Bloodhound vs Billy - Breed Comparison | MyDogBreeds

Bloodhound is originated from United Kingdom but Billy is originated from France. Bloodhound may grow 14 cm / 5 inches shorter than Billy. Bloodhound may weigh 40 kg / 89 pounds more than Billy. Bloodhound may live 7 years less than Billy. Bloodhound may have more litter size than Billy. Bloodhound requires Low maintenance. But Billy requires Moderate maintenance

History

bloodhound - historyThe history of the Bloodhound breed is a fascinating one. Known as a Sleuthhound for its ability to smell out the culprit and bag the prey. Even more so the Bloodhound is known for tracking and finding lost people. He is famous for finding human scents and being able to follow them even days or weeks after the person is lost. They are also able to track people over a great amount of land and have been known to successfully track escaped prisoners or wanted criminals. They are descended from the Saint-Hubert Hounds that were bred at the Abbey/Monastery at Saint-Hubert, Belgium. According to the legends the St. Hubert hounds were bred by the Monks in 1000AD. This hound was thought to be a mixed breed rather than a purebred. That’s because the ancestry of this hound is not really known but it is known that the monks bred them and sent several to the King of France annually. Only black hounds were gifted.

Some kings preferred not to hunt with these hounds thinking them not good enough while others thought the only use for them was as a leash hound. All described the St. Hubert as long in body with short legs. These gifts continued until the French Revolution when hunting in France was greatly reduced until the 19th century. The original St. Hubert strain became extinct in the 19th century and that the current European St. Hubert hound has its origins in the Bloodhound. The Bloodhound as a separate breed was already established in Europe by the middle of the 14th century. They were used as leach hounds to sniff out the prey so that the pack hounds could chase and keep it “at bay”. They were also used from the beginnings of the breed to track humans. At this time they were often known as sleuth hounds. As recorded by John Caius – the authority on Bloodhounds from their origins – writes about the breeds ability to find and track the scent of blood – thus becoming the Bloodhound and its use to track poachers and thieves. He also reported that the Bloodhound and the Sleuth Hound were the same basic breed. The number of Bloodhounds in Britain gradually declined until few remained after World War II. Britain has gradually built their breed back up by importing dogs from America. It was during the 19th century that the Bloodhound was imported into France by breeders who wished to reestablish the St. Hubert Hound. Thus the St. Hubert is both the ancestor and descendent of the Bloodhound. The Britain’s continue to believe that the Bloodhound is a native British breed.

The Bloodhounds in America have had great success as companion animals, with police departments and forest rangers and showing in the prestigious Westminster Kennel Club in New York. There are more Bloodhounds in the United States than anywhere else in the world.

In the end the Anglo-Saxton Bloodhound cannot be specified with any real certainty. Many believe it was not the St. Hubert that the Bloodhound descended from but rather the Norman hound or the sleuth-hound. Many believe it could have included other breeds such as the southern hound, the dun-hound and the Talbot. It cannot be proven today it the Bloodhound’s origins come from Belgian or England.

The Billy (or Billie) Dog is a rare breed developed in France and mostly still only found in France. Created in the 19th century by Monsieur Gaston Hublot de Rivault and named after his home, Chateau de Billy, he is hunting dog of high quality. The Billy dog was developed by crossing the Poitevin’s original three lines – the Larrye, the Ceris and the Montemboeuf. In developing the Billy, Rivault favored the colors found in the Ceris and Montemboeuf strains as opposed to the tricolors of the Larrye strain. The Billy is a scent hound from all the lines leading back to the monks of the Saint Hubert Monastery in the middle ages, in Belgium, then refined in Gaul (France). The Billy line was considered the most elegant French breed and they were the last breed to come from that large scent hound type that the French nobility and royalty loved to breed.

In 1886 the Federation Cynoloquique Internationale established the standard for the Billy breed. The breed was a great hunter with resilience, speed, scenting and fortitude. The Billy hunted in large packs in pursuit of Wild Boar and Roe Deer. This was accomplished by the crossing of great hunters developed for their specific skills. The Ceris was amazing in its skill to hunt down wolves and hares. The Montemboeuf was a large, elegant dog that hunted wild boar and Larrye for his strong scent ability. Since these three breeds were true French breeds, the Billy was a true aristocratic scent hound in a pure scent hound line.

This gregarious, handsome dog became extremely popular in France in the 19th century. Unfortunately, the World Wars of the 20th century would take their toll on this rare breed and they were almost extinct by the late 1900’. There were only two hounds left by the end of the Second World War. Anthony Rivault, the son of Gaston, set about saving the breed by incorporating the lines of Harrier, the Poilevin and the Porcelaine with the two remaining hounds. From there the breed has been revived and is no longer on the verge of extinction. They are still rare and certainly not “popular”, but they are excellent hunters, especially hunting in packs. Today they are considered one of the breeds used to develop the Grand Anglo-Francais Blanc et Orange in France and there are several packs that hunt roe deer in France, while a couple packs are used to hunt wild boar.

Basic Information

Group:
Hound dog
Hound dog
Origin:
United Kingdom
France
Height Male:
46 - 54 cm
18 - 22 inches
58 - 68 cm
22 - 27 inches
Height Female:
40 - 48 cm
15 - 19 inches
56 - 66 cm
22 - 26 inches
Weight Male:
64 - 72 kg
141 - 159 pounds
22 - 32 kg
48 - 71 pounds
Weight Female:
58 - 66 kg
127 - 146 pounds
20 - 29 kg
44 - 64 pounds
Life Span:
6 - 8 Years
12 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
10 - 14
3 - 5
Size:
Large dog
Giant dog
Other Names:
Sleuth hound • St. Hubert Hound • Saint Hubert Hound • Chien de Saint-Hubert • Flemish Hound
Chien de France-Comte
Colors Available:
Black and Tan, Liver and Tan, Red
White or off-white; may have orange or lemon patches or mantle.
Coat:
Dense and short
harsh, short
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Loving, Loyal, Stubborn
Alert, Courageous, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Loyal, Outgoing, Stubborn
Grooming:
Low maintenance
Moderate maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Moderate
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Description

bloodhound puppy - descriptionWhen being judged for confirmation in a show ring, the preference is for a larger dog, with an unusual skeleton in respect to its large size and heavy weight in the bones. They have a narrow head, flat at the sides, but long. They have deep set eyes buried in the deep, long face and wrinkles. The eyes might be yellow or run the gamut to deep hazel depending upon the color of the dog. The long velvety ears and thin and low set on the head. These long ears are as much a part of the Bloodhounds Olfactory system as his amazing nose. They curl backward and inward as the ends. There is a large amount of loose skin on the head and at the jowls. When the Bloodhound lowers his head the loose folds and ridges of skin are prominent on the face and forehead.

For many centuries all different colors of Bloodhounds could be found. Today however they are pretty much red, black and tan and black and liver. The Bloodhound is a powerful dog and is larger than most breeds of hounds.

The Billy dog is powerful, beautiful and built extremely well. He is large but he should also be light weight and lean. He has an athletic look, powerful muscles, and strong bones. He has floppy ears, dark eyes with dark rims and a white coat. This breed has a medium size head with a domed forehead and square muzzle. The ears are high on the head, flat and floppy while the neck is long and strong. Shoulders are also long and the back broad, the thighs muscular and the feet round. He has a long fluffy tail. The coat is short and can be seen through to the skin. He has white skin with brown spots and the fur is white or off white. The females are smaller than the males. He is a great family companion as well as a hunter. They have high pitched voices and they can be howlers. They have a strong prey drive and are great hunters. They can be great companion dogs for any family, just watch them with small children and small animals. They are big enough to need a lot of space and a lot of exercise. Scent hounds can be stubborn, and that trait is not lost on the Billy dog.

Characteristics

bloodhound dog - characteristicsThe Bloodhound is known as a gentle soul and he truly is. They are affectionate and gentle with people and children. However, their strong will to track can make them stubborn and hard to handle and train. They are easy going dogs and really like to be with people, children and other dogs. They are affectionate but tend to be set in their ways.

Even though the Billy Breed is very rare and faced potential extinction it is a terrific sporting dog who loves children, other dogs, and adults. He could be a good family dog if his exercise needs are met. He is social, gregarious, and gentle with people. They are happiest in a pack and do not do well in a one dog household. They form extremely strong bonds with their people and household. They are friendly and outgoing. This makes them a poor choice for guard dog. They have an exceptionally well-developed prey drive do they might be aggressive toward any animal smaller than them. This includes the family cat, other smaller dogs, hamsters etc.

Health Problems

bloodhound puppies - health problemsObviously with ears like the Bloodhound there is always a chance for problems and serious infections. The ears need to be cleaned daily. Because their coat is so thick, they can overheat easily, and they are very prone to bloat, as are many large animals. However, with the Bloodhound, Bloat is the number one killer. Their lifespan is one of the shortest of all dogs at 6.75 years.

Despite their history of almost becoming extinct the Billy dog is a hearty and healthy group. They do tend to get Bronchitis and colds due to the short, thin coat. Keep them indoors during winter. Another area of concern is the ears. They are prone to ear infections so keep their ears clean. They should not be exposed to cold weather. The Billy life expectancy is 10-14 years which is very good for such a large dog.

Caring The Pet

bloodhound dogs - caringThe Bloodhound is not a high energy, fast moving dog but that does not mean he doesn’t have serious nutritional needs. An overweight Bloodhound is on a course to an early demise. They should be fed a high-quality food once a day or split into two daily servings. Do not feed them right before or right after strenuous exercise and remember that strenuous exercise for a Bloodhound is considerably less than it is for a terrier.

Health issues

As previously mentioned the number one cause of death in Bloodhounds is Bloat. They are also prone to cancer. They have minor issues with their eyes, but their ears and skin are also major concerns. Clean the ears daily and wipe out the skin folds and wrinkles to prevent infections. They should be test for hip and elbow dysplasia simply because they are large dogs, though these conditions are less common in Bloodhounds.

Exercise and games

Though the Bloodhound is known as a couch potato his stamina and activity levels are usually greatly underestimated. He can follow a scent for 7-10 hours over miles of terrain with out a problem. He needs daily exercise such as long walks on a leash. Do not take your Bloodhound out off leash because if he picks up a scent and wanders off you will not be able to get his attention to call him back.

Feeding

The Billy dog is large, muscular and lean. Do not overfeed him, but you can safely free feed. Watch to be sure he does not gain too much weight and if he does go to two feedings per day.

Health issues

As previously mentioned this is a healthy, long-lived dog. Watch for ear infections and keep him out of extreme cold.

Exercise/Games

This is a very athletic, active hunter, who needs a lot of exercise. Daily walks are good, but he needs 45 to 60 minutes of exercise every day. Remember he was bred to hunt and loves to do so. Find activities that let him use his athletic skills and strong sense of smell. He needs a big yard to romp in. He will excel at obedience, barn hunt and agility. A lure game might be good also, but he would be happier with a scent oriented “find it” game.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Irish Wolfhound vs Billy - Breed Comparison
  2. Francais Blanc et Orange vs Billy - Breed Comparison
  3. Billy vs American Staghound - Breed Comparison
  4. Scottish Deerhound vs Billy - Breed Comparison
  5. Great Dane vs Billy - Breed Comparison
  6. English Mastiff vs Billy - Breed Comparison
  7. Newfoundland Dog vs Billy - Breed Comparison
  8. Neapolitan Mastiff vs Billy - Breed Comparison
  9. Leonberger vs Billy - Breed Comparison
  10. Bully Kutta vs Billy - Breed Comparison
  11. Mountain Burmese vs Billy - Breed Comparison
  12. Gaddi Kutta vs Billy - Breed Comparison
  13. Billy vs Bernese Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  14. Billy vs Anatolian Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  15. Billy vs American Mastiff - Breed Comparison
  16. Billy vs Alaunt - Breed Comparison
  17. Billy vs Alangu Mastiff - Breed Comparison
  18. Billy vs American Molossus - Breed Comparison
  19. Pyrenean Mastiff vs Billy - Breed Comparison
  20. Bisben vs Billy - Breed Comparison
  21. Moscow Watchdog vs Billy - Breed Comparison
  22. Nebolish Mastiff vs Billy - Breed Comparison
  23. Bloodhound vs American Foxhound - Breed Comparison
  24. Bloodhound vs Borzoi - Breed Comparison
  25. Bloodhound vs Black and Tan Coonhound - Breed Comparison
  26. Bloodhound vs Black Mouth Cur - Breed Comparison
  27. Bloodhound vs American English Coonhound - Breed Comparison
  28. Bloodhound vs Austrian Black and Tan Hound - Breed Comparison
  29. Bloodhound vs Azawakh - Breed Comparison
  30. Rhodesian Ridgeback vs Bloodhound - Breed Comparison
  31. Greyhound vs Bloodhound - Breed Comparison
  32. Francais Blanc et Noir vs Bloodhound - Breed Comparison
  33. Saluki vs Bloodhound - Breed Comparison
  34. Mountain Cur vs Bloodhound - Breed Comparison
  35. Rajapalayam vs Bloodhound - Breed Comparison
  36. Plott Hound vs Bloodhound - Breed Comparison
  37. Petit Gascon Saintongeois vs Bloodhound - Breed Comparison
  38. Otterhound vs Bloodhound - Breed Comparison
  39. Mudhol Hound vs Bloodhound - Breed Comparison
  40. Ibizan Hound vs Bloodhound - Breed Comparison
  41. Rampur Greyhound vs Bloodhound - Breed Comparison
  42. Galgo Espanol vs Bloodhound - Breed Comparison
  43. Hanover Hound vs Bloodhound - Breed Comparison
  44. Majestic Tree Hound vs Bloodhound - Breed Comparison
  45. Chart Polski vs Bloodhound - Breed Comparison
  46. Polish Hunting Dog vs Bloodhound - Breed Comparison
  47. Grand Bleu de Gascogne vs Bloodhound - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds