Wirehaired Pointing Griffon vs Billy - Breed Comparison

Both Wirehaired Pointing Griffon and Billy are originated from France. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon may grow 8 cm / 3 inches shorter than Billy. Both Wirehaired Pointing Griffon and Billy are having almost same weight. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon may live 3 years less than Billy. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon may have more litter size than Billy. Both Wirehaired Pointing Griffon and Billy requires Moderate maintenance.

History

wirehaired pointing griffon - historyKnown also as the Korthals Griffon, the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon is a hunting- and gundog. It was Eduard Karel Korthals who is thought to have brought about this dog breed around 1873.

He was a Dutchman living in France. It is believed that quite a few dog breeds were used to bring about this dog such as the Otterhound, Spniels, Setters and possibly a Pointer. The dog is known as a supreme gundog and it is a very popular dog breed.

Edward Korthals of Holland was looking for an ideal gun dog. It was in 1888 that the first Griffon Club was formed. It was only in 1916 that this dog was officially recognized as the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon in the United States.

It is also recognized by the FCI or Federation Cynologique Internationale.

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.

Description

wirehaired pointing griffon puppy - descriptionThe Wirehaired Pointing Griffon or Korthals Griffon is a medium-to-large sized dog standing at between 50 and 60cm both male and female and weighing between 23and 27kg.

He has a wiry, somewhat harsh curly outer coat and a softer undercoat. The head is quite large. He has thick eyebrows and a beard. The eyes are brown with yellow irises.

This is a low-shedding dog. There are a few colors such as white and brown, white and orange but the coat is also steel gray with brown markings.

Temperament:

These dogs are intelligent and independent with a desire to please their owners. He is able to learn tricks and commands easily. They love their human families and want to be around them all the time.

It would be devastating for such a dog to find himself stuck in the backyard with no human contact. He is also not suited to cramped living conditions in the city but is essentially a country dog, especially since he has boundless energy.

As a family pet, he is playful, friendly, loyal, loving and gentle, behaving well with children and other pets. They’re not aggressive dogs but they make excellent watchdogs, barking if someone comes into their property.

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

wirehaired pointing griffon dog - characteristicsThe Wirehaired Pointing Griffon has always been a great hunting dog and he doubles as an excellent pet and companion as well.

This dog is extremely loyal to his human family and is friendly, intelligent, loving and affectionate, getting on well with children as well as other pets in the home.

He can reach 14 years of age and doesn’t often get sick, making him an all-round great pet and companion.

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

wirehaired pointing griffon puppies - health problemsTo avoid ear problems, a Wirehaired Pointing Griffon's ears should be kept clean and dry. If you do detect redness inside the ear, it could mean he has an infection that will need to be treated.

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

Exercise:

wirehaired pointing griffon dogs - caringThis dog loves his exercise, and if you live in the country so much the better. He will love to go hiking and swimming with you or running next to you as you go cycling. He also loves all kinds of rope- and ball games in the garden. It’s why this active dog isn’t ideal for life in the city.

Always have the telephone number of a good vet in your phone.

Spay or neuter your pet if you don’t want unwanted puppies. Don't do it too early. Speak to your vet about the procedure and about the health benefits that come from spaying and neutering a dog.

Diet:

These are active dogs and they will require top quality food if they’re to remain healthy and active.

Always check the packaging to see what ingredients are present in your dog’s food. Some of the cheaper, more inferior brands can actually be harmful to your pet with their useless ingredients devoid of vitamins and minerals.

Some home-made food is good and this needs to be plain and free from spicy additives. Dogs have sensitive stomachs and anything unusual can cause them digestive problems.

Make sure your dog’s vaccines are up to date.

Provide your pet with a quiet, warm, dry sleeping place to call his own.

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.

Basic Information

Group:
Sporting dog
Hound dog
Origin:
France
France
Height Male:
50 - 60 cm
19 - 24 inches
58 - 68 cm
22 - 27 inches
Height Female:
50 - 60 cm
19 - 24 inches
56 - 66 cm
22 - 26 inches
Weight Male:
23 - 27 kg
50 - 60 pounds
22 - 32 kg
48 - 71 pounds
Weight Female:
23 - 27 kg
50 - 60 pounds
20 - 29 kg
44 - 64 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 12 Years
12 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
6 - 9
3 - 5
Size:
Medium dog
Giant dog
Other Names:
Korthals Griffon
Chien de France-Comte
Colors Available:
steel gray with brown markings., White and brown, white and orange
White or off-white; may have orange or lemon patches or mantle.
Coat:
Medium length, wiry
harsh, short
Shedding:
Minimal
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Alert, Courageous, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Loyal, Outgoing, Stubborn
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
Moderate maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Moderate
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

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. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon vs East Siberian Laika - Breed Comparison
  24. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  25. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon vs French Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  26. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon vs Flat-Coated Retriever - Breed Comparison
  27. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon vs Finnish Spitz - Breed Comparison
  28. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon vs Ariegeois - Breed Comparison
  29. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon vs Beagador - Breed Comparison
  30. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon vs Nova Scotia Duck-Tolling Retriever - Breed Comparison
  31. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon vs English Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  32. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon vs Field Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  33. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon vs Artois Hound - Breed Comparison
  34. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon vs Curly Coated Retriever - Breed Comparison
  35. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon vs Lagotto Romagnolo - Breed Comparison
  36. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon vs Braque Francais - Breed Comparison
  37. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon vs Formosan Mountain Dog - Breed Comparison
  38. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon vs Shikoku - Breed Comparison
  39. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon vs Slovakian Hound - Breed Comparison
  40. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon vs Small Munsterlander - Breed Comparison
  41. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon vs Sussex Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  42. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon vs Kooikerhondje - Breed Comparison
  43. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon vs Welsh Springer Spaniel - Breed Comparison
  44. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon vs West Siberian Laika - Breed Comparison
  45. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon vs Wetterhoun - Breed Comparison
  46. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon vs Braque Francais (Pyrenean Type) - Breed Comparison
  47. Wirehaired Pointing Griffon vs Braque Saint-Germain - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds