Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier vs Billy - Breed Comparison

Billy is originated from France but Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier is originated from Ireland. Billy may grow 20 cm / 8 inches higher than Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Billy may weigh 14 kg / 31 pounds more than Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Both Billy and Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier has almost same life span. Both Billy and Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier has almost same litter size. Billy requires Moderate Maintenance. But Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier requires Low Maintenance

Basic Information

Group:
Hound dog
Terrier dog
undefined
France
Ireland
Height Male:
58 - 68 cm
22 - 27 inches
43 - 48 cm
16 - 19 inches
Height Female:
56 - 66 cm
22 - 26 inches
43 - 48 cm
16 - 19 inches
Weight Male:
22 - 32 kg
48 - 71 pounds
14 - 18 kg
30 - 40 pounds
Weight Female:
20 - 29 kg
44 - 64 pounds
14 - 18 kg
30 - 40 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 15 Years
10 - 14 Years
Litter Size:
3 - 5
5 - 7
Size:
Giant
Medium
Other Names:
Chien de France-Comte
Irish Staffie
Colors Available:
White or off-white; may have orange or lemon patches or mantle.
Fawn, black or brindle - bi-colored, tan
Coat:
harsh, short
Short and smooth
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate
Temperament:
Alert, Courageous, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Loyal, Outgoing, Stubborn
Affectionate, Aggressive, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, 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.

irish staffordshire bull terrierThe Staffordshire Bull Terrier comes from Staffordshire, England, but the Irish Staffie was later developed by Irish breeders so its origin is essentially Ireland. They were developed from bulldogs and different terrier breeds.

The dog was always used for bull baiting, but when this sport died out, the Irish breeders wanted to create a taller, leaner dog suited for dog fighting. When dog fighting was banned the breed became rare again, but today it has been restored and is essentially a popular companion pet.

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.

irish staffordshire bull terrier puppy - descriptionThe Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier is a medium sized pure-breed dog standing at roughly 43 to 48cm and weighing anything from 14 to 18kg.

He has a short, smooth coat which can be a mix of colors such as fawn, tan, black or brindle. The coat can also be bi-colored such as in fawn and white or black and white. He is a powerfully built dog with short legs which are fairly wide apart.

He has a large head and short muzzle with powerful jaws.Sometimes when he pants after a hectic bout of exercise he gets a comical, grinning look on his face. The ears are semi-erect, semi-upright and he has a long tail.

Temperament:

Your Irish Staffy is a feisty, confident dog that has been known to have a temperament which leads towards aggression. It is why he should be trained and socialized to make him more amicable and obedient. He is an intelligent and alert dog, so won't have difficulty with training.

A well trained and socialized Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier will get on well with children in the home as he is a playful, jovial dog, always ready for a game.

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.

irish staffordshire bull terrier dog - characteristicsThe older Irish Staffie has always been an aggressive type dog used for fighting, but today the modern breed is capable of being a splendid, entertaining, amicable pet with an even temper. He is feisty for sure, being brave, fearless, loyal and loving with his human family members.

All it requires with this dog is to have a firm, loving upbringing, some training and socialization as well as good food and plenty of love and attention. Many dogs get labelled wrongly because of the humans that rear them the wrong way. When done correctly, the Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier promises to be a wonderful, loving, loyal pet.

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.

irish staffordshire bull terrier puppies - health problemsThe Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier, just like with any other dog, has a good chance of living a good number of years if he is fed properly. He can live to be anything up to between 10 and 16 years.

Say what you like, good nutrition and the lifestyle you provide for your Irish Staffie will determine how long he lives. An unhappy dog that has to beg for love and attention won't do well. Your Irish Staffie can live to a ripe age but he is still at risk for certain health problems.

Mastocytoma:

These mast cell tumors are graded according to their location in the skin. Certain dogs like Boxers and bulldogs are more susceptible to mast cell tumors than other breeds, and the Irish Staffie isn't immune either. Most times the tumor develops in an older dog, though young dogs have also been known to develop the tumor. These tumors can be inactive for a while and then experience some rapid growth with some redness and fluid build up. Immediate veterinary intervention will be required.

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:

irish staffordshire bull terrier dogs - caringThe Irish Staffie is an active dog, who is always game for anything. He will certainly need active owners who include him in all their activities. He has a lot of stamina and endurance and will want to join you on your walks, hikes and swimming. Ignoring his exercise needs can turn him into a restless, unhappy, frustrated, destructive dog.

Grooming:

Having a short, smooth coat means your Irish Staffie being a low maintenance dog. He does shed a bit so his coat will need to be brushed at least twice a week to get rid of all those loose hairs. Its always a good opportunity to check him for fleas and ticks too.

If the short coat gets too dirty, a wipe down with a damp cloth can keep the coat bright and shiny. Certainly avoid bathing him too often as this can aggravate the skin.

Check his nails and trim them if they get too long. Check his ears and teeth as these are all problem areas which can contribute to your dog becoming ill.

Diet:

Your Irish Staffie is such an energetic dog that he will need excellent food that promotes this energy. Whether you buy him the best commercially manufactured kibble, you want to also add in some home-made food such as cooked chicken, rice and vegetables as well as including some raw meat occasionally. The food you provide your Staffie with needs to be full of vitamins and minerals to avoid illness. Always make sure he has access to fresh, cool water.

Comparison with other breeds

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