The Barbet is a non-shedding breed.

There are four stages to the hair growth cycle.

Angen – The Growth Phase

The length of the hair is determined by genetics. Different breeds have different length hair, and the hair will continue to grow until it reaches its final genetically determined length.

Catagen – The Transition Phase

This phase sees the outer root sheath attach to the hair now it has finished growing.

Telogen – The Resting Phase

This is the stage between growth and fallout. There is no new growth, but the hair remains attached to the follicle.

Exogen – The Fallout Phase

The hair has reached the end of its life cycle, dies, and falls out.

The hair cycle is not the same length of all breeds. Non-shedding breeds have an extended Angen Phase, which can last up to a few years until the hair reaches its final length. Some short-haired breeds have a longer Telogen Phase, which means the hair is kept for longer.

There is also another aspect to the hair cycle, and that is what happens in the Exogen Phase when the hair dies. For breeds that shed, dead hair detaches from the hair follicle and falls out of the coat naturally, and as you brush the dog’s hair. For the Barbet, and other breeds that do not shed, most of the dead hairs do not detach, instead they remain in the hair follicle and so, apart from occasional small tufts, hair does not fall out of the coat. For those hairs that do detach from the hair follicle, they are more likely to remain tangled in the curly hair than fall out. This can lead to a coat that becomes too thick and wooly, and will get matted.

As well as the hair growth cycle being different for different breeds, cycle length and growth rate is also affected by age, the seasons, nutrition, stress, and other factors.

The Barbet hair ranges from small tight curls to bigger loose curls. Note that the breed standard states that the hair must have thick natural curls. A Barbet’s hair is not straight.