Billy

Breed Rating

Breed Details

General

The Billy is a large hound dog that originated in France in 19th century. The breed is a combination of Montemboeuf, Ceris and Larye breeds which are now extinct. The dog was developed to work in packs to hunt Wild Boar and Roe Deer. The large Billy dog has height and weight between 23-27 inches and 50-70 pounds respectively. Females are shorter and lighter. The head is fairly fine, lean and medium in length with a slightly doomed forehead. The muzzle is moderate in length and square. The nose is well developed and comes in black or red brown color. Eyes are open with red brown or black eye rims. They have expression of alertness. The rather flat ears are medium in size and set high on head. Neck is strong and medium in length and sometimes has a slight dewlap. Forelegs are strong and vertical, with flat bone while the Hind legs are moderately muscled. The hocks are slightly bent, wide and strong. The tail is long, strong and sometimes slightly feathered. The coat is smooth and short and comes in pure white and off-white colors; sometimes with orange and lemon spots on head and body.

The Billy is a typical hound dog. It has very fast speed and is very energetic. It needs lots of space to run and play off leash and is definitely not an apartment dog. Very intelligent and courageous, the dog has been known to compete in obedience.

The Billy is NOT recognized by AKC however UKC and FCI recognize this dog as a pure breed.

Color

The Billys come in two colors; pure white and off white. There can be lemon or orange spots on head and body.

Coat

The Billy has short and harsh coat that is easy to groom.

Personality

One of the most graceful of French dogs, the Billy is an intelligent, alert, courageous and very energetic dog. It is an instinctive hunter developed for hunting in packs. Though this dog has a hunting background, it is a very suitable and dependable family pet as well due to its even temperament and likeable qualities. The Billy is obedient, affectionate and loyal to its master and family. It is very playful and gentle with children. Very sociable, these dogs are very trainable. The dog is quarrelsome with other dogs and same sex dogs and may not get along well with other pets in the family. It is a very energetic dog that loves to run and play off leash. Due to its high levels of activeness, the Billy is not suitable for apartment or small house. It is best suited to suburban or rural setting. The dog is very fast and agile. It is very happy when outside though its short coat and thin skin is not enough to keep the dog warm during cold seasons.

Care

The short coat is easy to groom as occasional once or twice brushing is enough to keep the coat clean. The dog should be protected in cold season.

Training

The Billy shows remarkable trainable attitude. This dog is extremely trainable. It can be trained to compete in dog sport such as obedience.

Activity

The Billy has high demands for exercise and for this reason, it is not suitable dog for apartment living. The dog requires constant mental and physical stimulation and is happiest when doing some work. It needs large open spaces to run and play freely and thus utilize its high energy levels.