The Billy

History, origin & features

The Billy dog is a breed of French origin, created by Hublot du Rivault (lord of Billy in the Poitou region) to recreate the famous Blanc du Roy dog. Specimens of this breed formed the royal packs for over 2 centuries, until 1725.
The Billy was thus born of crosses between various breeds that are now extinct. Not very widespread because it's little known, this breed is found almost exclusively in the Poitou region. The Billy is a lively, docile, hard-working hound. Used for hunting game, they have a very good sense of smell and don't bark excessively. Devoted to his master, he will win over other members of the family. He can work in all weathers, but prefers to work alone rather than in a pack. Billys are medium-sized dogs, well built but light and very fast. His coat is short and hard to the touch. Their color is generally white, but they can also be found in café-au-lait white, or white with light orange or lemon spots or mantle.