Porcelaine: How should an owner handle adolescent behaviour changes?
When a young Porcelaine becomes less reliable, return to the last version of the behaviour that was working and rebuild from there. Schedule the first attempt after the dog's normal age-appropriate outlet, not at peak excitement. Return to easier cues, shorten sessions, increase reinforcement, and manage the environment while skills are rebuilt. Keep the easier version in the routine while reliability returns; do not test the hardest version every day.
What can change during adolescence
Porcelaine's exercise is recorded as Despite Porcelaines being fierce hunters, they are gentle and relatively easy to handle. Here, that matters because it changes the amount and timing of movement, stimulation, and recovery this situation needs.
Rebuild the behaviour you want
- Return to easier cues, shorten sessions, increase reinforcement, and manage the environment while skills are rebuilt.
- Use this exercise note (Despite Porcelaines being fierce hunters, they are gentle and relatively easy to handle) to choose the starting amount of movement and the length of the recovery period.
- Keep the easier version in the routine while reliability returns; do not test the hardest version every day.
Arrange an assessment if
Escalate for sudden personality change, pain, disorientation, or aggression that cannot be safely managed.
References
Height: 22-23 inches
AKC page PageMap DataObject > height
Weight: 55-62 pounds
AKC page PageMap DataObject > weight
Life expectancy: 12-13 years
AKC page PageMap DataObject > life_expectancy
Grooming: Beyond regular weekly grooming, the occasional bath will keep your Porcelaine clean and looking his best. Grooming can be a wonderful bonding experience for you and your dog. The strong, fast-growing nails should be trimmed regularly with a nail clipper or grinder to avoid overgrowth, splitting, and cracking. Their ears should be checked regularly to avoid…
AKC page Grooming > official section copy
Exercise: Despite Porcelaines being fierce hunters, they are gentle and relatively easy to handle. Because of their strong drive to follow their nose, they should have a fenced yard to run in. On walks, always have your Porcelaine on a leash when you're going outside or use a GPS tracking collar if working off leash. Very active dogs, Porcelaines need a lot of…
AKC page Exercise > official section copy
Training: Porcelaines prefer to be in a single-dog household and the sole object of your affection. If disagreements between other dogs or possessive behavior develop, you must correct your dog immediately and not allow this behavior to persist. This breed is easily crate-trained and housebroken and make superb indoor pets.
AKC page Training > official section copy
Official breed description: The Porcelaine is elegant, energetic, and a fierce hunter; he is used for small game, driving it to waiting guns. He is very fond of his owners, family, friends and children and he loves to take part in all family activities. He excels as a house pet and is easily crate trained and housebroken.
AKC page About the Breed > official breed description
Official breed standard: http://www.fci.be/Nomenclature/Standards/030g06-en.pdf
AKC page The Breed Standard > View Full Breed Standard
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