BePop

My first introduction to Bepop was through Elaine Fichter`s website Barbet en Bresse . There was a barbet puppy looking for a home. She was beautiful and with my parents living close by, and who were desperately looking for a dog all it took was Elaines offer of help with the 6 months of care during quarantine and I said yes!

Bepop started out as Poppy, and was picked up by Elaine at 9 weeks old. She settled in very well with Elaines household which at the time included Thelma`s 6 puppies! My first visit was in July 06 accompanying my mother, it was wonderful to see Bepop and finally meet Elaine. Bepop turned out to be a very happy puppy and once again I was pleased with the choice Elaine had made on my behalf. Although it could only be a brief visit it put my mind at rest that Bepop was a suitable barbet for us and that Elaine would do an excellent job of looking after her until she could be brought to the UK.

Fortunately I am able to be in daily contact with Elaine via e-mail, so I hear everything about Bepops life, whether she has been good or in quite a few cases...naughty. Bepop had her rabies jab at 4 months and had her blood sample taken on the 01/08/2006. She had a good result 6.53, so that meant the countdown was on for entry to the UK.

My next visit to see her was at the Nationale D`Elevage in Orleans in October, by then she was exactly 6 months old. Her height, at 54cm to the shoulder, made her one of the larger puppies compared to the others, but still a very happy well adjusted dog. We had the joy of her staying overnight with us at the hotel, and eating out at restaurants. The dog show was very interesting and we met Barbet owners from other European countries who were very welcoming. I was very impressed with the barbets that attended, they were calm, yet observant of everything going on, and certainly not vocal like some of the terriers!.

It was fantastic to see show barbets outside in the exercise area playing, and getting suitably covered in dust and leaves and within minutes back in the show ring without a grooming brush in sight. The barbet is a rustic working dog and so unless clipped to suit some specific purpose, isn`t meant to be overly groomed.

Once again not a long visit, but so important to not only see her, but to talk to Elaine about her progress. Bepop has now passed her `TAN' (Test d'aptitudes naturelles) which is a test of a dogs aptitude to retrieving from water, well done Bepop !

Bepop finally arrived in the UK on 3rd February 2007 and is currently settling in to life in our household.