Meet the Breed: The Barbet

Riggs & Nikki

I had never heard of the Barbet, or French Water Dog, until Riggs and I met Nikki and her owner on the snowy trails of the Don Valley ravine system. Over the next months, the dogs became best pals, and I came to appreciate all the Barbet had to offer.  

Nikki's breeder, Pam Headon of Willow Creek Waterdogs, agreed to let me help with her book on the breed, called Barbets: The Best Kept Secret of the Dog World.

I really enjoyed working with Pam, and still keep in touch to find out the latest Barbet news.  

She's kindly agreed to share her experience of the Barbet here, for our first Meet the Breed (and Breeder) entry.  

Over to Pam . . . 

  

1.     What made you start breeding dogs? 

True confession:  Once upon a time, I had a purebred Cocker Spaniel that I continue to call the “Spaniel from Hell.”  Tammy was really my son’s pet, and despite my experience with dogs, I failed miserably in housebreaking her.  I sensed that my busy household was too stressful for Tammy, and that she would fare better as the “only child” of a doting couple.  So I convinced my son to let the Humane Society find that perfect home for her. The deal was that if they re-homed Tammy, he could choose a new puppy.

In due course, they found a great placement for Tammy, so we went to check out a litter of what they said were German Shepherd-Collie crosses.  I thought that would be an ideal family dog. There were 13 pups in the litter, and my son selected his favorite, a curly black-and-white pup that was much smaller than the rest.  He named her Oreo. 

I’d owned Shepherds and Collies and crosses thereof, but Oreo didn’t resemble any of them.  Compact, adorable and spunky, she followed me like a shadow.  Still, there was nothing overt to suggest a more exotic pedigree than the typical pound puppy until I took her to a county fair a few months later.  Over the course of the day, three people came up to me separately to ask about my Portuguese Water Dog. 

Curious, I headed to the library to look at some breed books. Sure enough, Oreo did resemble a Portuguese Water Dog, or “Portie.” She had webbed paws, she didn’t shed, and she was maturing to be about the right size.  She also had an intriguing habit of sitting on top of the barbeque to survey the backyard as if she were on the bow of a boat. Even a Portie breeder who met Oreo thought she was likely a purebred.

I had Oreo spayed and that should have been the end of it, but a seed had been sown.  I decided I wanted a purebred Portuguese Water Dog.  There were only a few breeders in Canada at the time, and one lived quite close to me, in the Kitchener-Waterloo area. I visited and told her the story of Oreo. 

Under her mentor-ship, I began breeding Porties myself and it launched a new, happier phase of my life.

2.     How did the Barbet enter the picture?

I bred Porties happily for many years and consider them my first canine “love.” But then I discovered the Barbet. This ancient breed is similar to the Portie in all the best ways, but people who know both breeds well tend to agree that the Barbet is a calmer, easier dog.  In fact, I called one of my first imports “Sanka” because she struck me as a decaffeinated Portuguese Water Dog. 

As a responsible breeder, I have steered many prospective owners away from the Portie because the breed requires a lot of exercise and strong leadership. Happily, I can now steer them toward the Barbet, which is an ideal match for almost anyone. Though bred for hunting and sporting activities, the Barbet is a highly versatile dog that can flourish in rural or urban environments, in houses, cottages or even high-rises, providing their individual exercise needs are met.  Few breeds are so adaptable.

I love how gentle and loving this companion dog is.  I always say a Barbet is “unconditional love in a non-shedding coat.”

This breed is still so rare that it seems like a secret we Barbet-lovers share.  There are not even enough Barbets in the US to be AKC-recognized, although it is getting close. It’s nice to be breeding a dog that has a rich, long history as a purebred dog in France. They say Napoleon owned one!

 

Nikki's pups - typical Barbets

3.    What’s changed in your life since your book, Barbets: The Best-Kept Secret of the Dog World came out? 

I love that more and more families are familiar with the Barbet and know it’s the dog they must have even before they even contact me.  It makes my job easy! 

The book ruffled a few feathers in the breeder community when it was published, but now people seem to recognize that a book on this rare breed raises its profile in a positive way. 

 
 4.    What was your biggest surprise as a breeder?

The vast majority of Barbets are either black or brown, with a few fawn colored dogs in the world. Last fall, a black Barbet, Nikki, surprised me by delivering a light-colored pup with phantom markings.  To my knowledge, this is the only Barbet with this coloring.  If all goes well, I hope to breed this dog, and am super excited to see what kind of pups he’ll produce. 

Nikki's big reveal

 

5.    What was your favorite moment as a dog breeder? 

Hands down, it was the moment Sarah Leal described so well in my book.  I’ll share her version of the story here.   

Callie

We got Callie for the simple reason of bringing joy into our family.  We have a stressed house:  my daughter Madison is medically fragile, and we don't know day-to-day what's going to happen.  You need to find a way to laugh in between the moments of stress, and Callie helps us do that. 

People thought I was crazy when I said I wanted a dog, but I had an overwhelming urge, and it was the right decision.  Callie is absolutely wonderful.  She loves dogs, our cat, the bus driver, and the nurses who help Madi—everyone. 

I had been interested in a Portuguese Water Dog, because Madison has allergies. Madi also has Cerebral Palsy, and when Pam met us, she suggested that the Barbet might be better fit, because it’s a less energetic breed.  I wanted a dog that would love swimming, and be affectionate and loyal to us, and Pam assured me the Barbet would meet those requirements and more. 

When the puppies were two weeks old, we went back and chose Callie.  Since we live close to Pam, we were able to visit often.  A week before the puppy came home, Pam took a T-shirt Madi had worn to help imprint Callie. When we came to pick up the puppy, Callie acted like she recognized Madi.  She snuggled under Madi’s chin, and it was like she was saying, “Oh there you are—I was looking for you.”  We put down the accessible ramp and Callie followed Madi right up the ramp and into the van.  Pam burst into tears and said, “This is beautiful:  it’s meant to be.”  And it was. 

She’s so loyal and connected with us.  A few weeks ago, Madi had a medical crisis in the night, and the nurse had trouble with the intercom.  I woke up because the dog was making a noise I’d never heard before—it was a pained sound.  Callie clearly knew something was wrong in Madison’s room and was alerting us.  We needed to get in there, and she made it happen. 

Callie is the most intuitive, yet non-intrusive dog I’ve ever encountered.  I’m so glad Pam suggested we meet the Barbet.  It was absolutely the perfect match for us. ~ Sarah Leal

You can learn more about Pam and her work at Willow Creek Waterdogs.   

Please follow the Animal Magnetism blog if you'd like to receive updates as they're posted. If interested in being interviewed, contact rideoutsandy@gmail.com.  Sandy's latest book is Golden Boy: How to raise a dog all wrong and end up all right.

Does leading a dog come more easily to men? ~ with Ola Zalewski of Paws Above

As a first-time dog owner of Riggins, I was determined to bribe my way into the leadership role with praise and liver treats. But as anyone who has read Golden Boy knows, Riggs wasn’t so easily swayed.  He wasn’t food motivated, and praise left him cold.  The only toy that stirred him was a flirt pole, and that generated the wrong kind of energy (prey drive!). 

So I wandered from trainer to trainer in search of the key to unlocking this dog’s potential—and ultimately, my own. What I learned is that one size does not fit all as far as training is concerned, and that many roads can lead to a “good dog.” 

Since I’m not a natural leader and Riggs didn’t care to please, I had to change my mind about corrective training techniques. Riggs matured and changed his mind, too.  When he decided in favor of liver treats, I moved to what I consider a hybrid approach.  Now, I try redirection first, and correct only if that fails. As time wears on, correction is rarely needed ~ and I’ve become resigned to smelling of liver treats forever (although some may complain it's a romance-killer!).

Feedback on Golden Boy suggests I’m not alone in my training challenges. In fact, lots of owners—particularly women—have commiserated.  That’s why I corner every dog trainer I meet and ask the same question: Does leadership come more easily to men?  

Today we’ll hear from Ola Zalewski of Paws Above training.  If you missed Ola’s earlier interview, check it out here.  Feel free to ask Ola questions in the comments below, some of which we may address in future blogs.  

Thanks again, Ola, for your patience with Riggs and me! 

1.    What is the “secret” to being a strong leader to our dogs? 

I don’t think there is a secret, per say.  We just need to make a conscious effort to understand their language. Dogs primarily communicate with each other using body language, eye contact, different tones of voice, and touch.  When you know how to read them, you can create exercises that mimic their ways of communicating and let them know you are higher ranking than they are.  I have studied how dogs move around each other and in different environments.  This has led to a strong understanding of what they are communicating, and allows me to take charge.  I realize that some people don’t have a natural knack for this.  In fact, so many people have asked me about it that I decided to develop a new confidence-building workshop.  In this class, people will work with a group of dogs they’ve never met before.  It will take them out of their comfort zone, but as they work on controlling a group, they will gain leadership skills.  Practice makes perfect!

2.     What is the impact of NOT showing the leadership a dog needs?
 
Dogs live in a hierarchical system.  The term “pack” is falling out of favor these days, but regardless of what you call it, these are social animals and they must have a system of hierarchy.  If the top guy leaves or dies, the rest of the group figures out the next leader.  It’s in their nature. Dogs respect and follow higher ranking individuals. If your dog sees you as equal or lower ranking in relation to him, you will likely see undesirable behaviors such as jumping, biting, mouthing, and even aggression.  Now, this does not apply to every dog, but many of them.  If you take charge (as you should—you do pay the bills!), you’ll reach a nice balance and your dog will ultimately behave better.

3.    In your experience, do women have more of a challenge in leadership than men, and if so, why might that be?

Ah, this is a very common complaint I hear in classes!  Women frequently comment that their male partners have more success than they do in getting the dog to behave well.  I attribute this to the fact that men are usually taller and deeper-voiced, and may be more dominant by nature.  In my experience, dogs tend to be more respectful around men—although there are lots of exceptions to the rule.  Similarly, dogs challenge a child faster than they do an adult, probably because they are smaller, with higher-pitched voices.  Women have been raising this issue with me for as long as I’ve been in the business, and that’s one reason why my classes are predominantly filled with women.  It makes me really happy to see women stepping up to the plate!

4.    What can dog owners do from the very start to be a strong leader?

The best strategy is to do your homework BEFORE you even get a dog.  Learn about the breed that interests you, and then do your research about training and the services available in your area.  Get references from a vet or other dog owners for professional dog trainers.  Call and chat with them, or drop in to watch a class.  

Once you have your pup, it’s critical that you follow through on what you want.  I don’t have children, but I hear that leading a dog is similar to parenting.  If you bark commands or corrections at dogs all day, or get frustrated and yell, it will not get you far.  I recommend giving a dog one verbal command, and if it doesn’t obey, follow through with the behaviour you want.  Say the dog is on the couch.  Don’t yell “off” 50 times until you’re out of breath.  Say it once and then take the dog’s collar and lead it off the couch.  Following through on what you ask helps the dog learn what you expect, and, in my opinion, is fairer to the dog. 

5.    If our dogs are already not listening or obeying, what steps do you suggest?  

I would immerse myself in any resources I could find, whether it’s books, videos, seminars or classes.  Never has there been more information available on dog training, and much of it is free with the click of a mouse! 

It’s important to understand that there are two main schools of thought on training, and they largely conflict with each other.  In a nutshell, there are trainers who believe in positive reinforcement only, and others who believe correction has a place in dog training.  

 
The only way to know what’s right for you is to do your research on schools and classes.  Read reviews.  Talk to people.  Go with the methodology that makes you most comfortable and is in line with your own beliefs.  There is no “right” choice, only the choice that is best for you personally and ultimately works for you and your dog.


Ola Zalewski lives on a 100 acre farm with Jeff, 5 dogs, 35 chickens, and 4 goats.  Visit Paws Above here or on Facebook. 


Please follow the Animal Magnetism blog if you'd like to receive updates as they're posted. If interested in being interviewed, contact rideoutsandy@gmail.com.  And if you haven't read Golden Boy: How to raise a dog all wrong and end up all right, what are you waiting for?!