Barbet

The Barbet is a lovely family dog. His balanced and affectionate character makes him an extraordinary companion. Hunters appreciate him for his great aquatic skills and families for his affectionate and very loyal side. He loves all spaces, terrains and lakes. Never aggressive and very sociable, the Barbet is an intelligent and calm dog that adapts very well to all environments and masters.

Height 52 to 66 cm
Weight 14 to 28 kg
Life expectancy 12 to 14 years
Hair Loss Low
Excercise Need Medium
Home country France

Quick Overview of the Barbet

Temperament

  • Very balanced temperament
  • Sociable and affectionate
  • Cheerful and kind
  • Loves children

Appearance

  • Quite particular aspect
  • Fur covered with woolly hair
  • Excellent musculature, very vigorous
  • Wide drooping ears

Health

  • Usually healthy
  • No specific issues identified

Temperament of the Barbet

The Barbet is a rather vigorous dog with a balanced temperament. He is sociable, affectionate, cheerful and gentle. He loves children and other animals.

Very lively, the Barbet is also extremely intelligent. His education is quite easy because he is very receptive. However, he must be educated and socialized at a very young age in order to avoid him doing as he pleases.

The Barbet has no ability to stand guard as he is totally devoid of aggression. He loves everyone, both humans and animals.

This canis aquaticus with webbed paws loves water and is at ease on all terrains, large or small, dry or wet. Very attached to his masters and everyone in the household, he is neither shy nor aggressive. He is a very loyal dog and an adorable life companion.

Breed Appearance

barbet

The Barbet is a small to medium size dog and has a very special appearance. This woolly average size dog looks like a very hairy doggie. With excellent muscles, he is quite vigorous.

Height

Between 57 and 66 cm (22.44 to 25.98 inches) for the male
Between 52 and 62 cm (20.47 to 24.41 inches) for the female

Weight

Between 17 and 28 kg (37.48 to 61.73 pounds) for the male
Between 14 and 23 kg (30.86 to 50.71 pounds) for the female

Color

His coat is mostly single colored, with several colors accepted, namely black, grey, sand, white, fawn brown and different shades between sand and fawn.

Hair

His hair is rather woolly and tends to curl. It is quite long.

Morphology

The Barbet's head has a rather round skull and is lined with hair that forms a small beard. His eyes are very dark and round. His ears are broad and drooping. His nose is black or brown. His tail is set low and carried upwards a little. In action, the tip takes the shape of a hook.

According to the FCI breeds nomenclature, this breed belongs to group 8, section 3 and is #105

Characteristics of the Barbet

Does this dog suit your lifestyle?

Every dog breed has its own characteristics. However, the actual character of a dog can vary from one to another within the same breed.

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Life in an apartment
Good first dog
Tolerates solitude
Tolerates cold weather
Tolerates hot weather
Affectionate
Friendly with children
Friendly with strangers
Friendly with other animals
Hair loss
Drooling level
Easy to care for
Robust health
Easy to train
Intelligent
Tendency to bark
Tendency to nibble
Protective
Instinct to hunt
Adventurous spirit
Energy level
Level of intensity
Need for exercise
Playful

Price and monthly budget

Price you can expect to pay for a Barbet puppy: between and
These prices are indicative and may vary from breeder to breeder
Average monthly budget for a Barbet:
The monthly budget includes the average expenses for food and hygiene products (grooming, anti-parasite...)

Barbet puppies near me

Tips About this breed

This water dog used for swan and duck hunting is also an admirable family companion. His aquatic aptitudes are strong and the Barbet will be very happy in the countryside near a lake or river. Wide open spaces around a lake or river will allow him to fully develop and expend his great energy.

Great swimmer, he will be able to enjoy himself and get all the exercise he needs for his physical and mental health. Country dog owners need not fear the cold, but rather they must be careful of extreme heat. The Barbet is very well protected against the cold, but heat can be quite uncomfortable.

This intelligent and well-balanced dog can be as happy in the city as he is in the country. City dwellers who want to own a Barbet simply need to make sure they provide a pleasant place for him to spend his energy and get all his daily exercise.

As he doesn't really like to be locked up alone, an apartment with a master who is often away may not be the ideal option for this dog. The Barbet likes company and a space where he can move around without too much constraint.

Health of the Barbet

No particular issue has been identified in this robust and vigorous dog. The Barbet usually enjoys excellent health.

GROOMING

A regular weekly brushing will do the trick. About once every two or three months, a haircut is necessary to maintain the coat at a reasonable length, about 5 to 7 cm (2 to 3 inches). A complete shearing once or twice a year will also be very beneficial for his coat.

His drooping ears should also be checked regularly to avoid foreign bodies that could lead to infectious problems.

History of this breed

The Barbet breed was described in many 16th century books. This mythical dog would apparently be the Poodle's ancestor.

Having arrived in France via the Iberian Peninsula through wars and various invasions, he would have been around at the time of the dogs of the Saracens. Widely used as a water dog for hunting, he was given the name canis aquaticus (water dog).

The Barbet was very fashionable as a companion dog, better known then as Barbillotte. Napoleon I servants were particularly fond of him and Goethe chose him as the incarnation of the power of seduction and absolute knowledge. The devil also took the form of a Barbet to present himself to Faust.

His origins go back to North Africa, where he was a herdsman. Arriving in France with the Arabs, the Southwest was his first port of call, then the breed spread to other regions of France and finally all over Europe.

Widely used as a sheepdog, the Barbet was chosen as the ancestor of Griffons, Briards and Poodles. The breed was very popular until the First World War. In 1986, the standard was modified.

Thanks to his fur, the Barbet is not afraid of the cold. This makes him more than just a game retriever. He is used in water to search for and flush out game that may be hiding there.

He retrieves the game and brings it back to the master. He can go into the water regardless of the temperature. Widely used to hunt ducks and swans, he is also popular with families as a companion dog.

Still today, the Barbet is a very well known dog in France but remains rather discreet in the rest of the world.

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