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First litter in Finland
The first barbet litter in Finland was born in year 2004 (6 puppies).
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General about the breed
The Barbet is a very old French breed with its origins in several breeds
known throughout the world today, including the portuguese water dog,
the briard, the bichon, the griffon and the poodle.
The barbet is used for hunting wildfowl. Like other waterdogs, barbet is
more than just a retriever; it must search for, locate and flush out the
wildfowl hiding in the watervegetation. The barbet retrieves wildfowl
shot by his master.
The barbet is an ancient French breed, which origins are not exactly
known. The special characteristic for the barbet is the thick and woolly
coat, which usually makes cords. The coat also protects very good from
both cold and humidity. The barbet doesnīt loose hair but still the
barbet should be groomed at least once a year, more recommendable is
twice a year. Between the grooming the barbet should be brush regulary
to avoid the coat getting matted and tangled.
The barbet is a delightful companion who is calm and pleasant and who
learns very quickly new things. The barbet is a very nice, friendly and
honest breed which also makes the barbet very gentle. The barbet loves
the company of people but also other dogs. These are characteristics,
which makes the barbet a great family dog but one should also remember
that he is devoted and very attached to his Master (owner).
The barbet can manage some time being a “coach-potato” but sooner or
later the barbet will request for some action, for example a good long
walk is essential. The barbet also adores water and is an excellent
swimmer.
In total You can say hat the barbet is a general multi-purpose dog as it
excels in a large variety of activities, from its primerly use as a
hunting dog to being ones best friend.
The barbet is an average sized dog, males being at minimum height 58 cm
and bitches 53 cm. The breed standard specifies the heights to be for
males 58 – 65 cm and for bitches 53 - 61 cm with a tolerance of +/1
cm.
Shortly history of the barbet
The barbet is a French waterdog and the breed's name “barbet" comes from
the French word "barbe", which means beard. The barbet is an ancient
breed, which origins are not exactly known.
In Europe there have been waterdogs since the 12th century and most
likely the barbet, or at least its ancestors, were one version of the
waterdog in that time.
The barbetīs most important field of activity has been hunting, for
example wild fowl. It is said, that the French royals has been hunting
with barbets. The barbets have also been working as sailorīs assistants.
The barbet has been used in breeding several breeds, for example the
briard, French griffons, German wirehaired pointer, Italy's spinone and the Newfoundland dog. But although the barbet has been used
in breeding other breeds, the barbet itself almost died out. Before the
World War II there were two barbet breeders in France and to these
breeders knowledge there were not any other breeders. The other one of
the breeders was Doctor Vincenti and the other one was the person from
whom Dr. Vincenti had bought his dogs from. After the World War II
there were only a few barbets left and more than 20 years later breeding
of the barbet was started again.
It was the daughter of Dr. Vincenti who
started breeding barbets again on the basis of the barbets that she
could find and which were most likely descendants of barbet bred by her
father.
It has not been obligatory to register barbets in France and the first
registered (L.O.F) barbets are from the beginning of the 1960`s. It is
still common not to register dogs in France, especially if they are not
planned to be used for breeding or shows. One reason why people donīt
register their dogs is because it costs. This is one of the reason why
the breeding of the barbet is quite difficult, the barbet is an old
breed but in quantity very small.
Titre Initial (T.I.) is one way of surviving for the barbet. If the dog
meets the breedstandards of the barbet but is not registered it can be
taken in to the breed and be registered as a barbet. Still today dogs
are registered as Titre Initial dogs. The T.I –marked dogs can be seen
at the French Barbet Club Web site.
Barbet in Finland
The first imported barbet was registered in Finland in 2002, male Turnix
de la Cale des Rouleaux. The next year the first three females were
imported, Tisane de la Perte aux Loups, Cybelle Opus un en o Majeur ja
Unique Elle de la Perte aux Loups. In 2004 another male, Delco Opus un
en o Majeur was imported.
Since then the barbet population has grown fast. The first litter of six
was born in 2004. In 2006 25 barbet puppies were born and in 2007 36
puppies. By the end of 2008 105 barbets were registered.
Here you can see all barbets, who are living in Finland (02/2009)
barbets in Finland.
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