Billy

The history of the scent hound type has been recorded since the middle ages, when the monks of St Hubert monastery, Belgium, developed dogs from Gaul (now France) to be superb hounds, slow but deliberate hunters, capable scent trackers with bellowing voices and an impressive appearance. Thought to be one of the most elegant of all the French dog breeds, the Billy breed, also called the Chien de France-Comte, is the last dog breed to descend from a large scent hound that was fashionable with the French royalty from the reign of King Francois I to the time of King Louis XIV’s rule.

The King’s White Dog, the Chien Blanc du Roy was the ancestor to the Billy and the breeds that make up its early lineage. The King’s White Dogs were used as pack hunters by the French royalty for centuries. During the French Revolution, in the 1700’s, the royal packs were disbanded and the King’s White Dog would eventually disappear as a breed, but it passed its genes on to other scent hounds that were to later develop into outstanding hunting dogs in their own rite.

The Billy breed’s earliest history can be traced back to the 19th century in central western France. The King’s White Dog was being bred with smaller Swiss hounds at that time to produce a new type of dog, the Ceris. With the genes of this magnificent hunter, combined with the genes of the Montembeouf and Layre breeds, Gaston Hublot du Rivault created the first Billy dog at Chateau du Billy in Poitou, France. The new breed was so named for its place of origin. The early lineage of the Billy fashioned in this new breed, a dog that possessed speed and excellent scenting abilities, as well as an incredible resilience and fortitude of spirit. The Billy was used, as its successors had been in previous centuries, in packs for the purpose of hunting Roe Deer and Wild Boar.

These scent hounds specifically used in the development of the Billy breed were so used for their talents in specific hunting areas. The Montembeouf was known for its skill at hunting Wild Boar and for its large but elegant physique; it possessed strong bones, muscular limbs, and a strikingly beautiful off white coat that was often littered with orange patches. The Ceris was used in the making of the Billy breed because of its its outstanding ability to hunt Hare and Wolf, and the Larye was important for the development of the Billy due to its keen nose. From these elder dog breeds, the Billy would see its genesis. The early hounds used in the creation of the Billy were of pure French blood, making the Billy breed an aristocratic and true scent hound without the outside genetic influences of other hound types.

A stylish and noble hunter of aristocratic blood; the Billy is beautiful, powerful, and well built. Large in size, but lean and light-weight. The Billy is solidly built, with strong bones and well developed muscles. The breed possesses an elegant but athletic appearance. The Billy is of typical hound appearance; floppy ears, an alert expression, and sleek fur; however the Billy’s most outstanding feature is its stunning off-white coat. The Billy breed can be as tall as 23 to 27 inches at the withers, and weigh between 52 to 70 lbs.

The head of the Billy dog is of medium length with a faintly domed forehead and a well defined stop. The Billy’s eyes are alert and open, the eyes are dark with dark rims giving the Billy an observant expression. The bridge of the Billy’s nose is wide; the nose is well developed and is black or reddish brown in color. The breed possesses a square muzzle, moderate in length and straight. The Billy’s upper lip covers the lower one but does not hang excessively. The ears are set high and of medium size, flat and slightly inward facing.

The Billy is an outstanding hunter, bred in the 19th century to hunt big games in large packs along the French countryside. As such, the Billy has a well developed voice, almost a musical and harmonious call