Spotlight Breed: Barbet 

Welcome to our Spotlight Breed article of the week. This is where we feature a fun and unique dog breed from around the globe! We are excited to spotlight the Barbet today. This woolly sporting dog breed is fun-loving and smart. They were bred for retrieving waterfowl for hunters and they have webbed feet to prove it! There are so many other things that you can learn from this breed. Keep reading on to find out more.

Did you know that Barbets are talented agility competitors in their native France? Given their history, they do best with experienced pet parents as they have a lot of energy and love to stay active! This breed is not ideal for apartment or small home living. They require additional space so that they can fulfill their mental and physical stimulation. If Barbets live in small spaces, their owners will need to ensure that they get a lot of exercise outside! Another thing about the Barbet is that they do not tolerate being alone for that long. They are very dependent on their owners and family.

This dog breed is very friendly. They are affectionate with family and love to form close bonds with the people they are around the most. Barbets also enjoy being around children and other dogs. There may be issues when it comes to dealing with strangers, but socialization training will work wonders. You may run into some issues while training a Barbet. Although they are very intelligent, they sometimes have a “what’s in it for me” type of attitude. This is where you will need to get creative with positive reinforcement and rewards. The Barbet wants to know that they are doing an excellent job!

If you are looking for a friendly, bright, and sweet-natured dog breed, then the Barbet may be for you! We will leave you with our favorite quote about the breed: “If we could be half as happy as a Barbet, the world would be a happy place for all!”