Barbet

It's important to make sure you can manage a barbet's high-maintenance grooming, exercise, and training needs before bringing one home. Because the barbet has a curly, dense coat, shedding is minimal—but daily grooming is a must. Due to their grooming requirements, high intelligence (and potential for stubbornness), a barbet may not be the right dog for a first-time dog owner, families with extremely busy schedules, or inactive families.

Exercise

Barbets are sporting dogs so they have higher energy levels and exercise needs. It's important to walk and run these dogs for at least two hours a day. They're highly intelligent dogs—so it's important to keep them engaged and entertained. They thrive in agility sports, so agility games, puzzles, or other challenging games will keep your barbet engaged and exercised.

Grooming

Grooming can be a wonderful bonding experience for you and your dog. The proper grooming of a Barbet starts with a full brush-out, a comb through to the skin, and a good bath. An after-bath blow drying will straighten the hair and make a fluff ball ready for a scissor trim. An all-over trim to approximately 3 to 5 inches in length to show the shape of the body is preferred, while the head, ears and tail remain longer. For the purpose of showing, the hair on the head must reach the muzzle. After the trim, the Barbet must be wet down and left to air-dry to regain his natural curls.

A Barbet's strong, fast-growing nails should be trimmed regularly with a nail clipper or grinder to avoid overgrowth, splitting and cracking. Ears should be checked regularly to avoid a buildup of wax and debris, which can result in infection. Teeth should be brushed regularly.

Training

Because barbets are extremely intelligent, they have the potential for stubbornness. Obedience training, as well as regular exercise and entertainment, can help. Although the barbet is loving and loyal to its family, it may not be so friendly towards strangers. Ongoing obedience training and proper socialization can help.

Problems

Although barbets are generally healthy dogs, there's no guarantee that certain health conditions won't arise. It's important to know the signs and symptoms, so you can seek proper care.

Nutrition

The Barbet should do well on a high-quality dog food, whether commercially manufactured or home-prepared with your veterinarian's supervision and approval. Any diet should be appropriate to the dog's age (puppy, adult, or senior). Typically not voracious eaters, Barbets can benefit from oil supplementation during drier months. Treats can be an important aid in training, but giving too many can cause obesity. Learn about which human foods are safe for dogs, and which are not. Check with your vet if you have any concerns about your dog's weight or diet. Clean, fresh water should be available at all times.