What is the history of the
breed? Although rare, the Barbet
is one of the original water dogs who were primarily used in France since
the 16th century for hunting water game. References to the breed are found
throughout history, doing various jobs with various historical lineage, always
referenced with respect and admiration. Yet after so many centuries of serving
man, the Barbet is not a common nor well known breed as they are a victim of
the changes of the history they helped shape. After the World Wars, the Barbet
was nearly extinct and through the efforts of a very devoted few, this old
breed is slowly being reborn as a dog for the future. Barbet are mentioned in 16th century scripts as water dogs used as
pointers for hunting game birds. This breed will search for game hidden in
water vegetation, locate it, and flush it out. He then retrieves the fallen
game to the master.
How do you pronounce
Barbet? Bar-Bay. The Barbet is a
dog of French origin. The name Barbet comes from the French word barbe’,
meaning beard.
What colors do they come
in? Solid black and brown, with
or without white markings, are the most common colors. Barbet are also seen in
fawn and cream colors. Large amounts of white can also create a pied or
parti-coloring with black, brown, or fawn.
What is the Barbet
personality like? Barbet are friendly, joyful
and fun loving dogs that get along well with others and love to be with their
owners. They have a goofy
and clownish side to them. They
enjoy accompanying their owners while hiking, swimming, and traveling. They
have a calm nature and are easy to live with as long as their exercise needs
are being met. Because they
are very devoted to their owners, they do not do well when left alone for long
periods of time.
How do they see? The hair on the Barbet is very light, and
can blow out of the eyes as the dog moves. It is acceptable to trim and thin
the hair between the eyes, and a pet Barbet can be kept in any kind of trim.
Are Barbet good with
children? Yes, most Barbet have a
natural affinity towards children and are inherently gentle with them. It is always important to make sure
that children and dogs are supervised when together and that the children are
taught how to treat dogs with the respect that they deserve.
Are Barbet good with other
pets? Barbet are considered to be
“good mixers” and as such get along well with other dogs. Proper socialization as puppies with
positive supervised interactions will result in your dog knowing how to behave
with other dogs and enjoying their companionship. When Barbet puppies are introduced to
cats at a young age they do very well with them. As a Sporting breed, the Barbet may
chase small animals and pets.
How big do they get? Barbet are medium sized Sporting dogs. Average weights are 35 to 60 lbs and
heights are 19 – 24 inches at the withers. Males are on average larger than
females. As with many
breeds there will be some Barbet that are larger or smaller than average and
this is to be expected in a breed that is rebuilding its numbers.
Do Barbet shed? Barbet have hair, not fur, so they do not shed in the same way as
other breeds such as the Golden Retriever. Their hair needs to be thoroughly
combed through frequently to prevent matting and maintain healthy skin. You
will sometimes see little tufts of hair on the carpet from your dog. You will never have the problem of
cuddling with your dog and getting covered in dog hair. If you don’t brush your dog regularly
(down to the skin) the coat will tangle in the coat and form mats.
How much grooming do you
have to do? Regular brushing and
combing is required to keep the dog free of mats. At least every week, the dog will need a
thorough comb-through. Frequent swimming will accelerate matting. Since
the hair grows continuously, trimming is required. Some owners prefer to keep their
Barbet is a shorter all-over trim of about 1-2 inches to facilitate
maintenance. The ears need to be
kept plucked and clean. The hair on the bottom of the dogs paws needs to
be trimmed to be flush with the pads of their feet as well. Responsible
breeders will provide detailed instructions on grooming and coat care when you
pick up your puppy.
What are their exercise
needs? Barbet are sporting dogs
and require a moderate amount of regular exercise. Long on-leash walks as well as the
opportunity to run free are beneficial to these active dogs that love being in
the great outdoors. When
introduced to water, many Barbet become avid swimmers; their thick skin and
woolly coats protect them from even the coldest water. Barbet are calm indoors as long as
they are given appropriate regular exercise.
Is there a difference
between males and females? As a general rule males
have been known to be more easy-going than females. Both male and female Barbet
are wonderful and when raised properly they will have the loving, intelligent,
and friendly personalities that the breed is known for, no matter what the sex.
Are Barbet easy to train? Yes and no. Barbet
are very intelligent and learn new things quickly. They make excellent obedience partners
and are in general quite willing to please. Some can be stubborn and some
can bore quickly, repetitive drills don’t go over well with these dogs. Harsh training techniques will not
work with this breed as many are sensitive to their owner’s moods and will shut
down and refuse to work. If
you are gentle with your Barbet while still being firm and consistent you will
make much more progress in your training. Keep your training fun, interesting
and positive and you’ll have a Barbet that enjoys working for you.
Are Barbet good watchdogs? Barbet are loyal, intelligent and alert dogs. They will often bark
if someone comes to the door but will take their cue from you and will soon settle
when they see that you approve of the visitor. By nature the Barbet is not a noisy
dog.
What are the health issues
in the Barbet? The Barbet is in general a
healthy breed. However,
because numbers are still low there is not too much information available
concerning the health of the breed. Responsible
breeders and breed clubs are working to gather as much information about the
health of their dogs as possible. They
share this information with one another in the hopes of breeding the healthiest
dogs possible.
The main concerns at present in the breed are hip dysplasia, eye
disease (such as entropion and cataract) and epilepsy. Responsible breeders health test their
dogs and receive certification from board certified specialists that their dogs
are free of conditions that are considered to have a genetic
component. They share this information on the public databases and make
the clearance certificates available to those interested in purchasing their
puppies. See AKC’s CHIC program (www.caninehealthinfo.org) for a list of Barbet
who have passed OFA (hip and elbow dysplasia) and CERF (eye) clearances.
Are they hypoallergenic? There is no such thing as a non-allergenic dog but Barbet are
considered to be good with those who have dog allergies. Many Barbet owners who are normally
allergic to dogs find that they can live quite comfortably with their
Barbet. If you or someone
in your family is allergic it is advisable to spend some time with the breed to
see how you will react.
How long do they live? The average life expectancy of the Barbet is 12 – 15 years.
What events can I
participate in with a Barbet in the United States? As of January 1, 2020, Barbet are now in AKC's Sporting group and can participate in all allowable conformation and performance events. Other venues where the Barbet has full privileges include UKC,
IABCA, ARBA, NAVHDA, and NAHRA.
©
Judy Descutner & Stephanie Dixon 2020
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