Mary Allen
They have curly hair and were bred for waterfowl hunting. How Poodle, Lagotto, and Barbet differ from each other and what that has to do with vehicle types – an interpretation.
At the beginning of her breeding career 17 years ago, Sylvia Richner from Attelwil-AG remembers that she was often asked about her bitch Cleo. “You could see in people’s eyes that they were puzzled.” At some point she anticipated the question and made it clear in advance: No, Cleo is not a poodle, but a barbet – at that time, with 30 dogs, it was a very unknown breed in Switzerland.
In the meantime, you can see the barbet more and more often in this country. With the Lagotto Romagnolo, however, another breed of dog has been causing confusion in recent years when it comes to distinguishing between Poodles, Barbets, and Lagottos. That is not by accident. After all, the three breeds are not only connected by the constantly growing head of curls, but also by a similar history.
Bred for Waterfowl Hunting
Both the Barbet and the Lagotto Romagnolo are considered to be very old breeds, documented back to the 16th century. The Barbet comes from France and has always been used to hunt waterfowl. Originally from Italy, the Lagotto is also a traditional water retriever. As the swamps were drained and turned into farmland over the centuries, the Lagotto developed in the plains and hills of Emilia-Romagna from a water dog to an excellent truffle hunting dog, according to the breed standard of the FCI, the world umbrella organization for canines.
Both the Barbet and the Lagotto are classified by the FCI as retrievers, scavenger dogs, and water dogs. Not so the poodle. Although descended from the Barbet according to the breed standard and originally used for hunting wildfowl, it belongs to the group of companion dogs. For poodle breeder Esther Lauper from Wallisellen ZH, this is incomprehensible. “In my view, the poodle is still a working dog that needs tasks, activity, and lots of opportunities to learn new things so that it doesn’t get bored.” In addition, the poodle has a hunting instinct that should not be underestimated, which underlines its affiliation with the group of water dogs.
The water dogs always cooperated with their humans when hunting, unlike other hunting dogs. Because of this, water dogs also have the potential to be well-trained, dependable, and have impulse control, Lauper continues. “But none of them are recipients of orders. They don’t tolerate harsh upbringing, have remained free spirits and much prefer to cooperate than to obey.” Barbet breeder Sylvia Richner from Attelwil AG and Lagotto breeder Christine Frei from Gansingen AG characterize their dogs in a similar way.
Ferrari and Off-Roader in the Dog Salon
With a height at the withers of 53 to 65 centimeters, the Barbet is the largest representative of the water dog breeds. The poodle comes in four different sizes, with the standard poodle being the second largest of the three breeds with a height of 45 to 60 centimeters, followed by the Lagotto Romagnolo, which according to the breed standard requires a height of 41 to 48 centimeters at the withers.
The Lagotto can be distinguished from the Barbet and the Poodle by its head, as Lagotto breeder Christine Frei says: “His distinguishing feature is the round head, with the ears being small and set against the head, so they are not easily visible. The barbet and the poodle have lantern ears.” The three breeds also differ in the snout. The Poodle has the longest, followed by the Barbet and the Lagotto. The Barbet carries the tail loosely, the Lagotto at most slightly and the Poodle clearly raised.
That said, barbet breeder Sylvia Richner notes other differences between the breeds—using an analogy from the auto industry. She compares the light-footed poodle with a sports car, the barbet with its strong and compact physique with an off-road vehicle. Poodle breeder Esther Lauper also describes the poodle as the sportiest of the three breeds due to its light build. And also in the breed standard, a dancing and light-footed gait is required of the poodle.
The Hairstyle Makes the Difference
However, the biggest differences between Lagotto, Poodle, and Barbet are their hairstyles. The fur of all three breeds is constantly growing, which is why regular visits to the dog grooming salon are essential. However, the results are different. “The Barbet remains rather rustic in appearance,” explains breeder Richner. It is available in black, gray, brown, white, tan, and sand. According to the breed standard, his coat forms a beard – French: Barbe – which gave the breed its name. Otherwise, its fur is left in its natural state and covers the entire body.
The situation is similar to the Lagotto Romagnolo. It is bred in the colors off-white, white with brown or orange spots, orange or brown roan, brown with or without white, and orange with or without white. To prevent matting, the coat must be fully clipped at least once a year, as required by the breed standard. The shaved hair should not be longer than four centimeters and may not be shaped or brushed. The breed standard explicitly states that any excessive haircut will result in the dog being excluded from breeding. The correct cut, on the other hand, is “unpretentious and underlines the natural and robust appearance typical of this breed”.
The poodle is not only available in four sizes, but also in six colors: black, white, brown, silver, fawn, black and tan, and harlequin. The hairstyles are also more variable than with the barbet and the lotto. There are different types of clipping, such as the lion clip, the puppy clip, or the so-called English clip, the characteristics of which are listed in the breed standard. The face of the poodle is the only one of the three breeds that should be shaved. “The poodle is and remains a bird dog and must be able to see all around,” explains breeder Esther Lauper. “If he has his face full of hair and has to live undercover, he gets depressed.”