Karelo-Finnish Laika vs Billy - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

Billy is originated from France but Karelo-Finnish Laika is originated from Russia. Billy may grow 20 cm / 8 inches higher than Karelo-Finnish Laika. Billy may weigh 18 kg / 40 pounds more than Karelo-Finnish Laika. Both Billy and Karelo-Finnish Laika has same life span. Billy may have less litter size than Karelo-Finnish Laika. Billy requires Moderate Maintenance. But Karelo-Finnish Laika requires Low Maintenance

Basic Information

Group:
Hound dog
Working dog
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France
Russia
Height Male:
58 - 68 cm
22 - 27 inches
38 - 48 cm
14 - 19 inches
Height Female:
56 - 66 cm
22 - 26 inches
38 - 48 cm
14 - 19 inches
Weight Male:
22 - 32 kg
48 - 71 pounds
11 - 14 kg
24 - 31 pounds
Weight Female:
20 - 29 kg
44 - 64 pounds
11 - 14 kg
24 - 31 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 15 Years
12 - 15 Years
Litter Size:
3 - 5
6 - 10
Size:
Giant
Medium
Other Names:
Chien de France-Comte
Laika
Colors Available:
White or off-white; may have orange or lemon patches or mantle.
Reddish
Coat:
harsh, short
Longish and coarse
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, Responsive, 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.

karelo finnish laikaThe Karelo Finnish Laika is a Spitz type hunting dog from the Karelia area of Russia.Some people say the dog developed in Sweden. The dog is from a group of ‘Laika’ breeds and has that typical Spitz-type look – the sharpish face, the erect ears and the tail which curls over the back.

This attractive dog was developed as a hunting dog, and has a thick, weatherproof coat.The Karelo-Finnish Laika breed developed because people wanted a smaller sized hunting dog that could cope well with the weather, and these Laika dogs matched well.

The breed is ancient – centuries old, and after dying out in numbers during the second world war, the breed was revived when Russians imported Finnish Spitzes from Finland and bred them. The dog is similar to the Finnish Spitz, and in 2006 the Finnish Kennel Club and Russian Kennel Federation included the Karelo-Finnish Laika as a Finnish Spitz breed.

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.

karelo finnish laika puppy - descriptionWith his wolf-like appearance, the Karelo Finnish Laika is a sharp, intelligent dog and is the smallest Laika in Russia used for hunting. He stands at about 38–48 cm in height and weighs about 11 - 14 kg.

His coat is a reddish color and the fur is fairly long and coarse with a dense, soft undercoat. He looks like a red fox with his sharp, bright face, his erect ears, black nose and bushy tail which curls over the back.

Temperament:

The Karelo-Finnish Laika is a sweet dog with a quiet character. Whenever you suggest a game for him, he throws his docile side to the wind and becomes highly energetic and animated. He is an active dog and loves nothing more than a game with his human family members.

He is mistrustful of strangers, he tends to bark easily and he is territorial and all these characteristic go towards making him a good watchdog. He is quite prepared to live peacefully alongside other dogs in the home, more so when he has been trained and socialized.

He makes a great friend and pet for families and is more than ready to be loving and loyal to his human family.

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.

karelo finnish laika dog - characteristicsThe Karelo Finnish Laika is such an energetic dog, full of life and he promises to make an affectionate family dog.

He is a fairly low maintenance dog too and not prone to getting sick easily. Treat this attractive Laika dog like he deserves and you’ll find that he makes a splendid 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.

karelo finnish laika puppies - health problemsApart from his good looks, the Karelo-Finnish Laika happens to be a pretty healthy breed and there are no known hereditary health problems with him. Diseases which can affect any dog -

Hip Dysplasia:

Many large breeds are prone to hip dysplasia. In hip dysplasia, joint problems cause arthritis and pain and eventually lameness. These days, when buying a puppy, people ask breeders about whether the parents were screened for hip dysplasia.

Obesity:

Any dog fed the wrong diet and who isn’t exercised can become overweight. Obesity in dogs is linked to many health problems in dogs. If you’re in doubt about your pet, consult with your vet on the best food for him.

Cancer:

Many dogs are at risk for certain types of cancer, including lymphoma which is cancer of the lymph nodes. When you are brushing your pet, check him for any unusual lumps so that you can catch cancer early.

Heart Conditions:

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is where the chambers of the heart are stretched out and don't pump blood properly. Sometimes it can go undetected for a while until the dog becomes seriously ill, requiring emergency medical attention. Medications can regulate heart rhythm but there is no cure.

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.

karelo finnish laika dogs - caringThe Karelo-Finnish Laika is a most attractive looking dog and his thick, double coat will need to be brushed at least twice a week to keep it free from dust, grass and burrs. He sheds throughout the year so this brushing will keep the loose dog hair under control.

Diet:

Watch your Karelo-Finnish Laika’s diet as a lean, mean dog can live longer than one who is overfed. Dogs which are overweight are likely to develop joint problems and heart disease.

The quality of food you feed your pet is hugely important. Popping chocolates and peanuts into his mouth because you love him so much will be toxic for him. Apart from his top quality dry kibble, add in some cooked chicken, rice and vegetables as a tasty treat and mix in a little bit of raw meat also when you can.

Exercise:

Exercise for your Karelo Finnish Laika is a key component to prolonging his life, and he absolutely loves games, walks and action all the way. It will keep him in shape, keep him happy and prolong his life.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Karelo-Finnish Laika vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
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  6. Karelo-Finnish Laika vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  7. Karelo-Finnish Laika vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  8. Karelo-Finnish Laika vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. Karelo-Finnish Laika vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  10. Karelo-Finnish Laika vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  11. Karelo-Finnish Laika vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  12. Karelo-Finnish Laika vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  13. Karelo-Finnish Laika vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  14. Karelo-Finnish Laika vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
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  18. Karelo-Finnish Laika vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  19. Karelo-Finnish Laika vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  20. Karelo-Finnish Laika vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  21. Karelo-Finnish Laika vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  22. Karelo-Finnish Laika vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  23. Karelo-Finnish Laika vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  24. Karelo-Finnish Laika vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  25. Karelo-Finnish Laika 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