The Billy belongs to section 1 of group 6, which includes breeds of dogs intended to follow and track game by scent. They are characterized by their particularly developed sense of smell and their endurance. Hounds are classified into three sections, based on their size.

The Billy descends from the “royal white dogs”, a variety created by King Louis XII to form his packs during hunting. Subsequently, the Billy was developed by Gaston Hublot de Rivault, a 19th century Poitevin breeder, who named it after his property located near Poitiers. On December 28, 1973, the current official breed standard was published.

The Billy is a large dog with strong bones and muscles, without lacking elegance thanks to its lightness. The dog's head is quite thin, dry and of medium length, with a slightly domed forehead and a marked frontal break. Its nose is well developed, black or red-brown in color. His eyes are lively, wide open and dark. Its ears are medium sized, rather flat and set high. The Billy's trunk is quite broad, strong and slightly convex, with fairly flat ribs, a sloping rump, a strong back and a very well-set chest. Its members are strong and well-led. Its tail is long, strong and sometimes slightly hairy. The animal's hair is short, thick, hard to the touch and often a little coarse. It can be white or café-au-lait in color, with or without spots. The ideal height at the withers is 60 to 70 cm for males, and 58 to 62 cm for females. The average weight is between 34 and 35 kg.

The Billy has a life expectancy of 10 to 12 years and generally enjoys exceptionally robust health. Despite its short hair, it resists harsh weather conditions quite well, including extreme cold. Billy is not at all comfortable in an urban environment, and will not easily adapt to apartment life. On the contrary, this animal is happy in the countryside, where it can run over large areas and develop its hunting instincts. It requires a teacher who is often available and who can accompany it during frequent outdoor activities. Simple daily walks are not enough for him: he needs to run freely and go on long hikes. After walks, his paws should be examined for possible injuries, since the Billy exerts himself without limits and not afraid to venture into rough terrain. As he exerts himself without limits, his diet must compensate for his energy loss. So plan on foods rich in proteins, fats and fiber. Fish oil, dairy products, cereals and eggs will do him a lot of good. Billy loves children and enjoys family life, but he can present problems in homes where other dogs already live.

Training Billy is not particularly difficult, you just need to be firm and fair. The only difficulty may arise in terms of socialization with other dogs: here, you must insist on quality education to be able to temper your animosity towards other dogs.