Barbet
Also known as: Water Dog
Affectionate With Family
Affectionate With Family: Moderate (4 out of 5)
How affectionate a breed is likely to be with family members, or other people he knows well. Some breeds can be aloof with everyone but their owner, while other breeds treat everyone they know like their best friend.
Good With Young Children
Good With Young Children: Moderate (3 out of 5)
A breed's level of tolerance and patience with childrens' behavior, and overall family-friendly nature. Dogs should always be supervised around young children, or children of any age who have little exposure to dogs.
Good With Other Dogs
Good With Other Dogs: Moderate (3 out of 5)
How generally friendly a breed is towards other dogs. Dogs should always be supervised for interactions and introductions with other dogs, but some breeds are innately more likely to get along with other dogs, both at home and in public.
Openness To Strangers
Openness To Strangers: Moderate (3 out of 5)
How welcoming a breed is likely to be towards strangers. Some breeds will be reserved or cautious around all strangers, regardless of the location, while other breeds will be happy to meet a new human whenever one is around!
Note: Scores reflect typical breed tendencies. Individual dogs may vary based on training, environment, and genetics.
Note: Some traits may be unavailable for certain breeds due to limited or inconsistent data from recognized sources.
Care Guide
- ●Barbet grooming involves a full brush-out, comb-through, and bath followed by blow-drying and trimming to 3–5 inches (longer on head, ears, tail)
- ●Post-trim, wet the coat and air-dry to restore natural curls
- ●Nails must be clipped or ground regularly to prevent overgrowth, splitting, or cracking
- ●Ears require frequent checks for wax/debris buildup to avoid infection
- ●Teeth need regular brushing
- ●Grooming can strengthen the bond between you and your Barbet.
Colors & Markings
Colors
Markings
Health Information
The Barbet boasts a sturdy, well-proportioned build suited for active sporting tasks. Despite its limited genetic diversity, the breed maintains strong health due to careful breeding practices. Reputable breeders prioritize screening for common issues like hip and elbow dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), seizures, and allergies to ensure healthy puppies.
Recommended Health Tests
📜 History
Frequently Asked Questions
🔗Related Breeds
Breeds similar to Barbet
Overview
About This Breed
The Barbet is a friendly, bright, and sweet-natured breed known for its affectionate and devoted nature. Highly social and playful, it thrives on companionship and mental stimulation, making it an engaging and loyal companion for active owners.
🎭Temperament
Purpose
Hunting water game (e.g., retrieving waterfowl in marshes/swamps)
Breed for
Hunting water game
Best Suited For
Active families or individuals who enjoy outdoor activities, especially water-based ones; adaptable to apartments if exercised sufficiently
Ideal Owner Profile
This breed is ideal for an active, engaged owner or family who enjoys outdoor adventures, particularly swimming, and can dedicate time to grooming and socialization.
Training Difficulty
Easy
Care Difficulty
High
Common Challenges
Owners may face challenges with high grooming maintenance and potential separation anxiety if left alone for extended periods.
Trust & Transparency
About Our Data
At BreedsFinder, every breed profile and comparison is created using reliable, publicly available data from recognized canine organizations and trusted breed resources.
Accuracy Assured
Our breed data is standardized using a consistent scoring system across temperament, trainability, and care needs to ensure fair comparisons based on the same criteria.
Experience & Care
BreedsFinder focuses on practical, real-world guidance. While well-researched, our content is educational and should not replace advice from certified professionals.
Transparency
We regularly update information as new data becomes available. Our goal is to provide an honest, helpful resource for researching dog breeds and adoption decisions.


