The barbet or French water dog stands out for its large bush of curly and long hair, strong appearance and for its great fascination with Water. Their most accepted origin is French and they are excellent hunting, swimming, herding and companion dogs. They are very faithful, intelligent and noble that will maintain a strong bond with their caregivers while adapting to changes, cold climates and new family members or animals.
Origin of the barbet dog or water shepherd dog
The origin of the barbet dog is not well established, as there are various theories. The most widely accepted says that this breed is of French origin, where it was used as a hunting dog in swamps and rivers Because of this, it was called the French water dog and grew in popularity, until became roy alty when King Henry IV adopted a specimen. In France there are records of this breed since the 16th century, which makes it a very old breed. Other theories say that it comes from Poland and even North Africa and that it was imported to Europe in the Middle Ages.
The barbet dog was on the verge of extinction during World War II, but three expert lovers of this breed made sure that it did not happen by reactivating their breeding.
This dog spread until its genes, over the centuries, helped shape breeds of many sheepdogs and the poodle. The International Cinological Federation approved this breed in 1954 and its official standard in 2006, and in 2005 it was recognized by the United Kennel Club. It is believed that today there are about 1,000 dogs of this breed in France, Sweden, Switzerland, Germany and Canada.
Characteristics of the barbet dog
The barbet breed is medium-large and is mainly characterized by having a very abundant curly coatthat covers its entire body, including legs and face. The rest of the physical characteristics that define a barbet breed dog are:
- Height 58-65 cm at the withers in males and 53-61 cm in females.
- Weight between 17 and 30 kg.
- Good muscles and bone structure.
- Wide, round head with similar eyes.
- Brown or black eyelid rim.
- Snout short and slightly square.
- Black truffle.
- Under the chin a long beard forms.
- Flat, low, wide ears.
- Thick lips.
- Strong and short neck.
- Well-developed chest.
- Strong and thick limbs.
- Low-binding, inward-curving, hook-shaped tail.
In addition to this, the skin of this dog is very thick, which together with its dense and padded coat allows it to withstand the cold, as well as spending a lot of time in the water or wet areas, hence its name of water dog.
Colors of the Barbet Dog or French Water Dog
The colors accepted in this breed of dog are:
- Black.
- Gray.
- Brown.
- Clear fawn.
- Sand.
- White.
Character of the barbet dog or French water dog
The barbet dog is friendly, familiar, funny, playful and sociable, which makes him ideal for families with children. He will love going outside to play, and if there is water nearby… much more! They are excellent swimmers and love the water, but you must always be careful and not neglect them if they take a dip in a river, pool or beach to prevent possible accidents.
They do not usually present behavior-related problems, but if they find themselves alone for many hours a day and are unable to do physical activity, the risk of suffering from anxiety will increaseor develop destructive behaviors at home.
This dog gets along well with other dogs and even animals of other species, and tolerates new human additions to the house and guests very well. In general they are dogs with very good character that will develop very close relationships with the members of the family that cares for them.
Education of the barbet dog or French water dog
Training a barbet breed dog is usually simple, as they are very intelligent, attentive and obedient Don't forget that all canine education must be constant, patient and disciplined He will quickly learn tricks and commands and will be able to get a good education in a short time that will make him a really docile adult dog, loyal, polite and obedient.
As of the month of life of these dogs, the socialization period must begin and from there begin with education. Positive and never negative reinforcements should be used to achieve adequate and comfortable training.
You have to remember that it is a dog that can be destructive in the face of loneliness and prolonged lack of exercise, so it needs a moderate amount of exercises to maintain that behavioral balance.
Barbet or French water dog care
These dogs demand a lot of outdoor physical activity, since they are so active that they need space to develop their full potential and, well, stay he althy, happy and balanced. Agility or swimming sports practices will be very beneficial for this breed.
Although they do not require a lot of care, they do they require the basics of all dogs: going for a walk, playing games, abundant food distributed in several times a day as they are good-sized dogs and contain all the necessary nutrients but without becoming excessive to avoid obesity, since they tend to be gluttonous.
Hygiene is key, the hair of these dogs is abundant, dense and curly, so at least one bath a month, correct and frequent brushing and the haircut every six months is key.
Veterinary visits are necessary, frequently for deworming, vaccination and routine check-ups, as well as any consultation before the appearance of any symptoms indicating that something is wrong.
He alth of the Barbet Dog or French Water Dog
The French water dog or barbet is generally strong and he althy, with a life expectancy of between 12 and 15 years. However, the following diseases must be considered, which due to their size and breed may have a relative frequency:
- Otitis: Being exposed to water can increase the predisposition to suffering from painful inflammation and/or infection of the ear. It is important to monitor the condition of the barbet's ears and hearing, especially if they come into contact with water, and clean it when it does.
- Epilepsy: due to an inherited condition, they present unexpected signs of seizures that usually last a very short time.
- Progressive retinal atrophy: degenerative and progressive hereditary disease that ends up producing blindness in dogs.
- Hip dysplasia: A disease that affects the hip joint, due in large part to its good size and rapid growth and to its its inheritance, being a degenerative disease that can cause mobility problems, lameness and pain.
- Elbow dysplasia: similar to the above but affecting the elbow joint, also causing walking problems, lameness and pain.
- Hernias: Annoying and/or painful inguinal, umbilical and perianal hernias can also appear in barbets.
In cold weather or if they are wet for a long time after a winter bath, they may develop respiratory problems due to the cold, such as inflammation of the trachea or tracheitis and other bronchial or pulmonary problems.
Where to adopt a barbet dog
This dog can be adopted if there is luck at shelters or shelters, although this is not usually the case. If not, you can always ask if they know someone who is willing to give a dog up for adoption or go to associations specializing in the rescue of the breed and ask for the same, such as:
- SOS Water Dogs BCN.
- TURN OFF.
It should be remembered that he is a very good and docile dog, but at the same time he needs to be outdoors, so in an apartment or house without a garden or without the possibility of going outside it can be stressful and reason for the development of behavioral problems. Adopting a dog is not a whim and you have to think about it well, assume that a new member is going to join the family and that you have to take care of him and cover all his needs as such.
