Is the Barbet Better than the Spanish Mastiff as a Pet? Our Answer.

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Barbet Versus Spanish Mastiff: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Barbet and the Spanish Mastiff? 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 Spanish Mastiff 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 Spanish Mastiff.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Barbet and the Spanish Mastiff 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 Spanish Mastiff. 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 Spanish Mastiff.

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 Spanish Mastiff.

Barbet versus Spanish Mastiff: Overview

A very important difference between the Barbet and the Spanish Mastiff is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Barbet is a medium-sized dog while the Spanish Mastiff is a giant-sized dog.

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 Spanish Mastiff belongs to the Working Dogs group. Working Dogs were developed to assist humans in some capacity – including pulling sleds and carts, guarding flocks, guarding homes, and protecting their families. Breeds in the Working Group are known for their imposing stature, strength, intelligence, and fearless. Because of their size and strength, working dogs require a structured home life and firm, fair, consistent training by someone who can provide leadership without resorting to anger or physical force.

Barbet versus Spanish Mastiff: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Barbet to the Spanish Mastiff 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 Spanish Mastiff

Factor Barbet Spanish Mastiff
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 3/5
Does NOT Drool 5/5 4/5
Easy To Groom 1/5 3/5
Life Span 13 to 15 years 10 to 12 years
Good For Novice Owners 2/5 1/5
Does NOT Shed 4/5 3/5
Does NOT chew on things 4/5 4/5
Height 20 to 25 inches tall at the shoulder 26 to 35 inches
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 3/5 2/5
Easygoing 3/5 3/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 3/5 2/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 3/5 3/5
Low Prey Drive 3/5 5/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 3/5 5/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 3/5 4/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 3/5 4/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 3/5 3/5
Weight 37 to 62 pounds 140 to 220 pounds
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 4/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 4/5 3/5
Kid-Friendly 4/5 4/5
Dog Friendly 4/5 2/5
General Health 4/5 4/5
Easy To Train 4/5 2/5
Intelligence 4/5 4/5
Potential For Playfulness 4/5 4/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 4/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 3/5
Average Lifespan 14.0 years 11.0 years
Price Range No Data $1000 – $1050
Average Price No Data $1050
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 Spanish Mastiff. 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 Spanish Mastiff is 83 out of 125.

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

    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 Spanish Mastiff so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Similarities Between the Barbet and the Spanish Mastiff

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

    • Both the Barbet and the Spanish Mastiff do not have the tendency to drool.
    • Both the Barbet and the Spanish Mastiff are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
    • Both the Barbet and the Spanish Mastiff do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.
    • Both the Barbet and the Spanish Mastiff are not prone to nip and chew at things.
    • Both the Barbet and the Spanish Mastiff can tolerate cold weather.
    • Both the Barbet and the Spanish Mastiff can tolerate hot weather.
    • Both the Barbet and the Spanish Mastiff get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
    • Both the Barbet and the Spanish Mastiff are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
    • Both the Barbet and the Spanish Mastiff are highly intelligent.
    • Both the Barbet and the Spanish Mastiff are very playful.
    • Both the Barbet and the Spanish Mastiff are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Size Comparison of Barbet versus Spanish Mastiff

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

    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, Spanish Mastiffs weigh 140 to 220 pounds when fully grown. Spanish Mastiffs are 26 to 35 inches when fully grown.

    Lifespan of Barbet versus Spanish Mastiff

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

    The lifespan of Spanish Mastiffs is between 10 to 12 years. The average lifespan of Spanish Mastiffs is 11.0 years.

    Barbets live longer than Spanish Mastiffs.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Barbet versus Spanish Mastiff

    Barbets do not like to be left alone.

    Spanish Mastiffs can be left alone only for a short time.

    Do Barbets shed more than Spanish Mastiffs?

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

    Spanish Mastiffs shed moderately.

    Which one drools more, the Barbet or the Spanish Mastiff

    Barbets do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Spanish Mastiffs do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Barbet or the Spanish Mastiff?

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

    Spanish Mastiffs are moderately easy to groom.

    Does the Barbet Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Spanish Mastiff?

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

    Spanish Mastiffs have a very low prey drive. This means they get won`t chase after smaller pets. They tend to get along well with other pets.

    Do Barbets Bark and Howl? What about Spanish Mastiffs?

    Barbets bark and howl, but not very much.

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

    Can Barbets Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Spanish Mastiffs Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Barbets can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Spanish Mastiffs can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Barbet vs. Spanish Mastiff

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

    Spanish Mastiffs do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.

    Can Barbets Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Spanish Mastiffs Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Barbets can tolerate hot weather.

    Spanish Mastiffs can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

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

    Barbets get along very well with other dogs.

    Spanish Mastiffs do not get along well with other dogs.

    Are Barbets good family dogs? What about Spanish Mastiffs?

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

    Spanish Mastiffs are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are Barbets and Spanish Mastiffs?

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

    Spanish Mastiffs get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Is the Barbet Easier to Train than the Spanish Mastiff?

    Barbets are very easy to train.

    Spanish Mastiffs are not easy to train.

    Is the Barbet Better for Apartment Owners than the Spanish Mastiff?

    Barbets adapt moderately well to apartment living.

    Spanish Mastiffs do not adapt well to apartment living.

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

    Barbets are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Spanish Mastiffs are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Conclusion: Barbet versus Spanish Mastiff. 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 Spanish Mastiff better suits you and your family.