The
F.C.I. Standard
The Fédération
Cynologique Internationale (F.C.I.) is a worldwide
canine organisation with over 80 member countries.
Althought the Kennel Club (GB governing body)
is not a member country, the Barbet Club (GB)
is working towards the Barbet being recognised
by the Kennel Club and the adoption of the existing
F.C.I. standard as below.
FRENCH
WATER DOG (Barbet)
TRANSLATION
: Jennifer Mulholland.
ORIGIN
: France
DATE
OF PUBLICATION OF ORIGINAL VALID STANDARD
: 21.02.2006
UTILIZATION:
Water dog used for hunting wildfowl. Like all
water dogs, the French Water Dog is more than
just a retriever; he must search for, locate
and flush out the game hiding in the water vegetation.
He then retrieves the game shot by his master.
Very resistant to cold, he shall go to water
in all weather.
CLASSIFICATION
F.C.I :
Group 8 Retrievers, Flushing Dogs, Water Dogs.
Section 3 Water Dogs With working trial.
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.
GENERAL
APPEARANCE:
Medium proportions, medium size, characterized
by a thick, woolly coat which guarantees efficient
protection against cold and damp. The coat forms
a beard (French barbe) on the chin, which gave
the breed its name (Barbet).
IMPORTANT
PROPORTIONS:
The muzzle
is slightly shorter than the skull.
The length
of the body, measured from the point of shoulder
to the point of buttock, is slightly more than
the height at the withers .
BEHAVIOUR/TEMPERAMENT:
Even disposition, very attached to his master,
very sociable, loving water even when very cold.
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.
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.
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.
HINDQUARTERS:
Upper thigh: Slightly oblique,
well muscled.
Hock: Low, well angulated.
Metatarsus (Rear pastern):
Upright.
FEET:
Round, broad, covered by hair.
MOVEMENT/GAIT:
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 accomodate 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:
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.
