Porcelaine
- Medium
- Foundation Stock Service
The Porcelaine is an elegant French scent hound, proud and graceful yet never shy. The Porcelaine is independent, energetic, gentle, and quiet indoors, and it may be better suited to a single-dog household.
- Height
- 22 to 23
- inches at the shoulder
- Weight
- 55 to 62
- pounds, adult
- Life expectancy
- 12 to 13
- years, median 12.5
- Senior from
- 9.4
- years, about
Senior starts in the last quarter of a breed's expected lifespan, following the 2019 AAHA canine life stage guidelines. Individual dogs vary.
About the breed
- Temperament
- Independent, energetic, powerful
- Coat
- Smooth, short
- Origin
- France
The Porcelaine (pronounced Pour-suh-lein) is a medium French scent hound, standing 22 to 23 inches tall and weighing 55 to 62 pounds. Its smooth, short coat suits a dog built for the field, and it typically lives 12 to 13 years.
Elegant, proud, and graceful in an almost cat-like way, the Porcelaine is never shy or timid. It is friendly and affectionate, always eager for a pat on the head or a hug, and that easygoing nature makes it a strong candidate for work like medical therapy, medical alert, service, police public relations, and search and rescue.
This is primarily a hunting breed, descended from a mix of intelligent French and English scent hounds. Indoors it tends to stay quiet, yet it carries a melodious baying call rather than a nuisance bark. The Porcelaine needs careful housing and handling because of its strong prey drive.
Temperament and needs
Scored 1 to 5 for the breed overall. Individual dogs vary.
- Affectionate with family5 out of 5
- Good with young children5 out of 5
- Good with other dogs5 out of 5
- Openness to strangers5 out of 5
- Playfulness5 out of 5
- Watchdog and protective nature3 out of 5
- Adaptability4 out of 5
- Trainability5 out of 5
- Energy level4 out of 5
- Mental stimulation needs4 out of 5
- Barking level2 out of 5
- Shedding3 out of 5
- Grooming frequency1 out of 5
- Drooling3 out of 5
Care
The routines that matter most for this breed. Open one at a time.
Nutrition
The Porcelaine does well on a high-quality dog food, whether commercially made or home-prepared under your veterinarian's supervision and approval. Match the diet to your dog's life stage, whether puppy, adult, or senior.
Some dogs gain weight easily, so keep an eye on calorie intake and overall weight. Treats are a useful training aid, but too many can lead to obesity. Learn which human foods are safe for dogs and which are not, and check with your vet if you have any concerns about your dog's weight or diet.
Keep clean, fresh water available at all times.
Grooming
The Porcelaine's smooth, short coat is easy to care for. Regular weekly grooming plus the occasional bath keeps it clean and looking sharp, and grooming time doubles as a nice chance to bond with your dog.
Trim the strong, fast-growing nails regularly with a clipper or grinder to prevent overgrowth, splitting, and cracking. Check the ears often to keep wax and debris from building up, and brush the teeth regularly.
Exercise
Porcelaines are very active and need plenty of exercise, so they are not a fit for apartment living. Because of their strong drive to follow their nose, they do best with a fenced yard to run in. Always keep your Porcelaine on a leash outside the fence, or use a GPS tracking collar if it is working off leash.
Exercise can come from play in the fenced yard or several walks a day. Outdoor activities like swimming, hiking, and retrieving balls or flying discs give a good outlet for that energy.
For mental work, try indoor games such as hide-and-seek, chasing a ball rolled along the floor, or learning new tricks. Training for dog sports like agility, obedience, and rally is another good way to keep your dog active and engaged.
Training
The Porcelaine crate-trains and housebreaks easily and can live indoors. Despite being a capable hunter, it is gentle and relatively easy to handle.
This breed tends to prefer a single-dog household where it is the sole object of your affection. If disagreements with other dogs or possessive behavior start to develop, correct your dog right away and do not let the behavior continue.
Health conditions
1 condition is documented for the Porcelaine.
A predisposition is not a diagnosis. Ask your vet which screenings make sense for your dog's age.
- Dental MalocclusionOral & Dental
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