Cording (dog grooming)

The Puli's corded coat requires a large amount of patient grooming to keep it attractive.

In animal grooming, cording is a technique in which dog coats are teased patiently into dreadlocks for coat care or presentation purposes. Some dog breeds that are often corded are the Puli and the Komondor. The Havanese and Poodle are also occasionally corded for showing.

The cords form naturally (if messily) in tightly curled fur, but to make them attractive for conformation showing, the cords are carefully started by twisting locks of fur in a regular pattern, and tended until they are long enough to grow on their own.^[1] A corded coat can act very much like a dust mop as the dog moves through its environment. Dust, dirt, twigs, leaves, burs, and everything else quickly become tangled in the coat. To keep the coat attractive, the owner must put in considerable time and effort in cleaning it and in entertaining and exercising the dog in a way that minimizes the accumulation of litter. Such dogs often have their cords tied up or covered with assorted dog clothing when they are not in a clean environment.

See also

• Coat (dog)

References

1. ^ Cording the Spanish Water Dog

Dog grooming, pet grooming, Dog grooming, pet grooming