Porcelaine

Breed Rating

Breed Details

General

The Porcelaine is a scenthound dog that originated in France. Also called Chien de Franche-Comte and Lun�ville Hound, this breed is considered to be oldest French scenthound breed. Its name Porcelaine refers to its shining coat that makes this dog look like a porcelaine statuette. The dog has incredibly short, very fine smooth hair and the black mottling on pink skin that gives the coat the sheen likened to porcelain. At a distance, the coat would look like a pale blue glass. This dog was used to hunt hare and roe deers. As is the case with most old breeds, there is uncertainty over exact origination of this dog. It is believed to have originated from now extinct Montaimboeuf dog. It was also believed that this beautiful and statuesque breed has descended from the English Harrier and from the Swiss Laufhunds. Because of the impressive white coat the Chien Blanc du Roy and the white variant of the St. Huberts was considered as the progenitors of this breed. Like any other ancient breeds the origin of the Porcelaine is also uncertain. However, the breed's existence was traced back to the 1600s.

This medium size dog stands between 22-23 inches and weighs about 55-62 lbs. The nose of a Porcelaine dog is black with very wide nostrils. It also has black eyes and long ears that droop down. The neck is long and the tail starts thick and narrows to a point at the end. The fur is white, sometimes with orange spots, often on the ears. The skin should be white with black mottling that is visible through the white coat. The fur is incredibly short and very fine.

This breed is NOT recognized by AKC however it is recognized by FCI.

Color

It has very white fur with sometimes orange spots, often on the ears.

Coat

The single coat is dense, incredibly short and lay flat against the dog creating a smooth look.

Personality

Apart from being a fierce and tenacious hunter, the Porcelaine is a sweet-natured and gentle dog breed that is known for its loyalty to its family and high activity levels. This is a working dog that needs something to do. It is an even tempered and loving dog that loves its family and is specially gentle, kind and playful with children. It can get along with other dogs but should not be trusted with other non-canine pets as it does have a high prey drive. This intelligent breed is very friendly with one and all and craves for attention from its family. It should not be left alone for longer time periods as the dog will experience separation anxiety and may become destructive and/or vocal. Its melodious bark earns him the 'singing dog' title which it can use to attract attention of its family. This breed does need an experienced and firm owner as this dog may show stubborn behavior due to its independent nature. The Porcelaine dog makes a very loving dog and excellent hunting companion.

Care

This breed sports a very short coat that is naturally self-cleaning. It does not require extensive grooming as the coat will be in top condition with once in a while brushing with soft brush. Ears should be cleaned and checked for infection regularly.

Training

An experienced handler is needed to guide this dog with firm yet gentle training. Though relatively easy to handle, the Porcelaine dog can be stubborn due to its independent nature. Positive and consistent training with an experienced trainer will bring the best out of this dog.

Activity

Noted for very high activity level, the Porcelaine is a very energetic and hard working breed that will need more than walks to be happy and fit. This dog is suitable for families with a large yard where the dog can run and play freely. The breed will become very destructive if they are bored so exercise is very important.