STANDARD
BARBET
(French Water Dog)
29.03.2006/EN
FCI-Standard N° 105
This Barbet standard summary follows the official FCI guidelines and describes the breed’s appearance, temperament, size and movement.
BRIEF HISTORICAL SUMMARY
A very ancient breed, common throughout France, used for hunting waterfowl and described or mentioned in several works as early as the 16th century.
HEAD
The coat on the skull must fall onto the bridge of the nose.
The beard is long and furnished; the moustache entirely covers the
bridge of the nose.
CRANIAL REGION:
Skull: Rounded and broad.
Stop: Defined.
FACIAL REGION:
Nose: Broad, with well opened nostrils; black or brown depending on the colour of the coat.
Muzzle: Quite square. The bridge of the nose is broad.
Lips: Thick, well pigmented and completely covered by long hair. Black or brown edges.
Jaws/teeth: Jaws of equal length. Scissors bite. Strong teeth. Incisors well developed and well aligned.
CRANIAL REGION:
Skull: Rounded and broad.
Stop: Defined.
FACIAL REGION:
Nose: Broad, with well opened nostrils; black or brown depending on the colour of the coat.
Muzzle: Quite square. The bridge of the nose is broad.
Lips: Thick, well pigmented and completely covered by long hair. Black or brown edges.
Jaws/teeth: Jaws of equal length. Scissors bite. Strong teeth. Incisors well developed and well aligned.
EYES
Round, preferably dark brown. The rim of the eyelid is black
or brown.
EARS
Set on low (at eye level or slightly lower), long, flat, wide,
covered by long hair hanging in strands. When brought together in
front of the nose, the ears (including the hair) reach at least 5cms
beyond it. The ear cartilage reaches further than the corner of the
mouth.
NECK
Short and strong.
BODY
Back: Solid with well sustained topline.
Loin: Arched, short and strong.
Croup: Round, seen from the side, in smooth continuation of the line of the loin.
Chest: Broad, well developed, deep, reaching the elbow; ribcage rounded but not barrel-like.
Loin: Arched, short and strong.
Croup: Round, seen from the side, in smooth continuation of the line of the loin.
Chest: Broad, well developed, deep, reaching the elbow; ribcage rounded but not barrel-like.
TAIL
Slightly raised, carried above the horizontal when the dog is in
action, low set, forming a slight hook at the tip.
LIMBS
FOREQUARTERS:
Shoulders: Oblique. The scapulo-humeral angle varies between 110°
and 115°.
Upper arm: Strong and muscular.
Lower arm: Straight, strong bone, upright, completely covered by
long hair.
Forefeet: Round, broad, covered by hair.
HINDQUARTERS:
Upper thigh: Slightly oblique, well muscled.
Hock: Low, well angulated.
Metatarsus (Rear pastern): Upright.
Hind feet: Round, broad, covered by hair.
GAIT / MOVEMENT
Easy movement, the limbs moving in line
with the body. Medium length foreleg stride with good thrust from
the hindquarters.
SKIN
Relatively thick.
COAT
Hair: Long, woolly and curly; can form strands. The coat is
furnished, covering the whole body in a natural state. This is an
essential characteristic of the breed. The French Water Dog may be
groomed in a specific manner to accommodate its work and
maintenance.
Colour: Solid black, grey, brown, fawn, pale fawn, white or more or
less pied. All shades of red-fawn and pale fawn are permitted. The
shade should, preferably, be the same as the colour of the body.
SIZE AND WEIGHT
Height at the withers: Dogs: 58cm – 65cm
Bitches: 53cm – 61 cm
With a tolerance of +/- 1cm
FAULTS
Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault
and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should
be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and
welfare of the dog.
• Head fine and narrow, muzzle thin and too long, lips thin.
• Overshot or undershot. Wry jaw.
• Light eyes.
• Ears set high (higher than eye level), thin, short and narrow.
• Neck long and thin.
• Topline hollow.
• Loin long and weak.
• Croup straight.
• Chest narrow.
• Tail set on high, curved over the back, curled over or lying on the croup or loin. Tail naturally absent or too short.
• Shoulders straight.
• Upper arm thin.
• Forearm with fine bone; feathering.
• Hindquarters: Upper thigh flat, hocks straight, feathering; presence of dewclaws. Feet fine and narrow, not covered by coat.
• Skin thin.
• Coat short, harsh, not woolly, not curly.
• Colours: Any colour other than those mentioned in the standard.
• Head fine and narrow, muzzle thin and too long, lips thin.
• Overshot or undershot. Wry jaw.
• Light eyes.
• Ears set high (higher than eye level), thin, short and narrow.
• Neck long and thin.
• Topline hollow.
• Loin long and weak.
• Croup straight.
• Chest narrow.
• Tail set on high, curved over the back, curled over or lying on the croup or loin. Tail naturally absent or too short.
• Shoulders straight.
• Upper arm thin.
• Forearm with fine bone; feathering.
• Hindquarters: Upper thigh flat, hocks straight, feathering; presence of dewclaws. Feet fine and narrow, not covered by coat.
• Skin thin.
• Coat short, harsh, not woolly, not curly.
• Colours: Any colour other than those mentioned in the standard.
ELIMINATING FAULTS
• Aggressive or overly shy.
• Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities.
• Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioural abnormalities.
N.B.
Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles
fully descended into the scrotum.
• Only functionally and clinically healthy dogs, with breed typical conformation, should be used for breeding.
• Only functionally and clinically healthy dogs, with breed typical conformation, should be used for breeding.
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