Barbet Grooming Chart

Often I am contacted by groomers who wonder just how the Barbet is to be trimmed. I created this drawing to help but over the years I've found that hand scissoring is the only way to achieve the correct coat on the Barbet. Longer on the top of the head, shorter on the neck and back, long on the legs, shorter on the belly...it's been a lot of trial and error to come up with the trim that I'm happy with on my dogs but I do feel like my dogs are now consistently presented with an easy and attractive cut.

Welcome home, Marlee!

We are right in the middle of our birthday season. Almost every one of our Barbet litters have been born in late March or early April. Living together usually makes all of the girls come into season around the same time, so it has been easy to plan for spring pups that are ready to head to their new homes just as summer is starting. A great time for puppies to make the transition when their new families can easily get them out to new places every day.

Next week we will celebrate the 3rd birthday of our beautiful Marlee and her siblings. Time flies! Yesterday I drove to Chesapeake City, MD to pick up Mar after her month on the road with Michelle and Michael Scott. This road trip was extremely successful for Marlee. She won Best of Breed and Best in Miscellaneous at 12 of the 14 shows where the Scotts showed her. Marlee made a lot of new friends for the breed and the Scotts learned about showing a Barbet. In the end, Marlee earned her CM2 title and is just two points shy of her CM3. She came home in impeccable condition, and she loved everyone on the Creekside Handling team. Marlee will continue to meet up with the Scotts throughout the year. My sincere thanks to Michael for presenting Marlee so beautifully!

An honor to win under Houston Clark

Balanced, beautiful movement. Totally correct. So proud :)

Taking the glamour down a notch :)   judge Richard V Miller

Best Barbet Brush

This brush is my absolute favorite for keeping my Barbet mat-free. Regular brushing with this slicker keeps the skin healthy and the hair free of serious mats. Using a line brushing technique, this brush will pull out all hair that is lying in the coat, waiting to weave itself into problems. I recommend this slicker brush to everyone!

The Search For The Perfect Barbet Puppy

The first in a four-part series written by guest poster FLA, the owner of a 6 month old Barbet puppy

The Quest Begins: Finding the Right Puppy Is Not Easy

Not too long ago, I was the typical inexperienced puppy buyer. We wanted a pup with the qualities we loved most in our last dog, a joyful rescue with a calm temperament who enjoyed our active lifestyle.  Finding one would be easy, or so we thought at first.

Once our intention of launching a puppy search was made known to friends, the advice came pouring in. 

‘Go to the shelter and just pick one.’

‘There are great puppy finder sites online.  You can get a good dog a lot cheaper there.’

‘My friend knows someone whose dog had puppies.  Want me to ask her?’

‘Don’t spend too much, that would be crazy.’

‘Get a doodle.’

And on, and on.  Everyone had an opinion, but the variety of advice left my head spinning.  So we launched our own search.

Weeks were spent visiting shelters in person and on their websites, checking in daily for just the right match.  For many reasons, we began to understand that what we were looking for was not likely to be found there. 

Our next step was to run online searches for puppies.  The results were shocking.  Pretty pictures and cheap prices were hiding an industry I soon realized we needed to stay far, far away from.   Deeper digging revealed pictures and information that I wish I could forget, but cannot.

Next, I listened to the voice of popular opinion that labradoodles are the way to go.  Finding one was easy.  Sifting through all of the information was not.  The more I read, the more disheartened I became.  A discussion about why I did not get a labradoodle is a long and detailed story though, and too far off topic for this post.

I slowly began to realize that if we wanted a quality puppy, we had to look for the people and not the dog.  

To read the rest of the article, click here

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

Barbet Kit's First Haircut

We've had a super busy month and haven't been posting much, but now we're back to the dogs and getting ready for the fall shows. Kit is now 5 months old and I just gave her her first haircut. Taking off some of those puppy ends makes her coat look so much better. She's growing up so nicely!

Best In Show for Nessa!

Just home from a big day in Ohio:
Nessa heard about her sister Lotus and her huge BIS last weekend, so she decided to make some news of her own. Today she won her first UKC Best In Show and also a Reserve Best In Show at the UBRTC's inaugural shows. Thanks so much to judges Jennifer Landers-Morado and Brenda Landers for appreciating our girl. Great competition, good food, and fun times made today really special. As always, I remain indebted to Anne Plomp for sending this little girl to America. We have nothing but fun with her.

With this win by Nessa,  all three of my Barbet girls are UKC Best In Show winners. Claire won the first ever Best In Show for a Barbet in North America in September 2010. We are so proud and pleased with our Barbet and the rewarding placements from the judges.

Barbet Cover Girl Nessa

Quite exciting to get our mail today...our Nessa is on the cover of UKC's Bloodlines magazine!

Solene Wins Another Best in Show!

We had a wonderful weekend in Stafford, Virginia last weekend where Solene won another Best in Show, this time at an AKC open show hosted by the American Boerboel Club. Judge Candace Mogavero had such complimentary words for our pretty girl. Solene also won Best FSS on Sunday, and earned 7 points toward her Certificate of Merit. I am so proud of Solene. 

Solene is 18 months old, and is the daughter of Claire and Bango.

Barbet Grooming Shape

I am often asked how the Barbet is to be groomed for the dog show. Many styles are seen in the ring, from fully blown and brushed out to an ungroomed, untouched appearance. I prefer a moderate style, nicely shaped but naturally presented. This picture demonstrates my preferred Barbet appearance for my dogs.

A Beautiful Barbet Puppy

Lotus  -  Nuphar's Deep In A Dream

This beautiful Barbet puppy is Lotus, the litter sister to our Nessa. She was bred by and is owned by Anne Plomp, who lives in The Netherlands. Lotus is an incredibly balanced and beautiful brown and white Barbet. Anne and I tend to agree on how the Barbet should be kept, conditioned and presented, and her excellent photography skills demonstrate the true beauty of the breed.

Dock Girl

Claire spent a nice weekend at the lake house where we had chilly, rainy weather due to the hurricane. Since we had time inside, I completely brushed out her hair. Then she didn't want to get wet! She is now extra puffy from being brushed. Usually when she is combed out, we follow it with a swim or a bath. Apparently she thought it was too cold!