Barbet Breed description: Character & Co

Care and nutrition

The coat should be brushed thoroughly at least once a week to prevent matting. Before the beginning of summer, the dog should be shorn, because it does not tolerate heat well. Furthermore a regular control and cleaning of the ears is advisable, because as a typical water dog the Barbet tends to ear infections. For a healthy diet the magic word is meat. Whether dry or wet food, meat should be the main ingredient in the bowl. Grains and sugar, on the other hand, should be avoided as much as possible. Sufficient drinking water at the free disposal is natural. Dried meat snacks, dog chews or special dental care snacks are also part of a dog-friendly diet and prevent tartar build-up and bad breath.

Health and life expectancy

Possible breed-typical illnesses of this dog breed are:

• Hip dysplasia
• Elbow dysplasia
• Epilepsy
• Entropion

The latter is a malpositioning of the eyelid that can occur in some pedigrees of dogs. However, as with all genetic disorders, reputable breeders select recognized dispositions out of breeding lines. With proper husbandry and care, the breed can reach an average age of 13 to 15 years.

Worth knowing

In Germany the dog is rarely bred. In recent times it has found increasing interest as a family dog, but finding your Barbet will not be easy. The best thing to do is to look for a local breeder who is a member of the French Pointing Dog Club. Then you have also certainty that it is a respectable breeder.

A tip for allergy sufferers: Barbets do not shed much. But this is not a free pass. However, since some allergy sufferers do not react to Barbets, it is advisable to spend some time with the four-legged friends before buying, in order to test whether there is a possibility of an animal hair allergy.