Rat Terrier vs Billy - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

Billy is originated from France but Rat Terrier is originated from United States. Billy may grow 32 cm / 13 inches higher than Rat Terrier. Billy may weigh 28 kg / 62 pounds more than Rat Terrier. Billy may live 3 years less than Rat Terrier. Both Billy and Rat Terrier has almost same litter size. Billy requires Moderate Maintenance. But Rat Terrier requires Low Maintenance

Basic Information

Group:
Hound dog
Terrier dog
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France
United States
Height Male:
58 - 68 cm
22 - 27 inches
20 - 36 cm
7 - 15 inches
Height Female:
56 - 66 cm
22 - 26 inches
20 - 36 cm
7 - 15 inches
Weight Male:
22 - 32 kg
48 - 71 pounds
3 - 4 kg
6 - 9 pounds
Weight Female:
20 - 29 kg
44 - 64 pounds
3 - 4 kg
6 - 9 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 15 Years
15 - 18 Years
Litter Size:
3 - 5
5 - 7
Size:
Giant
Small
Other Names:
Chien de France-Comte
Rattie, American Rat Terrier
Colors Available:
White or off-white; may have orange or lemon patches or mantle.
Mix of colors - mostly tri-colored - white, tan, black
Coat:
harsh, short
Single coat, short and smooth
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate, Seasonal
Temperament:
Alert, Courageous, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Loyal, Outgoing, Stubborn
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, 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.

rat terrierKnown also as the American Rat Terrier or even as the Rattie, this American dog breed is a farm dog, common on family farms during the 1920's and 1930's.

Miniatures or Standards, these dogs are also recognized by the American Kennel Clubs and thought of today as a multi-purpose companion dog.

He is an American dog breed, having come about from Fox Terriers, Old English White Terriers, Bull Terriers, Manchester Terriers and others. Whippets and Italian Greyhounds have also come into the mix to add speed as a characteristic.

The Rat Terrier started to decline in numbers, and by the 1950's the numbers of the dog were so low that breeders stepped in to restore numbers.

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.

rat terrier puppy - descriptionThere are different sized Rat Terriers, but the mid-sized one stands roughly between 20 and 36cm in height and weighs between 3 and 4kg.

The single coat is short and smooth and comes in colors such as tan, grey, chocolate, black and in solid colors too such as white. They are mostly in tri-colors - white, tan, black. Ticking is also seen.

With his short coat he is seen as a low maintenance dog even though he is still a shedder, with heavier seasonal shedding.

The ears can sometimes be erect, otherwise they are half-erect, half floppy. The tail has always been traditionally docked, giving him a nice, distinctive look, but today the tail is often just left un-docked. It isn't unusual for a puppy to be born with a short or long tail.

Temperament:

Intelligent, wary, loyal, loving, playful but stubborn, your Rat Terrier is a little bit wary around strangers. Training and socialization can be good for this dog and help him t be obedient and well mannered in all situations. These dogs also want to please. He is an active dog too and makes a great playmate for children, getting on well with kids and other pets in the home.

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.

rat terrier dog - characteristicsThe Rat Terrier is such a clever, bright dog. These characteristics make him an excellent watchdog with strong jaws for his role of getting rid of rats on farms.

Even though he is a small dog, he isn’t particularly suited to life in the city on a small property as he has quite a shrill bark.

Because of him being small to medium in size, he is well suited to many homes, but you just have to watch out in the city if you live close to your neighbors as he is fairly noisy and active.

He would love a large property where he can just be himself. Provide him with the right home, and you’l have a friend for life.

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.

rat terrier puppies - health problemsRat Terriers are generally feisty, healthy dogs who, with good care, can live to the ripe old age of 16, 17 or 18 years of age.

Just like with many other dogs, he can develop some of the more common dog illnesses there are. If you're opting for a puppy, find a good, reputable breeder.

Allergies:

It can be tricky trying to decide what kind of allergies are causing such problems with your pet. A skin allergy can cause a lot of itchiness and pain for your canine friend and he will bite and lick on the affected spots and make the situation worse. You will need to get him to the vet for some kind of treatment, as such an ailment can drive him mad.

Patellar Luxation:

This is a common problem in dogs, with the kneecap or patella being dislocated. It can cause a lot of pain and can be crippling for your dog.

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.

Diet:

rat terrier dogs - caringYour Rat Terrier can easily reach 16, 17 or 18 years of age with good food. While you do get some excellent commercially manufactured dog foods, you want to add variety by including some nutritious home-made food too.

Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots are a healthy choice for your pet. Chop it up and add it into the dry kibble a couple of times a week.No complications - just plain and simple - the way dogs love it.

Some raw meat added in from time to time will help his skin and coat remain healthy. Never leave him without a constant source of fresh, cool water.

Exercise:

The Rat Terrier is an active dog. He just loves to dig too, so if you live close to a beach, he will love running and digging in the sand. If this isn’t possible, he will be happy to be taken on walks with you and maybe for a run in the park.

He loves all ball games and running after a frisbee, and he’s so clever, maybe you can even teach him to fetch the frisbee for you.

Grooming:

The Rat Terrier is a low-maintenance dog and only requires having his coat brushed twice a week.

Check inside his mouth for bad teeth. You can even brush his teeth with special canine toothpaste and brush to remove tartar buildup.

Keep his nails trimmed too if he doesn’t wear them down naturally so as to prevent them hooking on things and ripping into the flesh.

Check inside your dog’s ears too. If you’re not experienced with trimming dog nails or cleaning inside dog’s ears, your vet or professional groomer will do it for you.

During these grooming sessions with your Rat Terrier, check for fleas and ticks as well as for any sores or new lumps. Also, his eyes should be clear and bright with no discharge or redness.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Billy vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  2. Billy vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  3. Billy vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  4. Billy vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  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. Rat Terrier vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Rat Terrier vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Rat Terrier vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Rat Terrier vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Rat Terrier vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Rat Terrier vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Rat Terrier vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Rat Terrier vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Rat Terrier vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Rat Terrier vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Rat Terrier vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Rat Terrier vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Rat Terrier vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Rat Terrier vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Rat Terrier vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Rat Terrier vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Rat Terrier vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Rat Terrier vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Rat Terrier vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Rat Terrier vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Rat Terrier vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Rat Terrier vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Rat Terrier vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Rat Terrier vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Rat Terrier vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison