Barbet – Gundog

Modern times has seen demand for the gundog decrease, luckily the Barbet makes a great pet too.

Image: Ysbrand Cosijn/Shutterstock.com

Quick Overview

Name:                                                                  The Barbet (from Barbe, French for ‘beard’)

Size:                                                                       Up to 24.5 inches

Weight:                                                                Up to 65 lbs

Grooming:                                                          Less than once a week brush and trim

Training:                                                               Easy enough, excel in agility

Exercise:                                                              1 or 2 hours a day average

Temperament:                                                 Eager to please, super-friendly

Origins:                                                                 The heart of France

Lifespan:                                                              Up to or above 14 years of age

Breed Type:                                                        GUNDOG (Group 8, water dog)

History of the Beautiful Barbet Breed

One of the first things we found out about this breed was that they are one of the newest dog breeds in the UK, as officially recognised by the UK Kennel Club. They weren’t officially recognised until 2018 in the UK, which happened to be the first year they were shown at CRUFTS, the doggy distinction show. The arrival of this breed marked the register hitting 220 but we had trouble tracking down the breed standard so we will go with the AKC version.

The reason that we don’t have a firm history of the Barbet is that centuries saw the Barbet and the Poodle breed as one and the same thing. It was only noted in more recent years that they were different. A big part of this is the way the French would refer to any dog with that poodle-like woolly fur as a barbet, thereby leading to a distinct lack of a breed standard.

They came from all over France, a widely dispersed breed that generations of other dog breeds have been derived from. It is unclear whether the poodle or the barbet came first. We do know that the first barbet was brought to the UK for breeding as recently as 2001, but that they have existed in France for centuries. According to Wikipedia, there was an expression in the 19^th century about being as ‘muddy as a barbet’. This was likely because of their known history as water retriever/ gun dogs.

Dogs with this type of coat and that were originally working retrievers would have gone out hunting with their masters. Their job would have been in duck hunting or even in fishing, where they would rush out and recover the kill from the water. Over the years this need lessened, for the last hundred years or so the barbet has been less of a worker and more of a companion pup.

The barbet is mentioned often in 16^th century scripts and pictures so we can place their history at least this far back. Despite the recent resurgence in popularity, the barbet is still only ranked as 196^th in popularity with Americans. They haven’t clicked that it is a poodle with better genes yet but give them time…

Fun Facts Regarding the Barbet Gundog

There are a few things we didn’t know about the Barbet breed that we thought were quite interesting when we found them out. We pass this information on to you, do with it as you will. Remember, with great power comes great responsibility!

Some Five Minutes Spare favourite Barbet facts include:

• Some people call them ‘muppet’ dogs because they do, in fact, resemble muppets.
• The best thing to do for a barbet with a course coat is to give it an oil supplement.
• When you wash and blow-dry a Barbet it will be cloud-like in appearance. This is when you should trim them. 5/6 inches of spiral fur is the norm.
• A barbet isn’t just a dog breed. There are around 80 bird species named after it. You can get a Toucan Barbet, an Asian Barbet, a New World Barbet or an African Barbet. Just to complicate things, the USS Barbet was a minesweeping warship in 1942; although we doubt they named it after the dog[i].

So Barbets areinteresting, as well as friendly.

Training your Barbet

Since this dog has been a companion and worker for humans for so long, it is reasonably easy to train. They will want to fetch, which is a throwback to their earlier lives. They are generally friendly, but you should always socialise a new dog. Obedience training will also keep them in line as they age, and give you an easier time in terms of house training etc.

How Often do I Brush my Barbet?

They will get by on reasonably little fuss. Trim their toenails often, brush their teeth, and a once a week fur brush should do. They aren’t big shedders either so if someone in your household is allergic to hair, they are a good choice being one of the more hypoallergenic dogs.

Let’s talk about that phrase. No dog is hypoallergenic in truth. If someone suffers an allergy to the dog it is more than likely either a hair allergy or a dander one. If you are unlucky enough to suffer you should search for a dog with minimal-to-no shedding to make sure there isn’t any hair floating around your house all the time. This should minimise allergic reactions. You can always take an antihistamine which will be completely worth it for a wee dog of your own.

What Type of Personality do Barbet Dogs Have?

Sweet and friendly, they aim to please. They also like to chase things but, unlike a terrier, they can control their urges especially with a bit of training.

Common Health Problems Known to this Breed

Since the Barbet has a history peppered with no breed standard, coupled with the mixed genetics of the other breeds involved, they are a reasonably healthy dog group. Watch out for degenerative eye conditions, skin conditions, and hip or elbow problems. These are the most common concerns for all fashionable breeds and aren’t specific to the Barbet. Buying from a registered breeder will give you a clear history of your dogs’ familial health.

Where Can I Get A Barbet For Myself?

We only recommend two methods of obtaining a barbet dog of your very own. The first is to ask at your local shelter. If you’re not in a hurry then ask them to notify you when one becomes available/ If not, you can buy a puppy from a breeder. We ask that you lookout for the signs of puppy farming if you do. You can get a list of registered breeders from the kennel club in your country

Is a Barbet the Right Breed for You?

If you love the barbet, great! If not, we have a few other breeds over at Five Minutes Spare that might interest you. What about a Labrador if you like retrievers? Or a border terrier if you like your dogs to work hard? Anything is possible in the world of puppies. We say just buy one of each.

[i] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbet