Breed standards

Porcelaine

Breed standards are the official guidelines that describe the ideal characteristics, temperament, and appearance of a breed and ensures that the breed is fit for function with soundness essential.

Last Updated: 14 Mar 2024

TRANSLATION: Brought up to date by Dr. Paschoud. Official language (FR).

ORIGIN: France.

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE OFFICIAL VALID STANDARD: 19.10.1964.
UTILIZATION: Scenthound.

FCICLASSIFICATION: Group 6 Scenthounds and related breeds.
Section 1.2 Medium sized hounds With working trial.

Group:
Group 4 (Hounds)
History:
General:

Hunting dog for small game ( driving game to waiting guns ), very distinguished, very French looking and showing top quality in all details of its structure.

Characteristics:
Temperament:
Head And Skull:

HEAD: Must be very typical, lean and finely sculptured; rather long altogether.

CRANIAL REGION:

Skull: Wide at the top between the leathers, occipital protuberance rounded. The forehead is flat, with a median furrow not too much marked.

Stop: Marked, without exaggeration.

FACIAL REGION:

Nose: Well developed and very black. Nostrils well open.

Muzzle: Of good length, neither square nor pointed; the nasal bridge, at first straight, ends very slightly arched.

Lips: The upper lip covers the lower without being drooping or thick. Mucous membranes black.

Eyes:

Normally developed, dark in appearance, well sheltered under the superciliary arches. Expression intelligent and sweet.

Ear:

Leather thin, well curled inwards, ending rather in a point, reaching the end of the muzzle. Set on narrow, never above the line of the eye.

Mouth:
Neck:

Fairly long, light, showing a little dewlap of tense and lean appearance.

Forequarters:

FOREQUARTERS: Forelegs fairly long, lean but not too fine; straight and parallel; tendons well attached.

Shoulder: Constructed for gallop, long, well sloping, well muscled without being heavy.

Body:

Back: Withers well prominent, back broad and straight.

Loins: Wide, very muscular, well coupled, not excessive in length. Croup: Slightly slanting; haunches placed well apart and slightly prominent.

Chest: Average width, but deep.

Ribs: Corresponding to the chest described above, rather long without being flat.

Underline and belly: Flank slightly tucked up, but full.

Hindquarters:

HINDQUARTERS

Thigh: Well descending; muscles very apparent and clean; of moderately strong development.

Hock: Strong and well let down, normally angulated.

Feet:

Forefeet: Typical for a French hound, with rather elongated and fine but tight toes; pads hard and tough.

Hind feet: Typical for a French hound, with rather elongated and fine but tight toes; pads hard and tough.

Tail:

Well attached, fairly strong at the root, thinning at the tip, of average length. Without any longer and coarser, slightly off- standing hairs (like ears of grain). Carried slightly curved.

Gait/Movement:

Lively and gay; gallop light and tireless.

Coat:

Hair: Smooth, thin, close lying and shining; without bare patches.

Colour:

Very white, with roundish orange spots, never extended to a mantle. These spots usually superimpose other black pigmented spots of the skin. Orange ticking on the ears is highly characteristic of the breed.

Sizes:

Height: For dogs   between  55 and 58 cm (22 to 23,5 inches)

For bitches between  53 and 56 cm (21,5 to 22,5 inches)

Faults:

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.

DISQUALIFYING FAULTS:

• Aggressive or overly shy.
• Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities.
• Lack of type.
• Eyes or nose light; excessive lack of pigment.
• Tail furnished with some longer and coarser, slightly off-standing hairs (like ears of grain).
• Coat harsh and thick.
• Orange mantle.
• Orange spots too bright, tending to mahogany, greyish or mingled with black hairs. Distinct orange spots but too pale, and even the absence of spots is not sought after but are not considered as an eliminatory fault.
• Excess or lack of height at withers. An exception may be made for males which, excelling in their quality and therefore capable of being used at stud, reach the maximum height of 60 cm (24 inches).
• Any fault affecting the utilization of the dog, as rickets, lack of a correct stance, insufficient reach of the movement.

Notes:
  • Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.
  • Only functionally and clinically healthy dogs, with breed typical conformation should be used for breeding.

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