Billy

Other names: Chien de France-Comte

Billy

The Billy is a large scenthound native to the central and western provinces of France. The breed was all but wiped out during WW2 and today is still considered a rare breed. It is rarely seen out of its native lands where it is put to use as a hunter of roe deer and wild boar. The size of the dog and its hunting heritage belie a gentle, calm and loving temperament. Although primarily used to hunt large game this dog makes a worthwhile family pet. 

Key facts about the Billy

Life expectancy :

5

17

10

12

Temperament :

Intelligent Hunter

Size :

Origins and history

The Billy was first bred in the 1800s. It is named after the Château de Billy, in Poitou. The breeder (Monsieur Gaston Hublot de Rivault) bred a succession of native hounds to deliberately bring about a dog with the distinctive pale colourings of the Billy. Only two dogs of the breed survived World War 2. To this day it remains a rare breed. 

FCI breed nomenclature

FCI Group

Group 6 - Scent hounds and related breeds

Section

Section 1 : Scent hounds

Physical characteristics of the Billy

    Adult size

    Female : Between 23 and 24 in

    Male : Between 24 and 28 in

    Weight

    Female : Between 73 and 77 lb

    Male : Between 73 and 77 lb

    Coat colour

    White

    Type of coat

    Very short
    Hard

    Eye colour

    Brown

    Description

    Strong yet light on its feet and agile, the Billy is a well-proportioned and muscular hound. Its muzzle is squared and long; ears are high and set flat, turned slightly inwards. Its sabre tail is long and feathered and is carried upwards when the dog is active. 

    Good to know

    Consistent socialisation and training of a Billy may dampen the dog’s natural instinct to chase and kill smaller animals, but these measures will not eradicate the instinct. Care should be taken during meetings between Billies and smaller animals. 

    Temperament

    • 66%

      Affectionate

      A loving, loyal and affectionate family dog is the Billy. Despite its exceptional hunting abilities the well-adjusted Billy does not tend to be aggressive.

    • 66%

      Playful

      A dog that is playful among its pack is the Billy, but it can also be very easily distracted. 

    • 33%

      Calm

      The Billy is always on the move. It is a dog that bores easily and will seek out trouble if left to its own devices. The Billy is not the calmest of dogs. 

    • 100%

      Intelligent

      This dog is highly intelligent and can be trained to exceptional obedience, but it easily loses focus. Sounds, scents and noises are all of extreme interest to the Billy.  

    • 100%

      Hunter

      The Billy has an exceptionally high prey drive. 

    • 33%

      Fearful / wary of strangers

      The Billy enjoys meeting new people and will greet them with great enthusiasm. Household visitors should have no concerns about meeting this dog for the first time.

    • 66%

      Independent

      The Billy is bred as a pack animal. It relies on those around him for direction. 

      Behaviour of the Billy

      • 33%

        Tolerates solitude

        This dog tolerates short periods of solitude.

      • 66%

        Easy to train / obedience

        Billies are notoriously difficult to train due to their having a short span of attention. They can be tempted back to class with treats. 

      • 100%

        Barking

        This dog barks to excess; its bark is deep and booming. 

      • 100%

        Tendency to run away

        A well-trained Billy can sometimes be recalled but it will not come back if its focus is elsewhere. It has a tendency to be stubborn. 

      • 66%