Spanish Water Dog

SWD_Escribania

This is how the Perro de Aqua Espagnol came into the Barbet: Escribania de Ubrique. She is part of the foundation stock for Canada.

CHESP88 Moro                        This is Moro; in Escribania’s pedigree ( and most)

brandyrainette_poppenspalerBrandy ( Vincacao x Escribania de Ubrique). Remember that Vincacao is the result of a cross ( Hercule di Barbochos Reiau de Prouvenco x PWD: Elsa do Lusiadas)

swd_sccThis painting was of a Barbet…and used for the WDS ( World Dog Show) in 2012 to depict  our Barbet. The head?

SWD_Purina

To be sure this WAS a SWD, I contacted Purina…who confirmed. Several Barbet breeders  had said it was a Barbet. The Barbet having very little proper brand identification, it is extremely difficult to promote the breed and move forward. The ad and the video on the Purina ProPlan site are lovely. The morphology of this Perro is not at all that of a Barbet.

At the time, not many knew.The pups were lovely, rather short, strong build and roundish. Not being an expert on the breed I asked a friend to give me some information on what the breed was/is all about. Apparently, there are 2 major types:

The Perro de Agua Espagnol and the Turco de Andaluz ( also a SWD), shown below.

TurcoAndaluz“Tan solo hace quince años el Perro de Agua Español era quizá el perro de cabrero más sano, atlético y resistente que existía pero hubo unos iluminados, nativos de tierras donde nunca hubo Turcos Andaluces, que pensaron caprichosamente cambiarlo para transformarlo, homogeneizarlo y darle prestigio; había que sacar al perro de sus corrales y ponerle otra imagen más actual. Le hecharon kilos y ampliaron su costillar, dorso y culo con lo que parentemente redujeron su fondo o profundidad de pecho convirtiéndolo en algo achorizado mucho más pesado, feo y torpe. Al ser tan pesado y ancho tuvo logicamente que separar sus manos y por esta naturaleza saca codos para sostenerse mejor. Han creado un perro que no aguanta dos vueltas al ring y se axfisia facilmente. El Turco Andaluz era un perro fino, ligero y amplío fondo; con estructura canina compacta, muy elegante, agil casi como el felino e incansable trabajador, pero a esos Dioses no les gustaba y además deseaban, por considerarlo rancio, olvidar su histórico pasado. Siempre he pensado que su sobrepeso, aunque no fuera el causante de las dixplasias, tiene muchísimo que ver en la enfermedad.”

JM. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Link to Ubrique Kennels in Spain:

http://www.perroaguaubrique.com/en

It’s interesting to also notice the color of the many brown Barbets with SWD blood. It fades, differently than the Poodle brown always due to the graying factor. Very often they have a strip of lighter color across the hips, when they have SWD blood.  The coat texture is very different and rougher than the average Barbet. As far as character, they are much more active than the average Barbet. Average: meaning it is hard to really determine what the Barbet coat should be without referring to the past of the breed since the 1886 standard for a Griffon.This makes it difficult for all since we all think we have the best coat… and that is what a Barbet coat should be.

Barbet_Che2011strip

Imagine those who have a Barbet with SWD blood and cross them again with a SWD…

 

 

Translate »