Barbet

Country of Origin: France GENERAL APPEARANCE A medium size dog of average height, characterized by a thick woolly, coat which assures it an effective protection against the cold an humidity. The coat forms a beard on the chin. It is this feature which has give this breed its name. CHARACTER Balanced; not aggressive nor timid. Docile, very devoted to their masters, very sociable and fond of water. PURPOSE Essentially a water dog, for wild fowl; nevertheless, it has some abilities to hunt like a pointer, even not being a true pointer. This breed has no fear of the cold; going into water in all types of weather. COAT Long, woolly, wavy and sometimes curly, forming wisp of hair. If this breed is not regularly brushed, the coat can matt. The hair is thick, covering the entire body. This is an essential characteristic of the breed. Fault: Short, rough, non­wooly coat. COLOR One simple color (uni­color) Black, gray, brown, tawny, sand, white or more or less blended. All shades of tawny and sand are accepted. The shade should preferably be the same over the entire body. Faults: all other coat colors; coats which are marked bi-colored, or tri­colored. Overlaid, black, brindle, flecked, and one coat color with non uniform shading. HEAD The hair on the head must fall down as far as the nose and hide the eyes. The beard is long and thick, the mustache overlays the entire nose and is very thick. The skull is round and large, the stop pronounced, the bridge of the nose is large and short, the snout is very square, the lips thick and pigmented, entirely covered with long hair. The pigmentation of the nose cane be black or brown Faults: Head is delicate and narrow, bridge of nose thin and long, lips thin. EYES Round, preferable dark brown. Completely hidden under the hair of the skull and the nose. Faults: eyes light color; eyes uncovered by the hair. EARS Attached low (at the level of the eye or a little lower), long, flat, large, with a long hair forming wisp. When putting the ears together in front of the nose leather, they are longer than it by about 5 cm (with the hair). The cartilage of the ears goes past the corner of the mouth. Faults: attached higher than the eye, thin short, narrow. NECK Short and strong. Faults: Long and thin. BACK Very slightly convex. Faults: weak LOIN Arched, short and strong. Faults: Straight. CROUP Rounded profile. Faults: straight TAIL A little held up but not reaching the horizontal line; attached low, forming a light hook at the end. Faults: attached high, curved over the back, tailless, bobtail. FOREQUARTERS Straight, upright, strong frame, steady balanced, completely furnished with long hair. Faults: Thin and fine, fringed limbs. HINDQUARTERS Slightly slanted, well balanced. Low straight hocks, quite angulated, steady/balanced. Faults. Flat tight straight hocks (no angulation), Fringed limbs, presents of dewclaws. FEET Round, large, covered with coat. Leather is thick. Faults: Fine and narrow feet, bare paw. Thin and delicate leather. HEIGHT Minimum for the females is 50m Minimum for the males is 54cm The males must have two normal testicles completely descended on the scrotum