It gives us a real sense of pride to introduce and represent the Barbet (also known as a French Water Dog). Not a new breed of dog by any stretch of the imagination! For hundreds upon hundreds of years, people have been living with, working with, enjoying, and loving the Barbet. From the goddess Diana (Rambouillet) to Voltaire, through Europe to North America, the Barbet is an intelligent, versatile and extremely affectionate breed of dog.

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It is our desire that as you navigate through this website and visit other sites listed here, you will not only find helpful and historical information, but also sense the passion and love that we have for the Barbet.  If you are interested in the Barbet as a pet or just curious about one of this antiquitous breed of canine, please consider yourself welcome to stay and read and learn!  

 

In our journey with this breed we have met many people and many Barbet.  Lifelong friendships have been formed and invaluable resources have been acquired….many that we could not do without. Much of our experience has been in travel, at dog shows, during seminars and courses, and most of all, living, eating, sleeping, and playing with the Barbet.

We are a small Barbet Fancier based family in South Western Ontario. Our dogs are our personal companions first, and show/breeding dogs second. They sleep on our furniture, and swim in our pool.  They are a big part of our everyday lives. Our whole family is active in the daily care and training of our dogs and puppies.  Our daughter Amelia actively trains and handles our dogs (and others') in conformation events. 

When we found the Barbet, it was a life changer, and it's been a whirlwind of chew toys, dog combs, and raw meat ever since. I actively study canine genetics and behaviour as a passion project, while continuing to work as a Nurse in our community. The whole family love sharing this breed with others. 

 

Don't mistake our "hobby" and "passion" for unprofessionalism. The utmost care and concern is taken with our dogs, their lives, activities, and occasional breedings.  For us, the importance of what we are doing is focusing on the breed itself, and NOT the breeding.
We enjoy studying pedigrees, and work with a group of Barbet breeders internationally, which allows us to follow a careful breeding program.

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We are active members in good standing of the CKC (Canadian Kennel Club), SOARS (Southwestern Ontario All Retrievers Society), and Club Barbet Canada.  

Looking forward to many blessed years with man’s best friend.

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Paula McKechnie Ballak
paula@biscaywaterdogs.com