French barbet joins spaniel subgroup for field trials 

The Kennel Club has officially approved the inclusion of the barbet in the spaniel subgroup, opening doors for this French water dog to compete in Any Variety Spaniel field trials and gundog working tests from the 2025-26 season. 

The decision followed a comprehensive assessment at Packington Estate near Coventry in September 2024, where barbets demonstrated their natural hunting abilities. Dogs proved they could use wind to hunt and quarter, retrieve dummies effectively, and respond to voice and whistle commands. 

Assessors determined the spaniel subgroup was most appropriate, ruling out both hunt, point, retrieve (HPR) and retriever classifications. The allocation will run for three years before review. 

Dating back to the 1700s, the barbet traditionally flushed and retrieved waterfowl in French marshes and lakes. This intelligent, loyal breed influenced the development of poodles and curlycoated retrievers. 

The Kennel Club noted that two other imported breeds – the lagotto Romagnolo and Spanish water dog – had previously joined the spaniel subgroup. Barbets will now compete in “minor breeds spaniel” trials, excluding cocker and English springers. The classification takes immediate effect, marking another milestone for this historic French gundog breed in British fieldsports.