A Billy is a large hunting dog originating from Central western France

France

The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan 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

Poitou

Poitou was a province of west-central France whose capital city was Poitiers.The region of Poitou was called Thifalia in the sixth century....

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They were mainly used as pack hunting dogs to track Roe deer

Deer

Deer are the ruminant mammals forming the family Cervidae. Species in the Cervidae family include white-tailed deer, elk, moose, red deer, reindeer, fallow deer, roe deer and chital. Male deer of all species and female reindeer grow and shed new antlers each year...

 and Wild Boar

Boar

Wild boar, also wild pig, is a species of the pig genus Sus, part of the biological family Suidae. The species includes many subspecies. It is the wild ancestor of the domestic pig, an animal with which it freely hybridises...

, which they still continue to do in their native France

France

The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...

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The standard for the breed was established in 1886. The Billy is not an apartment dog and needs a lot of exercise, like most large hounds they are difficult off the lead and extremely fast. They have been known to be same sex aggressive and do not always get along with other dogs, they are very intelligent and courageous and have been known to compete in obedience.

Description

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. They can weigh between 52-70lbs and they stand around 60-70cm at the shoulder for males and 58-62cm for females. The Fédération Cynologique Internationale

Fédération Cynologique Internationale

Fédération Cynologique Internationale is an international federation of kennel clubs based in Thuin, Belgium. The English language translation, World Canine Organisation, is not often used.Its goals are described in Article 2 of their regulations:...

standard suggests the dog should gallop easily in its movement.