Barbet (dog breed)

Muddy as a barbet was a French saying for good reason: this bearded water dog spent its working life retrieving ducks from marshes and estuaries. It nearly vanished after the Second World War, and the 1970s revival leaned on Standard Poodles and other breeds, so pedigrees differ in how much poodle they carry. Inbreeding remains high in a small gene pool; British stock largely descends from two French imports in 2007. Look for breeders who publish health results and keep the original working type, and expect a dense, curly coat that needs real grooming time.