The first written mentioning of the name Cirneco is in 1533 in a bylaw in Sicily, imposing sanctions against anyone using “Cirnechi” for hunting, as they were considered damaging to prey.

There is no certain and reliable information about the exact historical moment and the way in which the Cirneco arrived in Sicily. It is believed that the Phoenician who had spread throughout the Mediterranean basin, brought the ancestors of the Cirneco and other sight hounds from Egypt and the Middle East.

As a hunter of small mammals and fowl, the Cirneco is a hardy, compact dog that is successful in hunting under adverse conditions.