Solene wins NOHS Reserve Best in Show at the New Castle KC, Canfield, OH

Solene wins NOHS Reserve Best in Show at the New Castle Kennel Club, Canfield, OH

While the younger girls were busy at home with summer litters, we entered Solene at the only day of Canfield we could attend. Our son Sam was marrying his longtime sweetie Lauren on August 1, so off we went to the Thursday Canfield show. Canfield drew huge entries and was the only dog show held in the US on this particular weekend, just as US dog shows were beginning to start up. Solene won Best of Breed under Charles Olvis, then waited through a very long day to compete in the Owner Handler group. Judged by sporting specialist Doug Johnson, Solene was selected as the best of the Sporting group. On to Best in Show. Solene was so happy to be in the ring; she shows with so much attitude and goes around the ring with effortless movement. With her tail wagging non-stop, Solene was chosen by Robert Shreve as Reserve Best in Show. What a thrill to have Solene, at 8.5 years old, near the top of the day's show results. Good girl, Solene. We love you so much!

NOHS RBIS CH Hickory Tavern Intl Intrigue CM

Marlee - Last AKC FSS Appearance for the Barbet

This shot by Candid Canine Photography is the last appearance ever for a Barbet in the AKC FSS Group. Taken in Orlando during the AKC National Championship, our Marlee won a Group 2. As of January 1, the Barbet moves into Miscellaneous and the wider world of AKC dog shows! We are so proud of the advancement of this beautiful breed and look forward to showing a lot more in 2017. Local shows, favorite shows, new shows...America is open to the Barbet!

So Lucky!

We are so lucky to share our home with our beautiful dogs. This fun Facebook creation of our most used words reflects an exciting year past :)

Marlee Wins at the AKC National Championship!

Marlee wrapped up the show year with another spectacular win, Best of Breed and FSS Group 2 at the AKC National Championship in Orlando, FL. Beginning in January, the Barbet moves on to the Miscellaneous group, making our AKC show opportunities much more accessible. We are so proud of our dogs and have enjoyed helping this beautiful breed get started with the American Kennel Club.   Look for us around the dog shows as we make this next step in America!

Hickory Tavern Final Grade CAA RN CGC THDN, one of America's Most Titled Barbet

Last weekend, little spitfire Hickory Tavern Final Grade CAA RN CGC THDN, also known as Fia, earned her AKC Coursing Ability Advanced title. From her first serendipitous lure course last May, Fia has become a fierce girl on the chase! Amazing to watch her in action. Congratulations to Leonard Tena for handling Fia to her CAA title, and to the entire Tena Family for their devotion to Barbet Fia!

Barbet Art for the Barbet Club of America

My good friend Leslie Woodward created these three images for our AKC/Westminster Meet the Breeds booth this year. I think you'll agree they are spectacular! We are excited for these beautiful posters to grace our breed booth and, after Meet the Breeds wraps up, these images will be available as prints, notecards, mugs, and other items as fundraisers for the Barbet Club of America. The online store for these images is CafePress/Barbet

Barbet Accepted into AKC Miscellaneous Status!

From the minutes from the December Board meeting – Barbet – Recommendation to Advance to Miscellaneous. The Board reviewed a Sport Services department recommendation to approve the Barbet to advance to the Miscellaneous. The Board of Directors approved the Barbet to be eligible for recording in the Foundation Stock Service® (FSS®) program with a Sporting designation in 2007. The Barbet Club of America has met the requirements of the Recognition of New Breeds Policy approved in January 2004 by the Board of Directors. Following a motion by Dr. Battaglia, seconded by Mr. Arnold, it was VOTED (unanimously) to advance the Barbet to the Miscellaneous Class effective January 1, 2017. The Barbet Club of America is designated as the Parent Club for the breed.

Congratulations to each and every one of the supporters of the Barbet in America. By joining the Barbet Club of America, registering your dogs with the AKC FSS, and competing in AKC events, you have brought our breed to this exciting level. Thank you!!

A Good Day at the Post Office!

Our mail today delivered two exciting certificates: 

Marlee's Canadian Kennel Club Grand Championship and Miffy's Invitation to compete at Westminster Kennel Club 2016. Marlee is the very first American bred Barbet to win a Grand Championship in Canada and Miff is the first natural tail Spinone to win a Grand Championship. We are super proud of our girls!

Canine Chronicle Ad Nov/Dec 2015

Barbet Puppy Kit at 6 Months

Isabel was home this weekend from NYU and she helped me get some new photos of our puppy Kit. She is a beautiful combination of the best parts of her mom Nessa and her father Murdoch.  We are so pleased with this entire litter and we have so much to look forward to in the future. Several of these puppies are in show homes and are off to promising starts. Best of all, they are fun and silly pups who are a joy to live with.

Kit looks so much like Nessa in the face

Kit has beautiful extension and smooth movement

The Barbet is Not the Perfect Dog

Please remember that the Barbet is an extremely rare breed. There are around 200 dogs in the United States, and we are very careful with how we breed our dogs. The Barbet is easily found through internet searches, and by reading and researching, many families will decide that this is the perfect breed for them. However, there are not many available puppies in America and this is not a dog that can be easily obtained. We are not breeding to produce puppies for a wait list; we are striving to improve this breed with each generation and will breed only when we feel the combination of dogs is ideal. 

Why the Barbet is Not the Perfect Dog

1. The long, curly hair requires commitment and devotion. Without constant upkeep, the Barbet's hair will mat at the skin and nothing other than a shave will rectify the mess. This is not fair to the dog, so if you aren't willing to keep the hair clean and free of mats and tangles, find a breed with easier coat care. 
2. They need attention. They are likely to get into trouble; they'll dig, they'll rip things apart, they startle and bark...  Barbets need lots of one on one time with their owners and time spent training is hugely beneficial to both dog and human.
3. They're weird. Without lots of socialization and exposure, the sensitive Barbet can become fearful. Even with extra time in the world, they often go through adolescent fear periods. An understanding owner who gives gentle, effective leadership is necessary for a well-adjusted adult Barbet.
4. Nobody knows what they are. Endless questions of 'Is that a Labradoodle?' 'Is that a Poodle?' 'How does your dog see?'  Perhaps as time goes on, the general public will become more aware of the breed, but for now, expect to do a lot of explaining.
5. They do shed and they are not hypoallergenic. There is no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog, even though many people with allergies are fine with a Barbet. The hair does shed, but it does not fall out into the floor or your car's carpeting.  However, the loose hairs stay within the curls and must be combed out or they will soon become woven into mats. 
6. You cannot go on a grooming vacation. The dogs will suffer.

©Judy McMaster Descutner 2015

American Barbet Weekend at the Canadian Dog Shows

Last weekend, we loaded up the RV and headed just over the Canadian border to Welland, Ontario where we met up with other Barbet from Wisconsin, New Jersey, Vermont, and Ontario. The weather ranged from sunny and beautiful to crazy winds and rain. We were thrilled with the results of our girls at the show.

Kit, Hickory Tavern Fool For Paris, is 6 months and one week old. She won Winners Bitch 3 of 4 days and earned 6 points towards her Canadian Championship. She loves to show and makes the judges smile!

Marlee, GrCh Hickory Tavern Secret Entourage, earned her Grand Championship title. In just 9 shows, Marlee completed these title requirements and becomes the first American bred Barbet to be a Grand Champion with the CKC. There are just a handful of Grand Champions in the CKC (her father being one of them) and we are very proud of our sweet girl!

We are super proud to have bred these girls!

GrCh Hickory Tavern Secret Entourage - Marlee

Ch Hickory Tavern Intl Intrigue x GrCh Neigenuveaux's Gambit

Hickory Tavern Fool For Paris - Kit

Nuphar's Gift-Wrapped x GrChEx Flacon d'Paris of Neigenuveaux

Barbet Kit

One of the reasons we can let our puppies go to their new homes is because we also get a new puppy! Our keeper is this girl, the green collared girl of Nessa with the white front paw. She was my initial favorite of the litter, but I'm not sure that I love how this white foot will look in the ring. For quite a while, I thought I'd keep a different pup, but this one kept catching my eye, over and over, until it finally hit me that this girl needs to stay, even with her uneven markings. Her broad head and muzzle are things I was trying to improve from Nessa, and her fearless attitude around the farm makes her a favorite. We named her Kit because the two white footed puppies were often referred to as "the kitty feet" pups, so she got called 'Kitty' a lot! We've shortened it to 'Kit' and we are super happy to have her with us.

Hickory Tavern Fool For Paris

CH Nuphar's Gift-Wrapped x GrChEx Flacon d' Paris of Neigenuveaux

Barbet Puppy

Three Weeks Today!

Friday Puppy Update

This picture has two fun things: the white collar puppy who passed out headfirst and the other under Nessa's chest where just the back legs are sticking out. All puppies gained weight nicely and are doing great so far!

 Sleeping Comfortably!

This little girl is wiped out on Nessa's front leg!

Very proud mamma Ness

American Barbet Puppies!

Our Dutch import, Nessa, gave birth to 8 beautiful puppies this morning, sired by Canada's #1 Barbet, Murdoch. A first time mom, Nessa easily delivered her babies in under two hours. All of the puppies came out head first, fully encased in their sacs, for a smooth passage into the world.

5:00 AM    #1    Girl   228g    brown    blue collar

5:36 AM    #2    Boy   263g    black    red collar

5:51 AM    #3    Girl    200g    black    yellow collar

5:58 AM    #4    Girl    202g    black    white collar

6:10 AM    #5    Boy    233g    black    light blue collar

6:36 AM    #6    Girl    197g    black    green collar

6:50 AM    #7    Boy    250g    black    orange collar

6:57 AM    #8    Girl    256g    brown    purple collar

Birth size doesn't really indicate adult size, but it's interesting to watch as they grow. Sometimes the biggest pups in the litter stay the biggest, and other times the smaller pups end up being the exact right size as adults. I'll get individual shots of the pups posted over the next few days.

Christmas Pictures 2014

We love getting holiday photos of our puppies!

Bodhi, just over a year old. Bodhi is a Claire/Obie puppy

Charley at 8 months with his "brother" Tyler. Charley is a Solene/Bosch puppy.

Get Your 2015 Barbet Calendar!

Every year the Barbet Club of America produces a calendar filled with images of Barbet who live in the United States. Funds raised help to pay the operating costs of the club and to educate prospective owners. Order yours today (and join the Club while you're at it!!) The club appreciates the support of Barbet owners through North America.

Two Weeks Old Tonight

The puppies have started opening their eyes, but they were pretty sleepy when I had my camera today. They are all walking really well, and looking great!

Growing and Gaining

We're so pleased with the gains that the puppies are making each day. It's very easy to sit for hours watching these little guys! You can see in the third picture with the burgundy and red collared puppies how different the coats are. The red has the straightest hair and the burgundy has the curliest. It will be so interesting to see how similar they are after a few weeks. Little personality traits are already emerging; the purple girl is always the first out of the puppy bed and the burgundy girl is the most vocal. Each of our observations are snapshots into the development of the puppy on the day, but as we continue to observe and learn, we see many traits specific to each puppy.

The browns head to head

The boys

Straightest and curliest hair in the litter

Big blocky heads are very promising, and part of what separates a Barbet from a Poodle