Guide on Deciding Betweeen the Barbet and the Plott.

by

Quick Links: Table of Contents

Barbet Versus Plott: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Barbet and the Plott? Well, you have come to the right place. Because in this article, we will provide you with a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Barbet and the Plott better suits you.

We will provide you a detailed discussion and comparison of dog attributes such as intelligence, price, general health, friendliness, etc, for both the Barbet and the Plott.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Barbet and the Plott is better suited for new dog owners, for owners with kids, for owners that live in apartments, for owners with dog allergies, etc.

Importantly, we did some analysis and calculation and we obtained a number that we call the Better-Pet Score™ for both the Barbet and for the Plott. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you with more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Barbet and the Plott.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Barbet or the Plott.

Barbet versus Plott: Overview

Both the Barbet and the Plott are similar in size. The Barbet and the Plott are both medium-sized dogs.

Furthermore, the Barbet belongs to the Sporting Dogs group. Sporting Dogs were bred to help hunters catch and retrieve feathered game. Some sporting dog breeds such as Retrievers, which were built for swimming, were bred to hunt waterfowl in water. Whereas sporting dog breeds like setters, spaniels, and pointing breeds were bred to hunt quail, pheasant, and other game birds nest on grasslands. Many Sporting Group breeds have thick, water-repellent coats that protect them from harsh hunting conditions.

On the other hand, the Plott belongs to the Hound Dogs group. Hound Dogs were bred to pursue and hunt warm-blooded animals. Hounds hunt by using their good sight or their good sense of smell. Dogs that belong to the Hound Group have strong prey drives and often will stop at nothing to catch what they are pursuing.

Barbet versus Plott: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Barbet to the Plott based on different important factors such as Price, Health, Kid-friendliness, etc.

When a dog breed scores higher for a factor than the other dog breed, the box of the breed that scores higher is shaded green and the box of the breed that scores lower is shaded red. When there is no difference between the breeds for a particular factor then the box is shaded gray for both pets. Also, when the factor is not important in picking a pet, or when the factor cannot be compared between two pets, the box for the factor is shaded gray for both pets

Most of the factors in the table for each dog breed are ranked on a scale of 1 to 5. “1” means “worst”, and “5” means “best”.

However, some factors such as “Price”, “Average Lifespan”, etc. cannot be on a scale of 1 to 5, so they are not on a scale of 1 to 5 in the comparison table.

Later in this article, we will further explain each factor as it applies to the Barbet and the Plott

Factor Barbet Plott
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 2/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Easy To Groom 1/5 5/5
Life Span 13 to 15 years 12 to 14 years
Good For Novice Owners 2/5 1/5
Does NOT Shed 4/5 4/5
Does NOT chew on things 4/5 3/5
Height 20 to 25 inches tall at the shoulder 20 to 27 inches tall at the shoulder
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 3/5 1/5
Easygoing 3/5 2/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 3/5 3/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 3/5
Low Prey Drive 3/5 1/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 3/5 5/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 3/5 1/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 2/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 3/5 1/5
Weight 37 to 62 pounds 40 to 75 pounds
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 2/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 4/5 4/5
Kid-Friendly 4/5 3/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 5/5
General Health 4/5 5/5
Easy To Train 4/5 4/5
Intelligence 4/5 3/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 3/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 4/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 2/5
Average Lifespan 14.0 years 13.0 years
Price Range No Data $495 – $700
Average Price No Data $620
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • AKC or UKC DNA Profile
  • Elbow Dysplasia
  • Eye Examination- minimum age 12 months, recommend CAER eye exam prior to onset of breeding and then periodically thereafter
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test
    		•  No Data

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Barbet in the table (that is, `Ease of Grooming` score + `General Health` score + `Calmness` score + …etc) and we compared it to the corresponding total score for the Plott. We call these total scores the Better-Pet Scores, as we mentioned earlier. We called this score the Better-Pet score because the better dog breed will have a higher score. This is because the pet will the higher score will have minimal needs and be easier to have as a pet.

    The Better-Pet score for the Barbet is 82 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Plott is 74 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Barbet is a better pet than the Plott. So, you should get the Barbet!

    Although we have done our best to analyze these two dog breeds in a very unbiased way, however, we will like to let you know that there are some dog attributes that cannot be assigned a number for comparison. We cannot put a number on how cute a dog breed is, for example. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

    Also, the dog breed that best suits you will depend on your peculiar lifestyle, your taste, and your priorities, which we do not know. So, for you to decide on which breed is right for you, read through the rest of the article to further understand both the Barbet and the Plott so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Barbet and the Plott

    Below is a list of where the Barbet and the Plott are most different:

    • Barbets require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom. However, Plotts are very easy to groom.

    The Similarities Between the Barbet and the Plott

    The Barbet and the Plott are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Barbet and the Plott are most similar:

    • Both the Barbet and the Plott do not like to be left alone.
    • Both the Barbet and the Plott do not have the tendency to drool.
    • Both the Barbet and the Plott are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
    • Both the Barbet and the Plott do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.
    • Both the Barbet and the Plott are not prone to nip and chew at things.
    • Both the Barbet and the Plott can tolerate hot weather.
    • Both the Barbet and the Plott get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
    • Both the Barbet and the Plott get along well with other dogs.
    • Both the Barbet and the Plott are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
    • Both the Barbet and the Plott are very easy to train.
    • Both the Barbet and the Plott are highly intelligent.
    • Both the Barbet and the Plott are very playful.
    • Both the Barbet and the Plott are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
    • Both the Barbet and the Plott have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.

    Size Comparison of Barbet versus Plott

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Barbet and the Plott.

    Barbets weigh 37 to 62 pounds when fully grown. Barbets are 20 to 25 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Plotts weigh 40 to 75 pounds when fully grown. Plotts are 20 to 27 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Lifespan of Barbet versus Plott

    The lifespan of Barbets is between 13 to 15 years. The average lifespan of Barbets is 14.0 years.

    The lifespan of Plotts is between 12 to 14 years. The average lifespan of Plotts is 13.0 years.

    Barbets live longer than Plotts.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Barbet versus Plott

    Barbets do not like to be left alone.

    Plotts do not like to be left alone.

    Do Barbets shed more than Plotts?

    Barbets do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

    Plotts do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

    Which one drools more, the Barbet or the Plott

    Barbets do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Plotts do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Barbet or the Plott?

    Barbets require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

    Plotts are very easy to groom.

    Does the Barbet Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Plott?

    Barbets have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.

    Plotts have a high prey drive. They have the tendency to chase after smaller animals and pets. They do not get along well with other pets.

    Do Barbets Bark and Howl? What about Plotts?

    Barbets bark and howl, but not very much.

    Plotts are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.

    Can Barbets Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Plotts Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Barbets can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Plotts cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    Wanderlust Potential: Barbet vs. Plott

    Barbets have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.

    Plotts have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.

    Can Barbets Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Plotts Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Barbets can tolerate hot weather.

    Plotts can tolerate hot weather.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Barbet or the Plott?

    Barbets get along very well with other dogs.

    Plotts get along very well with other dogs.

    Are Barbets good family dogs? What about Plotts?

    Barbets are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Plotts are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are Barbets and Plotts?

    Barbets get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Plotts get along fairly well with kids. They are quite kid-friendly.

    Is the Barbet Easier to Train than the Plott?

    Barbets are very easy to train.

    Plotts are very easy to train.

    Is the Barbet Better for Apartment Owners than the Plott?

    Barbets adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Plotts do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Barbet or the Plott?

    Barbets are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Plotts are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Conclusion: Barbet versus Plott. Which One is a Better Pet?

    In summary, there is nothing like a better dog breed or a worse dog breed. The important question to ask is which dog breed better matches your interests and lifestyle. We hope our discussion above will help you in deciding which dog breed between the Barbet and the Plott better suits you and your family.