Grooming
Barbets require more grooming and maintenance than most other breeds when it comes to their coat care.
Brushing: Their adult coat comes in around 2–3 years of age, when you’ll see an uptick in mats and tangles. To avoid these from forming, check your dog’s coat daily and brush approximately once a week using a slicker brush.
Bathing: Give your Barbet a bath about once every four to six weeks. If you plan to groom your Barbet yourself, blow dry them after the bath to straighten their hair, give them an all over trim, and then re-wet your Barbet, and let them air dry—their signature curls will come back in full force. (Show tip: If you plan to participate in dog shows, you’ll cut your dog’s fur to three to five inches in length and the curls on the head must touch their muzzle.)
Nail trimming: Their nails grow quickly, so you’ll likely need to give them a nail trim every two to four weeks or when you hear them tapping on the floor.
Ear cleaning: Check their ears for debris and any redness or swelling. If you notice anything, speak to your vet. If your vet recommends at-home cleaning, follow this step-by-step guide on how to clean dog ears.
Dental care: Veterinarians recommend brushing your dog’s teeth daily to stop plaque and tartar from building up. Periodontal disease can lead to a loss of teeth and even more serious issues like heart disease. In addition to regular brushings at home, be sure to take your dog to the vet for professional dental cleanings annually.
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Training
Barbets are a sensitive and even-tempered breed and respond best to positive reinforcement training (aka using treats and praise to reward your dog’s good efforts). They are smart and eager to please, which makes training your Barbet both fun and—dare we say it—easy.
Obedience training should include the basic commands, like sit, stay and come and how to walk nicely on a leash. But Barbets love a good challenge, so after they get the basics down, teach your puppy fun tricks like shake, roll over and play dead.
It’s important to get your Barbet puppy used to meeting new people, other dogs and situations while they’re young (aka socialization); it’s helps to bring out their naturally friendly nature. Take them on walks and let them meet and sniff the people and pups they meet. Enroll in puppy preschool, and they’ll learn how to play nicely with other puppies and meet other pup parents all in one location.
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Diet
Barbets typically do well on a high-quality commercial dog food. Be sure to factor in your dog’s age and choose a formula that fits their stage in life (puppy, adult, senior). Your veterinarian can help you use a feeding chart to guide you on how much and how often to feed your dog based on their specific diet and nutritional needs.
Because Barbets are so active and always on the go, they may benefit from a high-protein dog food, but again, consult with your veterinarian for more expert information, as they are in the best position to help you pick the right food for your Barbet based on their individual needs.
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Exercise
Barbets are high-energy pups who need a lot of exercise, so plan on about one to two hours spread throughout the day. While walks and long hikes are good, these dogs have webbed paws designed for swimming. Barbets are happiest when paddling around in the water; you’ll make their day if adventures include romps in lakes or rivers (or even your own backyard pool).
If you’ve got a bit of a competitive streak, you and your Barbet might enjoy dog sports as a fun way to bond. Consider sports like agility, rally, dock diving (playing to their water-loving nature) or lure coursing, where they speed around a track chasing a mechanical lure.
When the weather isn’t so great out, bring the fun indoors with games like hide-n-seek or fetch (if your home has enough room or a long hallway). Puzzle toys are great to keep around the house and gives them the mental stimulation they need. A bored Barbet will come up with not-so-fun ways to entertain themselves, like chewing your shoes.
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Environment
The Barbet is a medium-sized breed, so they’ll do well in an apartment or a large house as long as they’re able to get the ample amounts of daily exercise they need. And since they’re an active breed, they’ll enjoy participating in all your fun adventures; it’s time to bring out that backpack! Barbets were bred to be strong swimmers, so they’re in sheer heaven if you live near a pond, lake or other body of water.
Barbets adore their family and are likely to be glued to your side 24/7. If you’ll be gone for long during the day, check them into a doggy daycare or arrange for a pet sitter to come by for some playtime.
These pups are happy to make friends with everyone—kids, new friends at the front door (what’s a stranger, Mom?) and that Yorkie across the street. If you’re the party planner of your circle of friends, your Barbet will be more than happy to play hostess and greet everyone who’s coming to dinner.
They’ll be happy with other dogs in the home, and when properly introduced, they should get along with cats just fine. However, these dogs were born to hunt birds, so if you have a pet parakeet, you may want to think twice about bringing a Barbet into the home.
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