PORCELAINE

Temperament: Gentle, Active
Height: 21-23 inches
Weight: 55 – 62 pounds
Life Expectancy: Hound Dogs
Dog Breed Group: 12-13 years

MORE ABOUT THIS BREED

The name Porcelaine refers to its shining coat, which makes it look like a porcelain statuette. During its heyday in the 1700s, the Porcelaine was considerably larger than the modern breed of today. It is a very distinguished-looking dog with a finely chiseled head, a black nose with wide-open nostrils, and a flat forehead. Its eyes are dark with a sweet expression. The ears are thin, conical and pointed. The neck is long and slender, and the tail is hefty at the base but narrowing to a point at the end. The skin should be pink with sparse black mottling that shows up through the white coat. From a distance it gives an impression of pale blue glass. The solid white coat is composed of very fine hair of miraculously short length. The color can be interrupted by orange spots on the body but especially on its notable, sizeable ears.

PERSONALITY

The Porcelaine is an energetic and fierce hunter, but gentle at home and easy to handle. It is good with other dogs and children. This friendly hound is vigorous and tireless with a wonderful sense of smell and a musical voice. Because these dogs hunt together without orders from their owner, they have developed into very independent dogs which are brave and very sociable. This is one of the few French hunting dogs that has overcome the confines of its native land and aroused interest abroad.

FEEDING

As a large-breed dog, the Porcelaine should be fed a high-quality dry food formulated for large breeds. Because the Porcelaine breed was developed specifically for hunting, however, he may also do well on an active or working breed formula.

HEALTH

The Porcelaine is generally a healthy breed with no significant health problems to report. Like all dogs, however, he may be prone to certain conditions which may include ear infections, field injuries, hip dysplasia, and bloat.

CARE

This breed needs a lot of exercise, including a daily, long, brisk walk or jog. While out on the walk the dog must be made to heel beside or behind the person holding the lead, as instinct tells a dog the leader leads the way, and that leader needs to be the human.

Though the Porcelaine is a sizable breed, he has a gentle temperament and is generally fairly easy to handle. These dogs were bred to hunt in packs, so they tend to get along well with other dogs and they do well with firm, consistent handling. The Porcelaine is able to hunt independently without orders but he remains a fairly obedient dog in the home environment. These dogs require a great deal of mental and physical exercise to prevent the development of problem behaviors as well as early training to prevent them from becoming willful.

GROOMING

The very short coat of the Porcelaine is incredibly low maintenance, needing only an infrequent brush down to remove dead fur and skin. Hound mitts are a particularly good tool for this task. If not walked on roads or pavements, the thick claws of this breed will need to be trimmed every couple of months.

After each hunt or outdoor excursion, a diligent owner will check their dog over, ensuring they have not suffered any lacerations and are not harbouring any brambles, grass awns or ticks. This routine should be started as early as possible in the dog’s life to ensure they readily accept it.

Owners should pay close attention to the ears of their Porcelaine, as they are more prone to infections than breeds of dog with erect ears. As their ears are pendulous they have poor airflow and tend to become overly moist and warm. This environment can lead to a build-up of micro-organisms, resulting in ear infections. Dogs that swim or bathe regularly are at a particularly increased risk.

SOME PICTURES ABOUT THIS BREED

Source: dogbreedinfo, petguide.