The story of the Barbet is long and impressive. The barbet (pronounced bar-bay) is a medium-sized birding dog that's probably best known for its distinctive, curly coat or wavy coat and beard at the muzzle. A quintessential water dog, barbets were originally bred hundreds of years ago to hunt birds and waterfowl throughout Europe. The story of the Barbet is long and impressive.The Barbet is a French water dog and the breed’s name “Barbet” comes from the French word barbe, which means beard. It has been said that the French Royals have been hunting with Barbet for all time. The Barbet has also worked as sailor’s assistants, much like the Portuguese Water Dog.The first certain reference to the breed occurs in the fourteenth century when a gascon count speaks of them in a book written in 1387. Henry IV of France (1553-1610); king of France (1589-1610) was enthusiastic about all sorts of hunting, and he enjoyed waterfowling with his Barbet.References to the breed are throughout history, doing various jobs, with various historical lineage, always referenced with respect and admiration. After so many centuries of serving man in so many capacities, the Barbet is not a common nor well known breed. A victim of the changes of the history this breed helped shape, the Barbet was nearly extinct after both the Great War (WWI) and WWII. Through the efforts of a very devoted few, this old breed is slowly being reborn as a dog for the future.Today, the Barbet, although rare and is still endangered and are hard to find, but they are beginning to increase in numbers—it's estimated that there are only about 2,000 barbets in the United States and about 4,500 across North America. Modern-day barbets have maintained their ancestors' athleticism, intelligence, and calm demeanor, making them excellent for families with kids or other pets—and they're still excellent hunters, too.
Breed OverviewGROUP: SportingHEIGHT: 19 to 24.5 inches from the shoulderWEIGHT: 35 to 65 poundsCOAT: Long, dense, curlyCOAT COLOR: Black, grey, brown, or fawn, and some have white markingsLIFE SPAN: 12 to 14 yearsTEMPERAMENT: Calm, devoted, intelligent, obedient, joyfulHYPOALLERGENIC: YesCharacteristics of the Barbet
A close relative to the poodle and the briard, the barbet originated in France as a bird and waterfowl hunting dog. The barbet's webbed paws enabled him to pursue birds into mud and water, earning him the nickname "mud dog." The barbet's real name, however, comes from the French word "barbe," which means "beard."
The barbet has a long, varied history throughout Europe. The first written description of the breed appeared in literature in 1387, but some believe barbets originated as early as the 8th century. It's also said that King Henry IV kept barbets as his companions, and his mistress once got into trouble for bringing a barbet into church.
Although barbets served as loyal hunting dogs—and companions—for centuries, they're a fairly rare breed today. Despite their smaller populations globally, the barbet ranks as one of the top agility dogs in French dog competitions.
The barbet is a newer breed fully recognized by the American Kennel Club. The breed was classified in 2020 as a member of the "Sporting Group" by the AKC.ORIGIN: and has long been recognized by the United Kennel Club and the Canadian Kennel Club.
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