Aptitude Assessment for barbet - why and what?
From the Barbet breed standard (FCI)
"A water dog, used for hunting waterfowl. The water dog is more than a retriever. It must also search for and flush prey hiding in the aquatic vegetation. It then retrieves the prey shot by the hunter. The water dog is not afraid of the cold but goes into the water in all weathers."
All dog breeds have natural characteristics. These innate characteristics, as opposed to learned behaviors, deserve to be recognized and preserved. Later in the individual's life, training is added to improve and develop the innate characteristics.
For the Barbet, we want a functional description to preserve basic characteristics within the breed that are crucial for its original function as a hunter's partner. Characteristics that also make it both popular and suitable as a cooperative and safe family dog.
The popularity of the barbet
The barbet generally has good social skills, great adaptability and a clear willingness to cooperate with its handler. The popularity of the barbet is largely due to these characteristics. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure that they are maintained. This is the goal of this description.
Basic natural characteristics and functions that one would like to assess for the barbet:
The aptitude assessment is intended to be accessible and interesting for everyone.
Here the younger the better, as long as your Barbet is 12 months old.
No preparation or training is needed as it is about observing and noting innate characteristics.
It is not a test where you are approved or not approved. It is just an assessment of how the individual handles certain selected situations.
You and your dog should just be yourselves!
"A water dog, used for hunting waterfowl. The water dog is more than a retriever. It must also search for and flush prey hiding in the aquatic vegetation. It then retrieves the prey shot by the hunter. The water dog is not afraid of the cold but goes into the water in all weathers."
All dog breeds have natural characteristics. These innate characteristics, as opposed to learned behaviors, deserve to be recognized and preserved. Later in the individual's life, training is added to improve and develop the innate characteristics.
For the Barbet, we want a functional description to preserve basic characteristics within the breed that are crucial for its original function as a hunter's partner. Characteristics that also make it both popular and suitable as a cooperative and safe family dog.
The popularity of the barbet
The barbet generally has good social skills, great adaptability and a clear willingness to cooperate with its handler. The popularity of the barbet is largely due to these characteristics. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure that they are maintained. This is the goal of this description.
Basic natural characteristics and functions that one would like to assess for the barbet:
- Being socially safe, calmness and mental balance
- Nose - interest in the scent of game
- Ability to work independently - which is part of the breed's historical description.
- Willingness to retrieve on land
- Willingness to retrieve over deep water
The aptitude assessment is intended to be accessible and interesting for everyone.
Here the younger the better, as long as your Barbet is 12 months old.
No preparation or training is needed as it is about observing and noting innate characteristics.
It is not a test where you are approved or not approved. It is just an assessment of how the individual handles certain selected situations.
You and your dog should just be yourselves!
How far has the work on "Aptitude Assessment Barbet" come?
Currently, the following proposals have been developed for the different parts of the complete exercise, their design. There is also a proposals for a protocol with criteria for the assessment of the parts. (not enclosed here). At the bottom of the page are a few words about the preparatory work for this proposal.
During the fall of 2025, we had the opportunity to film a dog performing the different parts of this whole excercise, which hopefully can be a good tool to clarify how they should be carried out.
So what remains before SBBK can open up widely to carry this out with groups of barbets?
- More dogs will need to try the parts to know that they really work as intended.
- It must be clarified what types of officials (with what qualifications) we need to assess this in a uniform way.
We hope to be there soon!
Currently, the following proposals have been developed for the different parts of the complete exercise, their design. There is also a proposals for a protocol with criteria for the assessment of the parts. (not enclosed here). At the bottom of the page are a few words about the preparatory work for this proposal.
During the fall of 2025, we had the opportunity to film a dog performing the different parts of this whole excercise, which hopefully can be a good tool to clarify how they should be carried out.
So what remains before SBBK can open up widely to carry this out with groups of barbets?
- More dogs will need to try the parts to know that they really work as intended.
- It must be clarified what types of officials (with what qualifications) we need to assess this in a uniform way.
We hope to be there soon!
Aptitude Assessment Barbet - an exercise in five different parts
Socially safe with an unknown person?
(Similar to the original Aptitude test of the golden retriever club in Sweden)
(Similar to the original Aptitude test of the golden retriever club in Sweden)
- A person who is unknown to the dog walks calmly and at a normal pace forward and greets the handler. Then takes the dog's leash and walks away about 15 meters, comes back about 5 meters, turns and walks out a few meters and then walks back completely. Returns the dog and then pats the dog on its side.
- The behavior throughout the exercise is noted according to criteria in the protocol.
2 - Will to retrieve – on land
(Similar to the French Aptitude test for retrievers and barbets)
(Similar to the French Aptitude test for retrievers and barbets)
- A dummy is presented to the dog.
- A thrower walks out about 15 meters to the place of the throw - diagonally in front of the dog.
- The dummy is thrown up in an arc to a place about 15 meters in front of the dog.
- The dog is now free to rush out immediately of its own accord, or if the owner gives the command to retrieve. It does not matter whether the retrieval is done impeccably to the hand or not. The goal is to note the dog's speed and willingness to look for the object, to take it and to retrieve it.
- Since it is not about obedience, the dog is allowed to rush out to retrieve as soon as the object is thrown.
- The behavior throughout the exercise is noted according to the criteria of the protocol.
3 - The nose – interest in the scent of hidden game
(Similar to the French Aptitude test for retrievers and barbets)
(Similar to the French Aptitude test for retrievers and barbets)
- Two dummies that are weathered with the scent of wild birds are used.
- They are placed at a distance of at least 5 meters between them, hidden in bushes, tall grass or similar. (Dead wild birds can be used instead of "bottled scent")
- The dog, on a lead, is led past the location and must show interest in at least one scent. The wind direction is taken into account so that it is favorable for the dog.
- The behavior throughout the exercise is noted according to the criteria of the protocol.
4 - Willingness to work independently, interest in searching
(Similar to the Aptitude test for retrievers in Sweden, and a variant of this is planned for spaniels)
The exercise is carried out, for example, in a meadow, in a pasture or forest clearing. The ground should be open but wild with at least long grass. The area can be within a fence if desired. The intended search area must have been thoroughly "walked through" before the first dog is to perform the exercise. A weathered dummy must also be pressed to the ground in advance in at least five places, widely spread within the area. This is done by officials.
(Similar to the Aptitude test for retrievers in Sweden, and a variant of this is planned for spaniels)
The exercise is carried out, for example, in a meadow, in a pasture or forest clearing. The ground should be open but wild with at least long grass. The area can be within a fence if desired. The intended search area must have been thoroughly "walked through" before the first dog is to perform the exercise. A weathered dummy must also be pressed to the ground in advance in at least five places, widely spread within the area. This is done by officials.
- A dummy, or similar, weathered with the scent of wild birds is presented to the dog.
- This is done in a place close to an intended search area of approximately 30x30 meters.
- The dog should now believe that the dummy is being placed somewhere in the area.
- The official who presented the dummy to the dog goes out into the area. Presses the dummy against the ground in at least five (5) places within the area. The dummy is NOT left behind. It is taken in by the official - and hidden from the dog.
- When the official has returned from the search area, the handler lets the dog search freely and loosely in the area.
- If the dog has not given up after approximately three minutes, the search can be interrupted.
- It is the dog's interest, method and willingness to work that are assessed.
- The behavior throughout the exercise is noted according to the protocol's criteria.
5 - Willingness to retrieve – over deep water
(Similar to the French Aptitude test for retrievers and barbets)
The dog may be wet/dipped before the exercise begins.
(Similar to the French Aptitude test for retrievers and barbets)
The dog may be wet/dipped before the exercise begins.
- Performed on a beach where it is easy to walk into the water, and when the water is calm.
- A dummy is presented to the dog by an official/thrower. The official throws the dummy into deep water, about 5 meters from the shore. The dog is free to go into the water directly or if the owner gives a command to retrieve. It does not matter whether the retrieval is done flawlessly by hand or not. The goal is to see if the dog goes into the water, swims and retrieves the dummy.
- Since it is not about obedience, the dog is allowed to retrieve as soon as the object is thrown.
- The behavior throughout the exercise is noted according to the criteria in the protocol.
Preliminary work:
We have studied the French aptitude test (TAN d'eau) and the French retriever tests. We have had contacts and taken advice from the people who have developed and assess the official functional description for retrievers in Sweden. We have consulted with those who have practical experience of hunting with barbets, in Sweden and in other countries. During 2023 and 2024, the Barbet Club also made a number of study visits where practical tests were carried out for spaniels and retrievers in Sweden, which was also reported on in the "Barbetbladet"/*. Furthermore, a barbet owner in Finland who both hunts and is a judge in their hunting/attitude test - which is a spaniel test - has described the experiences about the expected working method of the barbet/**.
*/
- Field test for spaniel (Barbetbladet no. 3/2024)
- Hunting test with game for spaniel (beginner test A) (Barbetbladet no. 2/2024)
- Water test for spaniel (Barbetbladet no. 1/2024)
- Functional description for retriever (Barbetbladet no. 4/2023)
**/
Expected working method of the barbet
Comments from a barbet owner that hunts and a former judge in hunting test:
- When "quartering", the speed of many barbets is lower than that of some other flushing breeds, for example, and the barbet often trots. Comparatively, barbets often go further out, but many then naturally turn to quartering at 20-25 meters.
- The continental and Irish breeds used for flushing hunt are intended to work for longer periods, so a lower speed is ok. Finding the game does the barbet well, it is very purposeful in the hunt.
- Some have a "point au naturel".
- Willingness to retrieve depends a lot on the individual. In the best case, the barbet is a very persistent retriever.
- The barbet is independent in the hunt.
/ Paula Horne (Finland)
On being able to work all day:
Barbets sometimes find hidden birds after other dogs at high speed may have passed them. So speed is really not everything.
/ Paula Horne (Finland)
We have studied the French aptitude test (TAN d'eau) and the French retriever tests. We have had contacts and taken advice from the people who have developed and assess the official functional description for retrievers in Sweden. We have consulted with those who have practical experience of hunting with barbets, in Sweden and in other countries. During 2023 and 2024, the Barbet Club also made a number of study visits where practical tests were carried out for spaniels and retrievers in Sweden, which was also reported on in the "Barbetbladet"/*. Furthermore, a barbet owner in Finland who both hunts and is a judge in their hunting/attitude test - which is a spaniel test - has described the experiences about the expected working method of the barbet/**.
*/
- Field test for spaniel (Barbetbladet no. 3/2024)
- Hunting test with game for spaniel (beginner test A) (Barbetbladet no. 2/2024)
- Water test for spaniel (Barbetbladet no. 1/2024)
- Functional description for retriever (Barbetbladet no. 4/2023)
**/
Expected working method of the barbet
Comments from a barbet owner that hunts and a former judge in hunting test:
- When "quartering", the speed of many barbets is lower than that of some other flushing breeds, for example, and the barbet often trots. Comparatively, barbets often go further out, but many then naturally turn to quartering at 20-25 meters.
- The continental and Irish breeds used for flushing hunt are intended to work for longer periods, so a lower speed is ok. Finding the game does the barbet well, it is very purposeful in the hunt.
- Some have a "point au naturel".
- Willingness to retrieve depends a lot on the individual. In the best case, the barbet is a very persistent retriever.
- The barbet is independent in the hunt.
/ Paula Horne (Finland)
On being able to work all day:
Barbets sometimes find hidden birds after other dogs at high speed may have passed them. So speed is really not everything.
/ Paula Horne (Finland)