Barbet Dog Breed Information

The Barbet dog (pronounced bar-bay) is a rustic breed that originates from France. They are reported in artwork as early as the 16th century. They are a close relative of the poodle, as you might be able to tell from their gorgeous curls. It’s rumoured that King Henry IV was known to have his own barbet dogs – fun fact: allegedly, one of his mistresses brought a barbet into a church and got into trouble for it! That must have sent him barking madly.

These French water dogs were originally bred as hunting dogs – they’re known to be used for retrieving waterfowl – because of this, you can just imagine how well these high-energy dogs thrive in dog sports. Nowadays, they have been known to be used for search and rescue work, gun dogs, and even agility dogs.

Believe it to not, these sporting dogs, alongside many other hunting breeds- such as the Newfoundland – became close to extinction during the world wars – particularly World War II. Hence making them worth quite a pretty penny – some sellers may even put you on a waiting list for a puppy.