Discover Everything About Billy
Learn about the breed characteristics, health, history, and find trusted breeders
At a glance
Billy overview
The essentials — key facts, traits, and health priorities — before you dive deeper.
Health grade
Relative to other breeds
For the rare Billy breed, there are currently no officially recorded breed-specific genetic tests, primarily due to the small population size. Nevertheless, buyers should look out for hip dysplasia (HD), which can occur in scent hounds of this stature, as well as the breed-typical risk of life-threatening gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV). Additionally, the long, floppy ears are anatomically prone to painful ear infections.
Lifespan
12–15 yrs
Height
58–70 cm
Weight
24–30 kg
Practical
- Puppy price: 1,500 – 2,500 €
- Coat: Please provide the breed you want me to categorize.
- Origin: France
Typical coat colors
- Please name the breed to be categorized.
Temperament
Daily life
What matters most
Especially with a Billy, choosing the right breeder is the single most important decision you'll make. Serious breeders consistently test the parents for inherited conditions, prioritize healthy early socialization, and stay accountable long after handover. A cheap puppy without health screening tends to become the most expensive dog later on.
See HonestDog breeder standards →Is the Billy right for you?
The Billy is an elegant, lightning-fast pack hound—bred for the endurance and vocal pursuit of big game in French packs. This is a highly specialized athlete that lives for the trail, not the sofa.
Perfect for you if:
- You live in a rural area and have a large, completely escape-proof fenced property.
- You have a genuine interest in intensive running and scent work (like mantrailing or canicross)—this dog needs more than just long walks; he needs a job.
- Ideally, you already own other active dogs, as this true pack hound really thrives in a group.
- You are a confident and patient leader who doesn't expect blind, robotic obedience.
Less ideal if:
- You live in the city or a thin-walled apartment—his baying is audible from a distance and deeply rooted in his genetics.
- You are looking for a companion that will reliably trot off-leash beside you in the woods—as soon as he catches a scent, his brain switches to autopilot.
- You have to leave him alone for long periods regularly, as isolation causes extreme stress for a highly social pack hound.
- You only have an average activity budget and prefer to stay cozy indoors on rainy days.
The real vibes check
A Billy isn't the type of dog to constantly check in with you during a walk—he has his nose to the wind and his own agenda. You get a highly social, friendly athlete who is gentle indoors but turns into an uncompromising hunter the moment he's outside. If you mistake this independence for stubbornness, you'll be frustrated; if you channel it, you'll gain a fascinating partner.
Breed Profile
The Golden Retriever is a friendly and intelligent dog breed that was originally bred in Scotland for hunting and retrieving game. It belongs to the retriever group and is characterized by its dense, water-repellent coat in golden shades. With its balanced temperament, gentle eyes, and strong, muscular build, the Golden Retriever is a versatile companion that excels both as a family dog and in dog sports and as a therapy dog. Similar to the Labrador and German Shepherd, there are also differences between working and show lines in the Golden Retriever, with the working line often being more athletic and the show line more compactly built. However, both lines are known for their friendliness and willingness to learn.
| Height | 58 - 62 cm (Female), 60 - 70 cm (Male) |
| Weight | 24 - 28 kg (Female), 25 - 30 kg (Male) |
| Life Expectancy | 12 - 15 years |
| Character | Please provide the breed you want me to categorize. |
| Coat | Please provide the breed you want me to categorize. |
| Coat Color | Please name the breed to be categorized. |
| Price | 1500 - 2500 € |
History
The history of the Billy dog breed began in the 19th century in France and is closely linked to the breeder Gaston Hublot de Rivault. On his estate, the Château de Billy in Poitou, he dedicated himself to creating a high-performance scent hound for pack hunting of large game such as deer and wild boar. To achieve this goal, he crossed the now-extinct French hound breeds Montemboeuf, Ceris, and Larye. The result was an elegant, enduring, and vocal hunting dog named after the breeder's ancestral home. The Billy inherited the excellent nose and keen tracking instinct of its ancestors and quickly established itself as a valued specialist for demanding parforce hunting. Despite its hunting qualities, the breed suffered severe setbacks during the 20th century, particularly due to the impact of the two World Wars, and was on the verge of extinction. However, through the dedicated efforts of the original breeder's son, Anthony Hublot de Rivault, the population was saved and stabilized. Today, the Billy is recognized by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) in Group 6: Scent Hounds and Related Breeds. Outside of its native France and away from professional pack hunting, this passionate hunting dog remains a great rarity to this day.
The Billy was created by crossing various French hound breeds and was bred for hunting large game such as deer and wild boar.
France
1900
Character & Temperament
The Border Collie is an extremely intelligent and hardworking dog, known for its impressive learning ability and strong work drive. Originally bred as a herding dog, it shows a strong motivation to complete tasks and work closely with its human. This breed requires both physical and mental exercise to remain balanced and content. Border Collies are very attentive and respond quickly to commands, making them excellent for sports such as agility, obedience, or search work. They form a close bond with their family and are usually friendly but also alert. Due to their high energy level, they should not be left alone for too long, as they can otherwise develop behavioral problems. Their prey drive and herding behavior often manifest in a strong urge to control or direct movements, which should be channeled through consistent training. Overall, the Border Collie is a demanding but extremely loyal companion that needs a lot of activity and attention.
| Trainability Has its own ideas and will test limits. | Strong-willed |
| Watchfulness Occasionally alerts but is fundamentally open. | Low |
| Openness to Strangers Warms up quickly and is generally welcoming. | Friendly |
| Hunting or Herding Drive This drive runs deep — no amount of training eliminates it. | Very strong |
Fun Fact!
Dalmatian: Dalmatians are famous for their unique spotted coat, which only becomes visible after a few weeks. Originally bred as carriage dogs, they are now energetic and loyal family members who love lots of exercise and fun.
What Awaits You
Golden Retriever: The Golden Retriever is a friendly and balanced dog, characterized by its eagerness to learn and adaptability. These dogs are very social and are excellent as family dogs as well as therapy or rescue dogs. They require regular exercise and mental stimulation to stay happy and balanced.
Housing & Care
Golden Retrievers are friendly and balanced dogs that are excellent as family pets. They are very patient and loving with children and usually show a high tolerance towards other dogs and pets if socialized early. This breed requires a lot of exercise and mental stimulation to stay happy and balanced. Golden Retrievers feel comfortable both in houses with gardens and in apartments, provided they get enough exercise and shared activities with their people. Their people-oriented and friendly nature makes them loyal companions in everyday life.
Owning a dog is not only a privilege, but also a responsibility. If you want to bring a dog into your life, you must be aware of the commitment that dog ownership entails!!
Training & Education
Border Collie: Border Collies are extremely intelligent and eager-to-work dogs that require consistent and varied activities. Their natural herding and working drive makes them excellent candidates for dog sports such as agility, obedience, or flyball. It is important that you provide your Border Collie not only with physical but also mental challenges to avoid boredom and unwanted behavior. Frustration tolerance and impulse control should be encouraged early on, as Border Collies tend to be very focused and sometimes stubborn. Positive, reward-based training strengthens the bond between you and your dog and supports its willingness to learn. Due to their high energy level and intelligence, Border Collies need a lot of time and commitment to remain balanced and content. Those who are willing to meet these demands will have a loyal, versatile, and highly eager-to-learn companion.
Nutrition & Care
Golden Retriever: Golden Retrievers are friendly and active dogs that require a balanced diet to stay healthy and fit. High-quality food with a good proportion of proteins and essential nutrients supports their energy and promotes a shiny coat. Be careful to avoid overweight, as Golden Retrievers can be prone to gaining weight. The dense, water-repellent coat of the Golden Retriever consists of a soft undercoat and longer guard hairs. Regular brushing, ideally 2-3 times a week, helps prevent matting and removes loose hair. They shed more especially during the coat change in spring and autumn. Golden Retrievers adapt well to the German climate. Their coat protects them from the cold, but in high temperatures, sufficient shade and water should be provided to avoid overheating.
| Care Level | |
| Exercise Needs | |
| Shedding Barely any shedding — occasional vacuuming is enough. | Minimal |
| Trainability Has its own ideas and will test limits. | Strong-willed |
This information is currently being reviewed by experts. If you discover an error, please send an email to info@honestdog.de!!
Health
Solid
Health grade
For the rare Billy breed, there are currently no officially recorded breed-specific genetic tests, primarily due to the small population size. Nevertheless, buyers should look out for hip dysplasia (HD), which can occur in scent hounds of this stature, as well as the breed-typical risk of life-threatening gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV). Additionally, the long, floppy ears are anatomically prone to painful ear infections.
Grade is relative to other breeds — AI-generated by our veterinary-genetics model.
In daily life this can mean
You should regularly check his sensitive floppy ears, ensure he is raised in a way that protects his joints, and enforce strict rest periods after meals to prevent dangerous gastric torsion.
The breeder's role
Reputable breeders have the parents' hips, elbows, heart, and hearing tested and pay strict attention to maintaining genetic diversity to reduce risks within the line.
No Health Tests Available
No specific health tests are currently available for this breed.
Experiences with the Billy
Jean-Pierre B., Jäger aus dem Elsass (Rüde, seit 2021)
Als passionierter Jäger habe ich meinen Rüden vor allem für die Fährtenarbeit im Revier angeschafft. Der Billy ist ein absolutes Kraftpaket und ein geborener Athlet. Wenn wir draußen unterwegs sind, zeigt er eine unglaubliche Ausdauer – er kann problemlos den ganzen Tag laufen und legt dabei kilometerweite Strecken zurück. Sein feiner Geruchssinn und sein Spurwille auf Wildschweine und Rehe sind einfach faszinierend.
Allerdings ist er kein Hund, den man einfach so nebenbei laufen lassen kann. Sein Jagdtrieb ist extrem stark ausgeprägt, und wenn er erst einmal eine Fährte aufgenommen hat, ist er kaum noch zu bremsen. Man braucht eine sehr konsequente, aber einfühlsame Hand bei der Führung. Zudem muss man auf seine herabhängenden Ohren achten, da sich dort schnell Schmutz sammelt und er anfällig für schmerzhafte Ohrenentzündungen ist.
Sabine M., Halterin aus Niedersachsen (Hündin, seit 2020)
Wir leben sehr ländlich und haben uns nach langer Recherche für eine Billy-Hündin entschieden. Was uns täglich begeistert, ist ihr unglaublich freundliches, treues und sanftes Wesen gegenüber der Familie und den Kindern. Wenn sie draußen ihr großes Laufpensum bekommen hat, verwandelt sie sich im Haus in eine richtige Genießerin, die stundenlang in der Sonne liegt oder sich auf dem Sofa entspannt.
Die größte Herausforderung im Alltag ist jedoch ihre ausgeprägte Abenteuerlust. Der Billy gilt nicht umsonst als sehr anfällig fürs Ausbüxen (Fugueur). Unser Garten muss absolut ausbruchsicher eingezäunt sein, denn sobald sie ein interessantes Tier riecht, vergisst sie jede Erziehung. Auch die Haltung mit kleineren Haustieren ist wegen ihres Jagdtriebs extrem riskant, weshalb wir sie von klein auf sehr sorgfältig an andere Tiere gewöhnen mussten.
Marc L., Halter aus dem Schwarzwald (Rüde, seit 2018)
Ich halte meinen Billy-Rüden zusammen mit zwei anderen Hunden und kann nur bestätigen, wie extrem sozialverträglich diese Rasse ist. Als Meutehund blüht er in Gesellschaft anderer Hunde richtig auf. Er zeigt keinerlei Aggressionen gegenüber Artgenossen und ist extrem verträglich. Seine Eleganz und sein wunderschönes, weißes Fell mit den hellorangen Flecken ziehen beim Spazierengehen oft alle Blicke auf sich.
Man darf sich aber nicht täuschen lassen: Der Billy ist absolut kein Hund für die Stadt oder eine Wohnung. Ohne die Möglichkeit, sich frei in der Natur auszutoben, würde er schnell unglücklich und depressiv werden. Außerdem ist er sehr vocal – er schlägt gerne mit dem typischen, lautstarken Spurlaut an, was in einer engen Nachbarschaft schnell zu Problemen führen kann. Auch seine Eigenständigkeit erfordert beim Training viel Geduld, da er manchmal recht stur sein kann.
sinngemäß aus echten Halterberichten
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Frequently asked questions about the Billy
Is a Billy the right dog for me?
The Billy is an adaptable dog that adjusts well to various lifestyles. Research the temperament, grooming needs, and space requirements before deciding.
How long does a Billy live?
The average life expectancy of a Billy is 12-15 years. With proper care and regular vet visits, your dog can live a long, healthy life.
How much grooming does a Billy need?
Billy grooming requirements include regular brushing, nail trimming, and dental care. HonestDog provides detailed grooming tips for every breed.
Is a Billy good for families with children?
The Billy can be a great family dog. Proper training and socialization are key. HonestDog provides family suitability information for every breed.
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