Podenco Andaluz vs Billy - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

Billy is originated from France but Podenco Andaluz is originated from Spain. Billy may grow 15 cm / 6 inches higher than Podenco Andaluz. Billy may weigh 10 kg / 23 pounds more than Podenco Andaluz. Billy may live 3 years more than Podenco Andaluz. Billy may have less litter size than Podenco Andaluz. Billy requires Moderate Maintenance. But Podenco Andaluz requires Low Maintenance

Basic Information

Group:
Hound dog
Hound dog
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France
Spain
Height Male:
58 - 68 cm
22 - 27 inches
42 - 53 cm
16 - 21 inches
Height Female:
56 - 66 cm
22 - 26 inches
42 - 53 cm
16 - 21 inches
Weight Male:
22 - 32 kg
48 - 71 pounds
20 - 22 kg
44 - 49 pounds
Weight Female:
20 - 29 kg
44 - 64 pounds
20 - 22 kg
44 - 49 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 15 Years
10 - 12 Years
Litter Size:
3 - 5
2 - 8
Size:
Giant
Medium
Other Names:
Chien de France-Comte
Andalusian Hound
Colors Available:
White or off-white; may have orange or lemon patches or mantle.
plain brown, Reddish brown, patches of white
Coat:
harsh, short
Short to medium length
Shedding:
Moderate
Minimal
Temperament:
Alert, Courageous, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Loyal, Outgoing, Stubborn
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Detached, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Sweet, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate Maintenance
Low Maintenance
Trainability:
Moderate
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

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.

podenco andaluzThe Podenco Andaluz hails from the Andalusian region of southern Spain. It is believed that this dog is likely to have descended from the European hunting dog.

Because of the lack of distinctive characteristics, and also the similarities the dog shares with other dog breeds, the dog isn’t typically recognized in its own right. They have always been used as hunting dogs. The Andaluz is actually one of the lesser known Podencos and it isn’t recognized by the FCI.

Description

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.

podenco andaluz puppy - descriptionThere are three different Andalusian Hounds - small, medium and large, but for the sake of space, we refer to the medium sized dog. The medium sized dog stands at between 42 and 53cm and weighs roughly 20 – 22kg.

The dog has short hair, large erect ears and a long tail. Regarding color, most of these dogs are a reddish brown or plain brown color with some having patches of white.

Temperament:

The Andaluz is a dog which is reserved with strangers, but with their owners they are loyal and loving and never aggressive. The Andaluz is considered a one-man dog but he is more than capable of showing love and affection for all members of his human family.

This dog will benefit from training and socialization as this makes him more sure of himself and more obedient. He is an intelligent dog and won’t battle to learn simple commands. You’ll find your Podenco Andaluz to be sweet, calm and gentle indoors with training. He loves to lie close up to you,preferably on the couch right next to you!

Characteristics

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.

podenco andaluz dog - characteristicsThis dog has always been a hunting dog, and an excellent one at that. These days he is also a companion animal. It is very sad that these dogs have been given a cruel deal in Spain.

For those that make it into a loving home, they have proved to make excellent low maintenance dogs who are willing to provide their human family with faithful love and companionship that only a dog can provide.

Health Problems

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.

podenco andaluz puppies - health problemsYour Podenco Andaluz is a robust dog breed and doesn’t battle with any health conditions. However, having said that, every dog can battle with some of the more common dog illnesses, and then your dog may well have to visit the vet.

Remember, that to give your dog the best chance, the dog should receive vaccinations to protect him from some life-threatening diseases.

Leishmaniasis:

This disease is brought about by the protozoan parasite Leishmania. The dog gets into trouble with this disease when sand-flies transmit parasites into the skin of the dog. The disease spreads to most organs, with kidney failure being the most common cause of death.

Heartworms:

This is a fatal disease that is contracted through the bite of an infected mosquito. It is serious and will require veterinary intervention as its a disease that can create problems with the animal’s heart.

Rabies:

This is a fatal viral disease that can be passed on to your pet and affects the central nervous system. A dog with rabies is nearly always a dead dog, sadly. Symptoms include excess drooling, aggression and seizures.

Caring The Pet

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.

Exercise:

podenco andaluz dogs - caringThis has always been a hunting dog so he is used to running long distances. He is best suited to life in the countryside as opposed to life on a small property in the city. You will certainly need to take him on walks. If you are lucky enough to live near the beach, you can take bat and ball and hit the ball hard with the beach-bat, allowing your dog to race at top speed to fetch it.

Grooming:

Regular brushing, at least twice a week will be required for the Podenco Andaluz. It’s a good idea to check your dog over for any odd lumps and for ticks and fleas. Keep his nails trimmed and check his ears and eyes for infection.

Diet:

Every dog requires a good diet if good health and longevity are to be expected. Always check the labels of commercially manufactured dog foods to ensure that your dog gets a good dose of protein in.

The best quality foods have a good balance of vitamins and minerals in them, whereas some of the poorer quality foods have bad ingredients such as preservative, colorants and fillers.

Try and give your dog some wholesome home-made food such as boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta, sweet potatoes, spinach and carrots. Also, some raw meat occasionally will benefit your dog too, after all dogs have always been carnivores.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Billy vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
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  5. Billy vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  6. Billy vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  7. Billy vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  8. Billy vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. Billy vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  10. Billy vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  11. Billy vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  12. Billy vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  13. Billy vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  14. Billy vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  15. Billy vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  16. Billy vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  17. Billy vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  18. Billy vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  19. Billy vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  20. Billy vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  21. Billy vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  22. Billy vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  23. Billy vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  24. Billy vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  25. Billy vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison
  26. Podenco Andaluz vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Podenco Andaluz vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Podenco Andaluz vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Podenco Andaluz vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Podenco Andaluz vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Podenco Andaluz vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Podenco Andaluz vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Podenco Andaluz vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Podenco Andaluz vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Podenco Andaluz vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Podenco Andaluz vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Podenco Andaluz vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Podenco Andaluz vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Podenco Andaluz vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Podenco Andaluz vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Podenco Andaluz vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Podenco Andaluz vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Podenco Andaluz vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Podenco Andaluz vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Podenco Andaluz vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Podenco Andaluz vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Podenco Andaluz vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Podenco Andaluz vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Podenco Andaluz vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Podenco Andaluz vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison