7 Things to Know Before Owning a Barbet Dog

The Barbet ("bar-bay") is a French water dog breed with webbed feet. They are believed to be descendants of Poodle and Briard. Bardet is sometimes referred to as French Water Dog and the Barbet Water Spaniel. They get their name from the French word "barbe," which means "beard," due to their bushy facial hair. Its long, thick, curly hair and impressive beard give it a striking appearance. The coat might be solid black or gray or brown or fawn, or it can have white markings. The Barbet has been used as a water retriever for years. Due to their thick, watertight coat, they became known for being able to brave the chilliest of waters. Are you interested in bringing these adorable pups home? Here are the things you need to consider before taking one home!

They love the mud and water.

If you bring a Barbet into your home, you will be welcomed by a canine companion who is very intelligent, lovable, and adventurous. This aquatic canine will keep the whole family entertained, especially if there's a swimming pool or any bodies of water on the premises.

They are sometimes called "Mud Dogs" because they relish the opportunity to romp and splash in muddy, swampy environments. They are the gundog breed developed for hunting ducks in marshy areas. In addition, they're fantastic swimmers, and you can assume they have the strength to wade through a swamp to reach a fallen bird.

They can manipulate you using their sad, sad eyes.

Barbet puppies, like any other, are full of boundless energy and adoration for their human family. Barbet puppies are adorable, cuddly, and very active little bundles of joy. However, as a potential owner of Barbet puppies, you should know that the breed is notorious for capitalizing on their adorableness.

Barbet puppies are self-aware, so they'll use their cuteness to their advantage by making sad puppy eyes at you when they want something. Some owners have even gone so far as to imply that these pups are little tyrants who will attempt to run everything.

The Barbet is intelligent and easy to train.

Barbets are social, intelligent, and cooperative pets, so training them should naturally be a breeze. They are a bright breed that benefits most from early training, so they must realize that they do not control everything and that the world does not revolve around them.

Barbet is incredibly perceptive and picks up new information rapidly; however, they have a delicate but even temperament, so they need lots of positive reinforcement and a lively training atmosphere. This is an essential factor in ensuring a smooth learning experience.

It takes a trainer who is as authoritative and self-assured. There's no need to yell and get impatient with the puppies; these tactics will only cause them to become more stubborn. The dog's sensitive nature can be tamed using a reward-based teaching method. The best way to get a dog to behave how you want it to is to train it, praise it when it does, and reward it.

They always need human companionship.

Barbets can develop abandonment issues if the owner is away from them for too long. A Barbet puppy might not be the best choice if you frequently spend extended periods away from home.

After a good playtime session with humans and canines, the Barbet is content to relax nearby their humans inside the house. It thrives in active communities and dislikes long periods of isolation.

They moderate grooming and maintenance needs.

Amazingly, a Barbet's waterproof coat grows incessantly like its Poodle ancestors, necessitating constant grooming. There are specific and unique requirements for caring for a Barbet puppy, but overall they aren't any more demanding than those of any other breed of dog. The dog's entire lifespan requires regular grooming, trimming, and maintenance.

You should brush their hair a few times weekly to avoid mats and tangles. Because of their curly hair, they can quickly gather twigs, leaves, and other debris. Bathing them once a week is highly recommended, but you can do it more often if necessary, especially if they get muddy.

In addition, maintaining their clean and plucked ears is essential. It is also important to clip the dog's hair so that it is even with the pads of its feet.

Always check out the ears since ear infections are common in Barbets. You may remove any excess hair around the ears to avoid this problem.

If your Barbet dog has excessively long nails, clip them regularly, so they don't get snagged on something and cause pain. Lastly, don't forget to brush your dog's teeth daily.

They have very low shedding tendencies.

Barbets don't shed nearly as much as other dogs. It is common for people with dog allergies to find that they can coexist peacefully with their Barbet because of this. However, there could be some minor shedding in some areas.

Some owners want to cut their dogs' coats short so they can be more easily maintained. The best way to determine how you or a family member with allergies will react to a specific breed of dog is to let them spend time around your dog.

The Barbets are very athletic.

The Barbet, developed initially to search for and retrieve marsh and swamp game, is now a versatile athlete and trustworthy companion that enjoys participating in any activity that includes time spent in or near the water. They are an all-around athletic breed that needs plenty of mental and physical stimulation opportunities.

Physically active playtime with their owners, including daily walks or runs, and other forms of outdoor exercise, is highly recommended. Indoor games like hide-and-seek or chasing a ball rolled across the floor, as well as learning new tricks, are great ways to get your dog moving.

The Barbet was previously prized for its greatness and nobility as a hunting and swimming companion, but today it is more commonly found as a basic domestic pet. Despite this, they retain their naturally athletic frame and boundless vitality from birth.

Barbets are prone to barking, digging, and gnawing if they don't get enough exercise, but they can become calm and friendly pets if given the opportunity.

They need a diet for active dogs of medium size.

The Barbet is not renowned for having certain eating habits. When preparing homemade dog food, remember that the dry months are an ideal time to add a supplement of nourishing oils.

With your vet's oversight, any commercially available or home-prepared high-quality dog food should be fine for the Barbet. In moderation, treats are a valuable training aid, but excessive amounts can lead to weight gain. Maintaining a constant supply of potable water is of the utmost importance.

You can assist your Barbet by feeding it 2-3 cups of dry dog food daily. You can add lean or organic meat protein to their dry food to round out their diet. Dog or dry chews can be a tasty reward for your beloved friend's nose.

They are friendly and devoted dogs.

Barbets are friendly, happy, and playful canines that get along with others and like their human companions. He will follow you anywhere and do anything to earn your affection.

They can be pretty silly and clownish sometimes, but they are also great companions and love going on adventures with their owners, like camping and swimming. However, it is useless as either an attacker or a defender. It thinks the human race is inherently good, so it just sounds the alarm when someone approaches, but that's it!

When someone knocks on the door, they may bark at first, but if they realize that you welcome them, they will calm down quickly. The Barbet is a relatively quiet breed of dog.

The Barbets are good with children.

The vast majority of Barbet is kind and patient with little ones. However, always have an adult supervise when children and dogs are together and ensure the kids know how to treat canines properly.

They get along well with other dogs but may chase around smaller animals.

Barbets are popular because they get along nicely with other dogs. Your dog will learn appropriate behavior with other canine friends and enjoy their company if they are properly socialized as a puppy. Barbet will also get along great with cats if they are introduced to them when they are small.

However, the Barbet is a sporting dog; thus, it has the potential to chase after tiny animals like rabbits, birds, ducks, hamsters, and sometimes cats. A dog with a strong hunting drive like the Bardet needs constant reminders to stay by your side, especially when you are outside.

The Barbets are generally a healthy breed.

Despite their rarity and the lack of data on the diseases to which they may be prone, this breed appears healthy and hardy. However, Barbets are still susceptible to several inherited conditions. Some Barbets suffered from hip and elbow dysplasia, eye diseases, immune difficulties, epilepsy, allergies, progressive retinal atrophy, cataracts, and obesity.

They excel in varied canine activities.

Barbets have been known to compete in a wide variety of canine sports, including the physically demanding and mentally rewarding activities of agility, rally, dock diving, and lure coursing.

They are pretty rare dogs.

Barbet dogs are indeed highly uncommon, and there were times that they had almost gone extinct by the end of the twentieth century due to the effects of world wars. There has been a resurgence in their numbers lately due to captive breeding efforts, but they are still relatively rare in most parts of the world; that's part of what makes them unique, of course.

Conclusion

In summary, the Barbet's kind and devoted natures make them a welcome addition to any family. But remember that they struggle to be left alone for long periods. So, before bringing a Barbet puppy into your home, ensure your lifestyle is suitable for the dog. All Barbets want is a loving home and lots of playtimes. They make excellent companions; however, consider that having one of these dogs may seem like a lot of work at first because of how active and athletic they are and how much they need in terms of grooming. But, if you can meet all these things, you will be rewarded with a well-behaved and adorable dog that will surely bring you lots of joy!