Barbet: intrepid swimmer and proud “beard wearer”

The Barbet is not the only pedigree dog with a “beard” around its muzzle – but it is certainly one of the most distinctive. In addition, the lively Frenchman is considered a real “water rat” – a soft spot that is deeply rooted in the history of his breed. For centuries, the four-legged friends specialized in hunting waterfowl. Today, the bearded fur noses inspire as an uncomplicated family dog. Learn more about the friendly water dog here.

The Barbet – on a water hunt throughout Europe

The exact history of the ancestry of the French dog breed known today as “Barbet” has not been clarified in all details. It is considered likely that forerunners of the water dog reached the Iberian Peninsula with the Moors as early as the 6th century. However, it is also possible that it was Portuguese sailors who brought ancestors of the Barbet back from journeys from Scandinavia or Russia.

In any case, written sources point to the occurrence of a dog similar to the Barbet in Portugal, which spread throughout Europe during the late Middle Ages. Obviously, the characteristics that these dogs brought with them were highly sought after everywhere. From the 16th century onwards, the name Barbet is known from French documents and became universally common. Wherever water hunting was practiced in Europe, the Barbet was part of the party. At the same time, it was used as a guard dog in rural areas.

What made the Barbet so popular is its excellent skills as a retriever and hunting dog for waterfowl such as ducks or geese. As an intrepid, agile swimmer, the dog brings killed game birds safely ashore or tracks them down unerringly in the shelter of the riparian vegetation. Another well-known dog breed that has been used for similar purposes is the Labrador Retriever.

The popularity of the Barbet declined towards the end of the 19th century. Nevertheless, the official recognition of the Barbet as an independent dog breed by the FCI (Fédération Cynologique Internationale) took place as early as 1954. However, it was not until the seventies that interest in the preservation of the breed was revived. However, it was not possible to agree on uniform size standards at first, and falsifying crossbreeding of Poodles was also carried out.

The FCI breed standard has been revised several times in the meantime, the most recent version dates back to 2006. Currently, the four-legged friend with the distinctive facial fur is widespread as a family dog, especially in Europe and North America. In Germany, you will still rarely meet the Barbet, but there are a number of registered breeders.

Character of the Barbet

The Barbet is considered an extremely friendly dog. Due to its peaceful character, it has been able to establish itself as a popular family dog, but is still used as a hunting and working dog. Due to its people-centeredness, the furry nose does not tolerate being alone well.

Towards his owners, the Barbet shows himself to be comradely and affectionate. He meets strangers without aggressiveness, but usually with due distance until he has assessed the person. The shaggy four-legged friends are very fond of children and (provided they have good socialization) also get along well with other pets. However, you should keep in mind that the Barbet is a hunting dog with corresponding instincts.

In addition, the Barbet proves to be an intelligent and inquisitive dog that likes to stick its bearded nose everywhere. Everything unknown is carefully examined. However, it would not occur to him to deliberately provoke confrontations with you or to get his own way: the dog is too anxious to please you for that.

However, this does not mean that the Barbet is absolutely obedient in everything. He relies on cleverness: The four-legged friend registers inconsistent behavior or insecurities on your part exactly and knows how to exploit such weaknesses to his advantage with a lot of charm. In his upbringing, loving strictness and positive reinforcement are required, but no toughness. The latter would affect the relationship of trust between you and your dog.

Barbet: Parenting and Keeping

The Barbet is considered an uncomplicated dog that is also suitable for dog fans with little experience. He is sociable and affectionate, although he tends to fixate on a certain caregiver within the family pack. Due to his eagerness to learn and his pronounced “will to please” (i.e. the urge to please), the Barbet is easy to train. He also learns small tricks quickly.

If there is one thing that the Barbet loves (almost) as much as his human, it is water. It is ideal if you can offer the dog an environment in which he can be in his element – for example with an accessible pond. He also shows unmistakable hunting dog character on land: he likes to rummage and sniff out his environment with interest. To keep him busy in a species-appropriate way, fetch games, dummy and tracking work are particularly suitable. In addition, dog sports are a good workload for the lively four-legged friend.

In addition, the Barbet is absolutely weatherproof and a pronounced outdoor dog. As an owner, you must not be sensitive to the weather, long daily walks are a must. If you
give him enough exercise and activities, the uncomplicated dog is also conceivable as a roommate in a larger apartment. However, it would be better if he had access to a secure garden or property all day. However, kennel keeping is categorically ruled out: The Barbet needs close contact with his family pack.

Caring for the Barbet

The term “fur” does not adequately describe the special hairstyle of the barbet: it is more like an insulating “protective suit”, thanks to which the dog can even swim in ice water. The hair is woolly, frizzy and forms strings. Daily combing with a wide-toothed comb and a brush is obligatory in order to maintain a certain basic order of the “hairstyle” and to remove what gets caught in it when roaming in nature.

Especially in the hot season, you have to shear the Barbet regularly – a task that you can delegate to a professional dog salon if necessary. It is also important that the fur in the ears remains short so that the ear canal is ventilated and inflammation does not occur.

Special features of the Barbet

The most distinctive feature of the Barbet, which distinguishes it from other breeds with dense curly fur, is the long chin and moustache, to which it also owes its name: “Barbel” means “beard” in French. Due to its coat structure, the Barbet is one of the non-shedding dog breeds – unfortunately, however, this is not an all-clear for people with an animal hair allergy. The Barbet is considered the ancestor of the Poodle and has been proven to influence the development of other hunting dog breeds, including the Poodle Pointer and the Irish Wading Spaniel. A close relationship between the French Barbet and the Spanish Water Dog and the Portuguese Water Dog is unmistakable.

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These “water rats” will also inspire you:

• Lagotto Romagnolo: Originally, the Lagotto Romagnolo was bred in Italy for water hunting – today it goes truffle hunting
• Kooikerhondje: The Kooikerhondje was originally bred for duck hunting. In the meantime, it is becoming increasingly popular as a companion and family dog. Kooikers are intelligent and sensitive. They are easy to train, but do not tolerate too much pressure.
• Portuguese Water Dog: The Portuguese Water Dog was on the verge of extinction – and decades later made it to the White House as the Obamas’ family dog. Fortunately, a fishing magnate recognized the value of this wonderful dog breed in the 1930s and intensified it into breeding.
• Spanish Water Dog: The Spanish Water Dog should not be missing from a shortlist for a family dog. It has everything that makes a perfect companion: not too big and not too small, easy to care for and not shedding, easy to train, friendly, fond of children and always in a good mood.