Comparison: French Water Dog (Barbet) and Poodle

French Water Dog (Barbet) and Poodle are marked as similar in our database. The table compares only the data we have on the breeds.

French Water Dog (Barbet)
Photo: Pleple2000, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Poodle
Photo: John Leslie from London, UK, CC BY 2.0, source
French Water Dog (Barbet)Poodle
FCI group8. Retrievers, flushing dogs and water dogs9. Companion and Toy Dogs
Country of originFranceFrance
CategoryLargeMedium
Height at withers53–65 cm24–60 cm
Weight–3–32 kg
Life span–12–15 years
Recognition features
  • Long, woolly, curly coat covering the whole body, can form strands
  • Beard on the chin that gave the breed its name
  • Low-set tail with a slight hook at the tip
  • Curly non-shedding coat in typical clips
  • Long fine head and drop ears
  • Tail carried high
CoatLong, woolly and curly, can form strands; in its natural state it covers the whole body, an essential characteristic of the breed. May be groomed in a specific manner. Colour solid black, grey, brown, fawn, pale fawn, white or more or less pied.Dense, curly, wooly coat.
PurposeA water dog for hunting wildfowl; more than a retriever, it must search for, locate and flush game hiding in water vegetation, then retrieve the shot bird. Very resistant to cold, it goes to water in all weathers.Originally a German and French water retriever; later an elegant companion and show dog in standard, medium, miniature and toy sizes.

Breed page: French Water Dog (Barbet) · Breed page: Poodle

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The information is indicative. Texts are based on available sources and may contain inaccuracies; for binding details (e.g. for breeding or shows) use the official breed standard.