Ginkgo Barbet Puppy Process
HOW WE RAISE OUR BARBET PUPPIES
Our puppies are raised using Puppy Culture protocols with the goal of producing confident, environmentally sound Barbet who are well prepared for life in their future homes.
Pups are born in our guest apartment, where we sleep next to them for three weeks to monitor dam and puppies ensuring both are well cared for. We also do early neurological stimulation on the pups.
At three weeks of age, they are moved to our family room, where puppies are introduced to a wide range of surfaces, sounds, and experiences, along with gentle handling, basic grooming routines, beginning crate training, and early foundations in positive handling.
PUPPY PLACEMENT
Each litter is evaluated at seven weeks of age. Using the evaluation, plus 20 years of experience in the breed, we match puppies with homes from our waitlist, prioritizing long-term compatibility for both puppy and family. While we can note sex and color preference, we can't guarantee it nor do we breed for color.
VACCINES + MICROCHIPS
Puppies go home at eight weeks of age on and are microchipped, dewormed, and given age-appropriate vaccinations. Puppies are weaned onto Purina Pro Plan Puppy
Puppies are picked up by their owners. Occasionally we can deliver the puppy.
STAY IN TOUCH
When you welcome a puppy from Ginkgo Barbet, you can expect a lifetime of support, guidance, and ongoing connection. We invest deeply in the puppies we raise and value lasting relationships with our owners, many of whom become extended members of the Ginkgo family.
Grooming
Be prepared to brush (to the skin) a Barbet 2-3x a week in addition to having assistance from a professional groomer every 4-6 weeks for nail trims, coat trimming, and ear hair trimming or plucking. If you plan on fully grooming at home, you will need a grooming table, dog blow dyer, bath tub, deep conditioning shampoo, conditioner, scissors, trimmers, and leave in conditioning sprays. Their coat continually grows and they will mat without proper brushing and care. They shed into their coat, so brushing is important for their health. Their skin and coat need fully dried after a bath and ear canals cleaned and checked to help avoid ear infections.
Join and participate with the Barbet Club of America
OUR PROCESS
We begin with a questionnaire to get to know you. We encourage families to research multiple breeders — however, please avoid joining multiple waitlists at the same time. Most of our puppies go to companion or performance homes under a spay/neuter agreement.
At Ginkgo Barbet, we typically have 1–2 litters per year. Our priority is finding active, loving homes that are committed to training, grooming, and engaging with their Barbet for life.
Email us: GinkgoBarbet@gmail.com We receive several inquiries weekly. If you have not heard back, please follow up.
Most families wait 6 months to a year for a pup from us.
Annual AVERAGE Costs
With any canine there are standard vaccines, annual health checks, dental cleanings, food, treats, etc.
With a Barbet there are the added costs of a visit to a professional groomer every 4-6 weeks in addition to brushes, combs, shampoo, conditioner needed for at home coat maintenance.
Also to consider are the needs for trainers and/or classes, leashes, crates, dog sitters, dog walkers, dog day care, mental enrichment activities, as these all make up some of the costs of general canine ownership.
The love of a canine is priceless.
HEALTH
Barbets are generally a healthy breed, but because numbers remain limited worldwide, health testing and responsible breeding are essential to protect the future of the breed.
Our Barbet are health tested in accordance with the Barbet Club of America, including:
- Hip and Elbow Evaluations (OFA or PennHIP)
- Annual Eye Exams by a board-certified ophthalmologist
- DNA Testing for prcd-PRA
Of note, the breed is currently seeing the occasional case of allergies, immune-mediated conditions, heart issues, and epilepsy. In addition, various types of cancer have been reported, though no single cancer type appears consistently across the breed.
While no health testing can ever guarantee that a dog will remain free of medical issues for life, transparency, education, and responsible breeding practices are widely recognized as important tools for reducing risk and supporting long-term health.
About Ginkgo Barbet
We whelped our first litter in 2007, before most knew about Barbet. From there, we helped submit the paperwork for the breed’s entrance into the AKC FSS (Foundation Stock Service) program. Since then, we’ve remained deeply committed to the health, temperament, and future of this remarkable breed.
We breed to the Barbet standard, with conformation, health, and performance always in mind. Our dogs are shown in AKC conformation and compete in Rally, Fast CAT, lure coursing, therapy dog, trick dog, Canine Good Citizen, and dock diving.
Over 40+ Ginkgo Barbets we have bred have gone on to earn titles in scent work, agility, therapy, rally, obedience, lure coursing, and more.
Because we value the quality of life for our dogs, a handful are co-owned with friends or family locally. Our puppies are born and raised in our home, never in a kennel.
FAQs
Cost of a barbet Puppy
In North America: $4000-$4500
Rare Hypoallergenic Breed...
Northrock Barbet Article: Are Barbet Hypoallergenic?
No dog is truly allergen free nor 100% Hypoallergenic. Please do not believe the false marketing. While Barbet are limited in numbers, they are simply a canine. The breed is growing in popularity in North America; however, Barbet do not need a special veterinarian or trainer. Any can work with you and your Barbet. There are various training methods, and you have to find what works for your dog and you. Same goes with a groomer, if you are not showing the Barbet, there is no standard trim outside of keeping the coat brushed, washed, conditioned, and mat free.
Barbet Pedigree Research
Recommended Reading:
- Ian Dunbar: BEFORE_You_Get_Your_Puppy_SIRIUS + AFTER_You_Get_Your_Puppy_SIRIUS
- Alexandra Horowitz - Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell, and Know
- John Bradshaw - Dog Sense: How the New Science of Dog Behavior Can Make You A Better Friend to Your Pet
- New Skeet Monks - How to Be Your Dog's Best Friend; The Classic Training Manual for Dog Lovers
- Cesar Milan - Cesar's Way: The Natural, Everyday Guide to Understanding and Correcting Common Dog Problems
- Cesar Milan - How to Raise the Perfect Dog: Through Puppyhood and Beyond
- The Barbet Revealed: http://barbetbook.com/
- Hunting Together: Harnessing Predatory Chasing in Family Dogs through Motivation-Based Training
Recommended Pet Health Insurance:
- Trupanion
- Embrace Pet Insurance
- USAA
- Pets Best
Recommended Toys:
- Himalayan chews, bully sticks, kongs
- deer, elk, or moose antlers from Gnawlers
- Bark Box subscription
Recommended Foods
- Puppies: Lamb and Rice (or Oatmeal)
- Adults: Lamb and Rice, Salmon, Bison, anything low grain. Avoid pea/legumes.
Vaccination reading:
- Leptospirosis in Dogs How They Catch It, How We Cure It, How We Prevent It
- Lyme's Disease: http://www.dogsandticks.com & www.lymeinfo.com + www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/flea-tick/
Year round flea and tick Preventative. Bravecto oral or topical or Credelio.
Recommended Grooming Tools + Collars:
- Brush and comb from: Chris Christensen
Slicker + Line / Greyhound comb - Shampoo: Groomers Edge Oatmeal Shampoo
- Conditioner: Groomers Edge The Solution Conditioner or Espana Silk Protein Conditioner
- Shampoo/Conditioner dilution bottle
- High Velocity Dryer: Flying Pig or Double K
- Leave in Conditioner: the Stuff or dilute the Solution Conditioner
- Grooming Table and arm (Table works!)
- Slip lead https://tinyurl.com/mwy2acvj
- Rolled Leather Collar https://tinyurl.com/yc2y75k3
Join the Barbet Club of America
Breed Standard:
www.barbetclubofamerica.com/breed-standard
Red Flags in searching for a Barbet puppy
Non-refundable deposits (before a litter is even confirmed), now illegal in California
Check that the dam/sire have CHIC numbers
Websites claiming “We are not a puppy mill” — this should never need to be said
Only breeding “pet quality” dogs, without striving to improve the breed
Claims of “many champions” or “champion lines” without proof of ever showing
Pressure to show or breed your dog against your wishes
No verifiable health testing results listed on OFA.org
Only using DNA (Embark) testing as health testing
Failure to share the full AKC registered names of both dam and sire
No mention of litters on social media or public platforms
Puppies not registered with the AKC
Lack of participation in AKC events or activities
Excessive bragging about having “the best” or “champion lines” without transparency
Always having puppies available, or multiple “accidental” litters
Breeding senior dams (7+ years old)
Breeding a dam more than 5 times
Repeating the same dam/sire pairing over and over which does NOT help genetic diversity
No ongoing education in breeding or canine health
Using “secrecy” or fear of scams as an excuse for lack of openness
Poor sportsmanship or bullying toward others
Not being a member of the Barbet Club of America or a national breed club
Listed on the AKC Marketplace but not on the BCA Breeder Referral Page
(note: AKC Marketplace is not endorsed by the Barbet Club of America)
the gram
Our Ginkgo Pack with cameos by Barbet friends and stowaways #chihuahuawillow + Chihuahua Newt