Billy
BEE-yee
France· Poitou, western France
The Billy is a large French scenthound developed at the Chateau du Billy in Poitou for pack hunting deer and wild boar.
At a glance
Quick facts
Size
Large
Exercise needs
2 hours+ per day
Home size suited to
Large
Grooming frequency
Weekly brush
Coat length
Short
Sheds
Yes
Lifespan
12-14 years
Town or country
Country preferred
Garden size needed
Large
Where it comes from
Origins of the Billy
Created on the Chateau du Billy estate in Poitou, this striking white hound was bred for stamina and a loud, ringing voice needed to hunt deer and boar through dense forest. Its creator drew on now-extinct French hound lines to fix a type suited to large, driven hunts. The open woodland and farmland of Poitou provided ample scope for the pack work the breed was designed for. Its rarity today reflects how tied it remains to traditional French pack hunting.
- Region
- Poitou, western France
- Climate it was bred for
- Mixed farmland and forest of western France
- Original job
- Pack hunting deer, wolf and wild boar
The long read
About the breed
Bred from now-extinct hound lines, it developed great stamina, a powerful voice and the courage needed to hunt dangerous game in dense forest as part of a large pack.
It is a sociable, energetic breed that thrives on activity and pack company, but it is not an easy pet for a typical household given its size, drive and need for space.
The Billy remains extremely rare, surviving today mainly through French hunting clubs dedicated to preserving the breed.
Living with one
Temperament & needs
Our own ratings, based on the breed standard and how these dogs behave in ordinary homes.
Friendliness
3/5
How openly the Billy greets people it does not know.
Trainability
3/5
How readily the breed takes to training in an ordinary home.
Energy
3/5
How much daily exercise and stimulation the breed expects.
Barking
3/5
How vocal the breed tends to be day to day.
Grooming
3/5
How much coat work the breed needs to stay comfortable.
Suits a first-time owner
3/5
How forgiving the Billy is for someone taking on their first dog.
Illustrated breed standard
The points of the breed
Hover or tap a numbered point to read what the standard asks for.
Point 1
Skull
The Billy's skull is judged on balance rather than size — proportionate to the body, with a clean cheek and a stop typical of the breed. Coarseness or an over-refined head are both faulted.
Timeline
History & development
1850s
Created at Chateau du Billy
Baron Gerard developed the breed using now-extinct French hound lines such as the Ceris and Larye.
1870s
Pack hunting use
The Billy became established for large-scale pack hunts of deer and boar.
1914-1945
Wartime decline
The two World Wars devastated the breed's population along with many French hound breeds.
1950s
Revival
Dedicated breeders rebuilt the population from surviving stock.
1990s
Small stable population
The breed has since been maintained at low but stable numbers by specialist hunting packs.
Reference
Breed standard summary
- body
- Long, deep chest with a strong, slightly arched loin.
- coat
- Short, fine and glossy.
- ears
- Fine, set at eye level, reaching towards the nose.
- eyes
- Dark, lively and intelligent.
- head
- Long and narrow, with a slightly domed skull.
- size
- Dogs 58-65cm, bitches 55-62cm
- colour
- White, sometimes with orange or lemon patches.
- temperament
- Bold, energetic and sociable, with strong pack drive.
- general appearance
- A large, elegant, powerfully built hound with a distinctive pure white or lightly marked coat.
Health
What to screen for
Green means little to worry about, amber means ask the breeder for test results, red means manage it actively.
General information only — always speak to your vet about your own dog.
From real owners
Dogs like this
Billys added by PawPoint members through their pet passports. Share yours to appear here.
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Made for the Billy
The book, plus prints, hoodies and mugs using our own Billy illustration — and one everyday accessory that suits any dog.
The book
Pawpoint: The Complete Dog Breed Book
Every officially recognised breed plus the unofficial ones nobody else documents. 400+ pages, hardback, printed and shipped from the UK.
Own stock — shipped by us
Framed poster
Billy Framed Poster
Museum-weight print of our Billy illustration, framed or unframed.
Printed to order
Hoodie
Billy Hoodie
Heavyweight hoodie carrying the Billy illustration on the chest.
Printed to order
Mug
Billy Mug
Ceramic mug with the Billy illustration wrapped around it.
Printed to order
Accessory
Car Seatbelt Restraint
Clips any harness to a standard seatbelt buckle.
Fits any dog
Pawpoint on YouTube
Watch the full Billy video
Breed deep-dives, history and honest ownership talk. New film every week.
Watch now