BCA Member Education

Presenting the Barbet in the Conformation Ring - Let the Standard be Your Guide

Breed standards create a blueprint of a dog breed. Judges are educated by AKC to evaluate dogs using the breed standard. An integral aspect of conformation judging is proper breed type. The Barbet’s defining characteristic is his full, dense, all-over curly coat. Using words directly from the AKC Barbet standard, the following sentences may help you to prepare your Barbet with proper presentation.

He has a long, dense covering of curly hair and a distinctive beard (French barbé), which gives the breed its name. This all-over coat of long, dense, protective curls defines the Barbet. The dog must have a beard to meet the definition of the breed’s name.

Ear leather reaching at least to the corner of the mouth and fully covered with long hair. A good guideline is that the long ear fringe should reach to at least the nose. The coat of the Barbet is his defining characteristic. The Barbet should exhibit specific breed type, obvious both from a distance and close up, of his unique, dense, and long curly coat.

Profuse hair covers the whole body evenly with thick, natural curls that range from large and loose to tight, smaller curls. Whether tightly curled or with loose waves, the Barbet is fully covered in a significant amount of hair. The hair is profuse, forming a protective layer for the dog in the wetlands of the cold marsh.

The hair on the top of the head reaches the bridge of the nose. The Barbet must have enough coat that the hair on the top of the skull is long enough to fall onto the bridge of the nose. This head hair will cover the eyes. Together with the fully covered muzzle, chin, and long ears, the entire head of the Barbet has a substantial amount of hair. The hair should not be combed away from the face or sprayed into place.

He has a distinctive beard. The hairy, bearded face of the Barbet comes from the fully coated muzzle (moustache) and chin (beard).

The coat is shown in as natural a state as possible; clean and free from mats. The coat should be in impeccable condition, easily parted to show the skin. Tangle free, a comb should be able to pass through all hair on the clean and well-presented coat. While the constant growth of the Barbet’s hair coat requires regular trimming, the result should look natural.

The hair is to retain curl. The hair is not to be blown out straight or flat; the coat should maintain curl and density which forms a protective airspace for the dog against the elements. While scissoring is necessary to keep him neat, excessive sculpting and shaping is to be penalized. No part of the Barbet should be shaved or cut short, other than sanitary trimming.

Every dog shown in AKC conformation should be freshly bathed, clean, and dry. Nails should be trimmed, crusty eye corners cleaned, and the ears fresh smelling. Present your dog with great pride, showing the hard work that you have done to prepare for the show ring.