Barbet as a breed has its breed specific organisation Barbet Finland ry which is under
the Finnish Spaniel Club of Finland. The FSCF is a large organization for spaniel and
waterdog breeds under the Finnish Kennel Club. Since 2007 there has been a Breeding
Commission for barbet, which is working under the Finnish Spaniel Club and in
collaboration with the breed organisation Barbet Finland ry.

Breeding Commission for barbet helps breeders and collects information about the health and character of the breed. Breeding Commission has prepared a breeding programme "Objectives of the breeding program (JTO) for the Barbet in Finland 2008-2013". Finnish Kennel Club requires this document for all breeds. The document offers information on the current situation in the breed and breeding and guides the long term breeding objectives.
 

Breeders can ask the Commission for acceptance for the combination they are planning to breed. Acceptance on breeding is given according to the principles of the Breeding Recommendations for Barbet Breeders. Each breed specific Breeding Commission decides upon breed specific Breeding Recommendations.

Finnish Breeding Recommendations for Barbet Breeders:

 

1.	The breeder has accepted the rules of the Finnish Kennel club.
2.	Low inbreeding rate.
3.	One dog/bitch should not have more than 15 descendants.
4.	All healthy dogs with a good character should be used equally for breeding.
5.	Repeating the same combination in breeding is not recommended.
6.	Hips, elbows and eyes should be officially checked. To the dog with D hips it is recommended to use mating partner with A hips. C hips only with A-B hips.
7.	Breeder should ask for an acceptance from the Breeding Commission for the combination
8.	Dogs used for breeding should be healthy and good natured.
9.	The dog/bitch must be at least 20 months at age when mating happens.

1. The breeder has accepted the rules of the Finnish Kennel club.
2. Low inbreeding rate.
2. One dog/bitch should not have more than 15 descendants.
3. All healthy dogs with a good character should be used equally for breeding.
4. Repeating the same combination in breeding is not recommended.
5. Hips, elbows and eyes should be officially checked. To the dog with D hips it is
recommended to use mating partner with A hips. C hips only with A-B hips.
6. Breeder should ask for an acceptance from the Breeding Commission for the combination
before mating.
7. The dog/bitch must be at least 20 months at age when mating happens.

The population of the barbet breed is so small, that we have seen it better to
keep the potential breeding stock as wide as possible and to make limitation only on the
basis of health and the character. Therefore, for the stud dogs there are no requirements for the show results, size or the coat texture. If the combination fulfils the Breeding Recommendations, it will be accepted to the FSCF puppy list, and marked as “accepted by the Breeding Commission” in the Barbet Finland ry’s puppy list. However, the litter will be registered by the Finnish Kennel Club even though the breeder has not asked for the acceptance but the litter fulfils the Finnish Kennel Club’s recommendations for breeding.


The Finnish Kennel Club does not have a confirmation procedure as such for stud dogs. For a litter to be registered with the stud register, both parents need to be registered pure bred and ID-marked. There are also restrictions on the basis on the bitch’s health and the dog needs to have both testicles.

The Finnish Kennel Club also accepts PEVISA programmes (breed specific programme for opposing genetic faults and illnesses in dogs). PEVISA for barbet was accepted in May 2009 at the Finnish Kennel Club and will be in use from the beginning of 2010. It will mean that the puppies will not be registered by the Finnish Kennel Club if the combination does not fulfil the barbet PEVISA regulations. PEVISA concerns only litters registered in Finland.

The regulations for barbet in PEVISA (in effect from 1.1.2010):

- Hips need to be officially examined before mating, the dysplasia rate D is the poorest
which can be used for breeding
- Elbows need to be officially x-rayed before mating (no limitations)
- Eyes checked officially before mating
- The number of descendants of a sire or a dam is not allowed to exceed 15 puppies,
however the last litter (when the number of descents exceeds 15 puppies) will be
registered in whole
- The repetition of the same combination (same sire and dam) is not allowed.

The health requirements do not apply to the use of foreign dogs that are used for Finnish bitches. The limitation on descendants (puppies registered in Finland) and the ban on the repetition of the same combination concern also males that are registered abroad.  

 

In Finland spaniels and waterdogs have an aptitude test for hunting, the SPA-test. Some spaniel breeds need to pass the test to become champions in dog shows. For barbets it is not required in Finland, but after passing the test a barbet can be shown in the working class if he or she is over 15 months old.

The SPA-test is similar to the TAN-test in France but more demanding. The dog is assessed in six dimensions: social behaviour, search for game and shooting, tracking, water work, obedience and teamwork.

1) Social behaviour: the dog must not show any aggression towards other dogs or people during the test.

2) Search for game and shooting: the dog must search for game quartering on both sides and within a shotgun range in front of the handler who is walking at a slow pace. The dog must keep contact with the handler. The judge and a gunman follow, and a shot will be fired after about 10 minutes.  The dog should continue the search. Takes place in forest. 

3) Tracking: the dog must follow a fresh track of about 120 metres made with a dead rabbit. The dog is kept in a 6 meter leash but should not be guided anyhow. The dog should be interested in and by no means frightened by the rabbit left in the end of the track. Takes place in forest. 

4) Water work: the handler throws a dummy (with bird wings) or a dead mallard (or similar bird) so that the dog must swim at least 10 meters. The dog should retrieve and give the game to the handler. Takes place in water. 

5) Obedience: the dog should be obedient during the test.

6) Teamwork: the teamwork between the dog and the handler is assessed during the test.

Many Finnish barbets have passed the aptitude test for spaniels with no problem. For the judges of aptitude test barbet as a breed is totally new but it has made a very good impact.