Let's talk Porcelaines
The elegant-looking Porcelaine is quite the opposite of what their name suggests. This talented scent hound, who hails from France, was named for their distinctive white coat. When outdoors, they are alert and energetic, but the Porcelaine is a calm canine once inside and will always welcome a friendly scratch behind the ears from their humans. The Porcelaine will feel stifled in an apartment due to their size and athletic prowess, so a house with a fenced garden is a more suitable stomping ground for them.Official name: Porcelaine
Other names: Chien de Franche-Comté
Origins: France
| Drooling tendencies |
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Warm weather? |  |
| Shedding level | |
Suited to apartment living? |  |
| Energy level (high, low, medium)*: | Moderate | Family pet? |
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| Compatibility with other pets | |
Can stay alone?* | 
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*We advise against leaving pets alone for long stretches.
Companionship can prevent emotional distress and destructive behaviour. Speak to your veterinarian for recommendations.
Every pet is different, even within a breed; this snapshot of this breed’s specifics should be taken as an indication.
For a happy, healthy and well-behaved pet, we recommend educating and socialising your pet as well as covering their basic welfare, social and behavioural needs.
Pets should never be left unsupervised with a child.
Contact your breeder or veterinarian for further advice.
Male
55 - 58 cm
Height
25 - 28 kg
Weight
Female
53 - 56 cm
Height
25 - 28 kg
Weight
| Baby age: | Birth to 2 months |
| Puppy age: | 2 to 12 months |
| Adult age: | 1 to 7 years |
| Mature age: | 7 to 10 years |
| Senior age: | From 10 years |
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Get to know the Porcelaine
All you need to know about the breed
If you’re looking for a rare breed with sporting instincts and an affectionate temperament, then you’re on the right track with the Porcelaine. This French scent hound dates back to the 1700s, when they were primarily bred to hunt. These days, the Porcelaine has evolved into a calm canine companion, although they are still predominantly owned by hunters who use them for their excellent scent skills.
The majestic Porcelaine is a pack dog, so they are content to be around other dogs—in fact they need to be around them. However their strong prey drive means that smaller household pets will fare less well in their company.
It will come as no surprise that the medium-sized Porcelaine is an active dog who prefers to live close to nature with a fenced space to run around in. Requiring between one to three hours of exercise per day, they are definitely not for self-confessed couch potatoes.
Once trained, the Porcelaine is calm at home and gets on well with children—but like all dog breeds, they should not be left alone with them. These dogs need a family that can satisfy their tireless energy and show them affection, which they will enthusiastically return.
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2 facts about Porcelaines
1. Definitely dog-friendly
Like most dogs originally bred to hunt, the Porcelaine is used to being part of a pack. They will thrive when surrounded by other canines, and are likely to feel lonely if they’re the only dog of the household.
2. What’s in a name?
The Porcelaine is so named because of their beautiful white coat, which is marbled with black dots, as opposed to them being fragile. “Porcelaine” in French translates to porcelain china. Their French moniker, “Chien de Franche-Comté” refers to the region that played a significant role in the breed’s development, located close to the Swiss border.
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History of the breed
The Porcelaine’s origins can be traced back to the 1700s, when these elegant dogs were bred in France and Switzerland, with the purpose of helping hunters to flush out both small and large animals. Experts believe that their canine ancestors include the English Harrier, Laufhounds, Montaimboeuf, and the Talbot Hound.
Renowned for their pointing skills, Porcelaines have always been well-liked for their calm and affectionate temperament indoors. Like many French hunting breeds, the Porcelaine’s existence was threatened by the Revolution of 1789 that lasted for a decade. Dedicated breeders found Porcelaines on both the French and Swiss border, helping to make sure that the Porcelaine didn’t die out.
The Porcelaine remains a rare breed, and is not well known outside of France, Switzerland and Italy. They were recognised by the United Kennel Club in 1996 and only very recently, in 2017, by the American Kennel Club.
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From head to tail
Physical characteristics of Porcelaines
1. Body
A well proportioned body of medium size.
2. Eyes
Eyes are dark in colour with an intelligent expression.
3. Coat
A short, sleek coat, always white with round orange specks on the ears.
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Things to look out for
From specific breed traits to a general health overview, here are some interesting facts about your Porcelaine
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Caring for your Porcelaine
Grooming, training and exercise tips
Grooming a Porcelaine is straightforward—their short, silky coat requires one weekly brush. Ensure good dental health with regular brushing of their teeth (daily if possible) as well as frequent nail clipping. They are long-eared dogs, so may be prone to skin lesions from running around in brambles outside. Check their ears regularly for wax or dirt build-up, especially in wet weather and clean them when necessary. Porcelaines are active dogs who require a substantial amount of exercise. They can blow off steam in a fenced garden and join you on a long walk or hike. Always keep your Porcelaine on a leash when outside as their skill for picking up scents may lead to them running off and getting lost. They will also be content to learn new tricks and play games such as hide and seek with you. Their intelligence makes them cooperative when it comes to training. Start early and adopt a firm but gentle approach. Any food rewards should count as part of their daily food rations to prevent unnecessary weight gain.7/7
All about Porcelaines
Porcelaines don’t shed much thanks to their short coat, which is also easy to groom with just one weekly brush required. This means more time playing inside or heading out for a long walk together!
Yes, Porcelaines are affectionate towards humans and once trained, they get on great with children, although like any other breed they should not be left alone with them. However, this is a breed that still likes to use their scent skills and be surrounded by other dogs, preferably close to nature.
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Sources
1 - Veterinary Centers of America https://vcahospitals.com/
2 - Royal Canin Dog Encyclopaedia. Ed 2010 and 2020
3 - Banfield Pet Hospital https://www.banfield.com/
4 - Royal Canin BHN Product Book
5 - American Kennel Club https://www.akc.org/