Appearance

Billys can come in pure and off-white, possibly with orange or with lemon spots on the head and body; their coat is short and smooth.

History

A Billy is a large hunting dog originating from Central western France in the 19th century. Billys are a combination of Montemboeuf, Ceris and Larye breeds which are now extinct. Foxblood has been introduced to the Billy to keep bloodlines fresh. Billys were first bred by Monsieur Gaston Hublot du Rivault, who lived at the Chateau de Billy, in Poitou. They were mainly used as pack hunting dogs to track Roe deer and Wild Boar, which they still continue to do in their native France. The standard for the breed was established in 1886.