Appearance

A dog of medium size and proportions with characteristic thick woolly, coat and given to waviness which protects them from cold and damp. The coat forms a beard on the chin to which the breed owes its name.

History

The Barbet is an ancient French water dog, sailor’s companion and, according to some, the basis for other water dogs such as the American Water Spaniel and the Portuguese Water Dog. Its name comes from the French word barbe, or “beard,” in reference to its bearded face. Though no one knows for sure, the Barbet itself may have descended from Briards, Poodles and ancient Asian and North African herding dogs that made their way to Europe.