppies is almost impossible to achieve by feeding a "fast and easy food" such as the usual commercial dry and prepared food. If the puppy eats its fill without any effort They will undoubtedly gain weight, develop a very round belly, can barely move and sometimes even overload their joints and muscles, our puppies are flexible and mobile.

We believe that our puppies should grow slowly and optimally. The growth and development of the skeleton must be slow enough and must correspond with the general development of the puppy. That is why we are in favor of a solid natural diet and are not in favor of dry food and prepared food. Most dry foods contain too many proteins and carbohydrates, which causes accelerated growth of bones and muscles. A quick win, but is it optimal and sustainable? Read more about BARF raw food for dogs

Walking with the puppy in Catania

An important moment in the growing up and development of the puppy is effective socialization during the period that the puppies are receptive to it. Even before the first vaccination, we often take the puppies on our lap, play with them and take them in our arms to introduce them to the world outside the home. Puppies get used to the smells, sounds and impressions of a street, people, cars, trucks, horses, other four-legged friends from a safe position... After the vaccination and the subsequent short quarantine period, we get the puppies used to a leash and collar, we give them them a first lesson in walking on a leash, we encourage contact with passers-by and children, so that they are open-minded and free in dealing with people.

In addition, our socialization period also includes at least a car ride, a walk through the city center of Bruges and a restaurant visit. The puppy learns to deal with different situations and also learns to behave, even at the table!

We get the puppies used to a crate: the puppies have a crate as a 'nest' while growing up and during the day we isolate a puppy with a bone in a crate so that the puppy has no problem being alone. Cirnechi are very fond of the presence of their owner, or other dogs. Because we get them used to a crate from an early age, they associate the crate or being alone with bones and being quiet, they recognize the crate as a safe place, the puppies also have a crate in the garden or car!

Working with the puppies takes a lot of time and energy, but the result is more than worth it! The puppies' new owners are full of praise for the behavior of their young Cyrenensis four-legged friend, whom they describe as a 'smart and well-behaved puppy' (read Feedback). The pleasure is ours, a Cirneco puppy is actually a very intelligent creature bursting with energy and full of talents, it is up to the owner to guide that in the right direction :-)

The goal of Cyrenensis kennel

On the top of Etna, my puppy meet tourists :-)

Our main objective is to get people to know the breed and give them the opportunity to live with a dog of this beautiful breed and thus experience the happiness that dogs bring to a family. We are therefore only looking for loving, caring and responsible owners for our cirnechi.
This is paramount, and is even more important than our professional goals.

We also have an objective in breeding and selection.
What particularly appeals to me about Cirneco dell'Etna is their beautiful head, correctly placed triangular strong ears and their appearance and style in general. These three elements together make the breed memorable, special and incredibly beautiful!

Often, because of the focus on anatomy, colour, etc., the main beauty of these dogs, their "business card" get’s somewhat lost. It is mainly because of this beauty I, and many others with me, fell in love with this breed. Many beautiful dogs pass away, leaving no trace. Breeding lines are gone into oblivion, taking with them the spirit of the breed. I want to preserve the uniqueness of the breed!

What does mean the name 'Cyrenensis' ?

ancient map of Cyrenaica

The name we gave to the kennel refers to the origin of the Cirneco dell'Etna breed. "Cyrenensis" can be translated from Latin as 'from Cyrene'.
Latin pronunciation Cyrena – “Tsjirena”. Greek pronunciation – “Kirena”. Italian – “Chirena”.

Cyrenaica is a historical region in North Africa, the center of which is the city Cyrene (Cyrena). This area is located in the territory of modern Libya. It was founded by the ancient Greeks in 74 BC, the region became a Roman colony. Cyrenaica became an important export region for wine, horses and wild animals.

n his scientific papers Aristoteles describes a breed of dog born out of the crossing of a domestic dog with an Abyssinian wolf (Canis Sinensis). He is known as the Ethiopian wolf. This is the only wolf in Africa, and one of the rarest animals in the world.
Aristotle classified the ‘emerged’ breed as the "Dog from Cyrene".
These dogs were brought to Sicily by the Phoenicians, where the breed continued to develop his uniqueness.

The etymology of the name "Cirneco" has its roots in this version of the Aristotledog from Cyrene. More precisely, from the Greek Kyrenaikos, whence it passed into Latin Cyr (e) naecus. the E in the middle of the word got lost and merged in a diphthong AE. The Sicilian dialect absorbed this latin word and formed it into Cirnecu (chirneku- Sicilian dialect).

Sicilian, Dr. Walter Pistorio from our village, explained to me why Cirnechi are coloured like sand. For hunting animals is extremely important to intermingle in surroundings, to be invisible. It’s is visible that the color of Cirnechi is similar with the color of Egyptian sand. A running movement of Cirnechi repeats the form of sand dunes. It is an incredible truth and a beautiful observation!

You are welcome!

Puppies of our litters can be found all over the world: in Ukraine, Finland, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Belgium, USA, Colombia, United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland etc.
If the owner is unable to pick up the puppy personally, we will deliver the puppy via courier so we can be sure that the puppy will be delivered safely and without too much stress by plane.
But we are always pleased to personally welcome the owners to the Belgian coast!

You will meet our dogs, visit the local sights and I am sure you will spend an unforgettable time with the rare and enchanting Cirneco dell'Etna!

To ensure a smooth transition from the litter to the new owner, and to give the puppies the best start in their new family,
every owner of a Cyrenensis puppy some gifts:
* a collar and matching leash from Lupine. Just as strong as the bond between puppy and owner ;) They have beautiful drawings and are of high quality, they have a lifetime warranty, even if the puppy bites them!
* a blanket with the scent of mom and the litter (this way the puppy will have the familiar nest scent with him for a while),
* a small bag for the puppy's passport with a photo of the mother so that the puppy always has its documents with it

Thanks

I am grateful to my parents, Elisova Liubov and Andrey, who taught me to respect and love people. Without that, my kennel would not have the heart and soul.
I thank
my friend, Olga Zyryanova, for her believe in me, for her optimism, wisdom, and support, talent to energize and enthusiasm to change the world for the better. She is my Muse!
I am also grateful to my friend, Myriam Deboysere, for the love of our breed. For the unanimity and support. For non-stereotypical thinking and openness to the world. It is for me a great example.

Many thanks to my professional friends, colleagues, Elena Kratko and Elena Butenko. For the immense knowledge they share with me. For the professional support and fruitful work together over the years.
Special thanks and low bow to all owners of our puppies for the trust and the believe in the kennel, for the love and care that you give your dogs. If stars are lit, it means there is someone who needs it! You inspire me!