BARBET
Gun Dog Group
View Registration Requirements

Revised January 1, 2007



History

The Barbet is a very old French breed, being the ancestor of numerous modern breeds and types, such as the Poodle, the griffons, the Newfoundland and other water dogs, and the French sheepdog of the Brie region.

The breed is a water dog, traditionally used as hunter’s assistant or as a sailor’s companion for fetching at sea. The female gave her name to the Barbette, the cannon posted, in the past, on the bow of ships.

The Barbet was also used as a shepherd dog, for driving flocks, and as a companion dog. This is truly a versatile, multi-purpose breed.

The Barbet was recognized by the United Kennel Club on January 1, 1995.

The Barbet is a medium-sized, balanced dog, slightly longer than tall, with characteristic thick, woolly, fleecy coat, assuring effective protection against cold and humidity. There is a characteristic beard, which gave the breed its name.

The Barbet is not aggressive or timid, being docile and very devoted to its master. They are very sociable and fond of the water.

The Barbet is essentially a water dog, used for wild fowling. Nevertheless, it has several abilities of a pointer/setter without being a true setter. The breed has no fear of the cold, going into water in all types of weather.

The head is entirely covered with long hair.

SKULL - Round and large. The stop is pronounced. The forehead is large and short.

MUZZLE - The snout is very square and shorter than the skull. The lips are thick and pigmented, the mucous membranes being black or chestnut.

TEETH – Strong, well-developed teeth that meet in a scissors bite.

EYES – Round in shape, preferably dark brown in color.

EARS – Low set, long, flat and broad, covered with long hair that forms into cords.

NOSE – Broad, with well-opened nostrils, black or brown in color depending on the color of the coat.

Short and strong.

Strong and muscular, with sloping shoulders.

FORELEGS – Straight and well-boned, completely covered with long hair.

Faults: Fine bone. Fringed limbs.

Broad and deep, with a well-developed, rounded ribcage. Back and loin very slightly arched. Croup rounded in profile.

Well-developed and muscular, with good angulation.

HIND LEGS – Hocks set low and well-angulated.

Faults: Flat thighs. No bend in the stifle. Fringed limbs (spaniel-type). Dewclaws.

The large, round feet are covered with hair.

Faults: Fine, narrow feet. Bare-pawed/uncovered (lack of hair).

Set on low, carried somewhat raised but not above the horizontal. Forms a hook at the end.

The thick hair, covering the body, is an essential characteristic of the breed. The coat is long, woolly, wavy, and sometimes curly, forming wisps/tufts. If not regularly brushed, the hair can form into cords.

The hair on the head must fall down as far as the nose, and hide the eyes. The beard is long and thick. The mustache overlays the entire nose, and is very thick.

The skin is thick.

Faults: Short, rough, non-woolly hair. Thin, delicate skin.

The coat is one uniform color. Multiple colors are accepted, including: black, gray, chestnut, tawny, sand, and white. All shades/hues of tawny and sand are acceptable; preferably the entire body should be one even shade.

Faults: Coats not of a uniform color, including: bi-colored, tri-colored, blackened (sable), spotted/ speckled. One-color coats with non-uniform hues/ shading.

The ideal height for males is 23½ inches (60 cm.), with 21¼ inches (54 cm.) being the minimum.

The ideal height for females is 21½ inches (55 cm.), with 19½ inches (50 cm.) being the minimum.

Unilateral or bilateral cryptorchid. Viciousness or extreme shyness. Albinism.