You might have heard of the Corded Coat but never actually saw it in real life. What does a corded poodle coat look like?
The term “corded poodle coat” refers to a type of dog coat that resembles a poodle cut, but has long cords instead of hair. This style was originally created in the 1970s and 1980s. Today, it’s considered a classic fashion trend.
This kind of coat looks great on dogs who don’t mind having their fur styled into a unique shape. If you want to try out this trendy style, check out our Corded Poodle Coats page for some inspiration.
Poodles with a Corded Coat have always attracted a lot of attention, good and bad, because of how distinct they look among the other Poodle haircuts there are.
Let’s look at what the corded coat looks like and how to achieve it.
What is the Corded Coat?
Poodles are known for curly coats that don’t shed as much as other breed varieties.
Think of the corded coat on dogs as dreadlocks on humans. It’s a kind of coat that consists of long, rope-like strands, which can come naturally in Poodles if done correctly, thanks to their curly coats.
Traditionally, people corded Poodle hair for maintenance purposes. Since the breed has naturally water-resistant hair, Standard Poodles had more protection against the cold waters when working.
As expected in the early days of cording Podle coats, the cords smelled sour. More likely than not, Poodles also had mildew in their hair, along with burrs, twigs, or other debris that collected in cords.
Hunters didn’t find significant issues with the smell and debris build-up on their dog’s coat. Back then, Poodles were working dogs, not raised as pets to share beds with their owners.
As time passed, canine hygiene improved massively, with new bathing and drying techniques, as well as coat care education. Now, people can cord their Poodle’s single coat and care for it better than before.
Many people see corded hair as a unique and attractive style on Poodles, among other dog breeds. It’s an acceptable style that owners also like because they forego the constant brushing. That said, owners will still need to employ consistent grooming practices for their dogs as those with a normal coat. Depending on the grooming style, more or less effort may be required.
However, corded coats are not for all pet Poodles and their owners. Cording a coat, along with caring for one, will take a lot of time and patience. When done or maintained incorrectly, your adult Poodle might suffer from skin problems and fleas.
Here are some disadvantages of giving your dog a corded coat:
- Bathing the Poodle can be a bit of a hassle because the cords repel water, making it hard to rinse out shampoo and conditioner thoroughly.
- You also can’t dry your Poodle well but could speed up drying time with towels to pad dry..
- Corded coats require more extensive grooming treatment and take more time and effort to keep the body coat healthy.
- You won’t need a lot of unique treatments and devices, but you’ll need specific gadgets and skincare products to keep the skin and coat healthy.
Corded Poodle Coats
You can begin cording your Poodle’s hair when they reach 7-9 months old. That’s when the Poodle puppy’shttp://poodlesforadoption.com/poodle-tail-styles/ healthy coat begins to fade, and the adult coat starts setting in.
Note that cording will only happen on the Poodle’s body coat, while the hair on the face, ears, and overall head is kept longer, bushier, or styled in other ways. You can also trim your Poodle’s hair around his tail and ankle for a more elegant style.
Here are the cording process steps to follow:
1. To keep your dog clean, trim his fur short along his hind quarters. Cut off any excess fur below the buttocks and above the genitals.
2. There’s no need to brush your dog during this time. You need to let your dog’s hair mat and tangle, and if you brush it every day, you’ll prevent mat formation. Just make sure that you pick out any debris, sticks, or vegetation from your dog’s hair to keep his skin clean and free from dirt.
3. Separate the large mats and make smaller cords. Please do this by gripping a small piece of their mat in one hand, pulling it away from the large chunk of hair horizontally. If your Poodle’s hair is too tangled, then pull it apart using a steel brush. I recommend working with your dog’s back of the neck down to his back so you can cover every inch.
4. Separate the rest of the mats until you divide all of your dog’s hair into even cords. The strands should be about 1/4-inch wide. Cut the hair near the skin using small scissors to separate cords.
For dogs with longer cords, they should be thicker than for smaller dogs. For example, if your puppy has a cord length of 10 inches, then its cords should be at least 1/2 inch thick.
Cording and Grooming Your Dog: An Example Video
Maintaining a Corded Coat
There are certain grooming practices to follow to prevent any problems related to your Poodle’s skin.
No matter the breed, do follow these grooming tips on a corded coat:
1. Regular bathing is a must
You will need to bathe your Poodle once a week.
If you want to wash your Poodle without having to worry about the electrical wires, soak them in warm water for 30 minutes before applying shampoo to the entire coat. Use low suds shampoo and a light conditioner to avoid leaving any soap residues behind.
Rinse your dog with excess water and massage every cord so you. can remove all the shampoo.
To dry your pet, first wrap him in a towel, then place him on the ground, and squeeze out any excess moisture by pressing down on the towel. Then, using a hair-dryers on low heat, separate the towel from the animal’s body.
Dry your dog further by lining the bottom of your Poodle’s crate with a big, dry towel. It’s best to have a large fan or cage dryer on the sides of the crate, too. Place your dog in the crate and let him stay in there until completely dry.
The drying times will vary, depending on the cord length. It can take between 2-8 hours until your dog’s cords are completely dry.
If your dog suffers from cord mildew, then soak him in a mixture of one teaspoon of chlorine bleach combined with five gallons of water.
2. No brushing
Because Poodles rarely shed much, you need only to occasionally comb them to keep their coats looking neat. You can use either an electric slicker or a pin bristle grooming tool, depending on your dog’s fur type, color, and shape.
However, you must stop brushing with the corded coat type if you want to maintain the cords. Instead of brushing, do inspect your dog’s coat daily for any signs of skin irritation, twigs, dirt, and other debris. Take out debris daily to protect the cords from breaking and keep your dog’s coat clean.
Also, note that the cords’ thicknesses are deceptive, and only some hair anchors the cords to your Poodle’s skin. Meaning, the cords can damage or pull out easily. Prevent that from happening by tying the cords in bundles using hair scrunchies for extra protection.
The corded coat is not for everyone, but if you’re devoted to the style and willing to go the extra mile to groom your Poodle, then, by all means, try it out!