Dog Breeds With Corded Coats: History, Grooming, and Care

Dog breeds with corded coats always attract attention at dog shows and events. Their coats form long, rope-like strands of hair called cords, but no dog is born with them. Corded coats develop over time in breeds with the right coat texture and require dedicated grooming, careful maintenance, and proper drying. Several AKC-recognized breeds can develop cords, each with its own coat characteristics and history.

In This Article

• • Understanding Corded Coats
  • Corded Dog Breeds
  • Starting a Corded Coat
  • Bathing and Coat Care
  • FAQs About Corded Dog Breeds

What Is a Corded Coat?

Cords are sometimes described as “ropes of hair,” but the correct term is “cords.” These long strands are made of interwoven hair with a core of live hair running through the center. A puppy’s soft coat initially forms short cords that can be hidden beneath fluffy outer hair.

Creating cords takes time, patience, and cleanliness. Unlike most grooming routines, cording requires little to no brushing or combing. Instead, owners carefully separate developing mats into individual cords as the coat grows.

Cording requires a coat that is both long and slightly curly. These coats typically appear in breeds said to have hair rather than fur. AKC-recognized breeds that may be corded include the Bergamasco Sheepdog, Havanese, Komondor, Poodle, Puli, Pyrenean Shepherd, and Spanish Water Dog.

Dog Breeds That Can Develop Corded Coats

Several AKC-recognized breeds can develop cords, although the appearance and texture vary considerably. Some develop tight, rope-like strands, while others form broader flocks or localized cords.

Komondor

Ershov_Andrey/Shutterstock

The Komondor is perhaps the most well-known corded breed. Adult dogs may have floor-length white cords that cover much of the body and face. Developed as a Hungarian flock guard, the Komondor’s natural coat formed large mats that helped protect against predator bites while allowing the dog to blend in with sheep.

According to its breed standard, adult Komondors should have a heavy coat of felt-like, tassel-shaped cords covering the entire body. The cords form naturally because their coarse, wavy, or curly outer coat traps the soft, woolly undercoat.

Puli

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The Puli is another iconic Hungarian breed known for its cords. Smaller than the Komondor, the Puli was developed to herd livestock and is known for its agility and energy.

Working Pulik were often clipped short, leaving cords mainly on the rear of the body. Today, handlers may show Pulik either corded or brushed out, although most adult show dogs are corded.

The AKC breed standard describes the cords as “wooly, varying in shape and thickness, either flat or round.” Their texture and size depend on the balance between the undercoat and outer coat.

Bergamasco Sheepdog

American Kennel Club

Unlike the Komondor’s neat cords, the Bergamasco Sheepdog develops a type of cording known as flocks. Flocks are larger, flatter, and wider than cords, typically measuring about 1.5 to 3 inches across. They may spread into fan-shaped ends, creating an appearance of individual clumps and tassels rather than uniform strands.

The Bergamasco’s coat consists of three hair types:

• A woolly outer coat
• A long, rough coat known as “goat hair”
• A fine, oily undercoat

The interaction between the goat hair and woolly coat creates the breed’s characteristic flocks, which can eventually reach the ground.

The breed standard explains that the distribution of these coat types varies across the body, resulting in different levels of flock formation in different areas.

Poodle

David Woo ©American Kennel Club

Today, many people associate Poodles with elaborate show trims, but corded Poodles have a long history. In fact, the first Champion Poodle in England, Champion Achilles, reportedly wore 30-inch cords despite standing only 23 inches tall.

Corded Poodles nearly disappeared as grooming fashions changed but have experienced a modest revival in recent decades. Most corded Poodles today are Standard Poodles, though Miniature and Toy Poodles can also be corded.

The AKC Poodle standard states that cords should be tight, even, and vary in length according to the dog’s clip. Longer cords appear on the mane, body, head, and ears, while shorter cords are maintained on puffs, bracelets, and pompons. Handlers must still present corded Poodles in an approved clip at AKC conformation events, with the Continental clip being the most common.

Owners of corded Poodles often report that some coat colors cord more easily than others.

Havanese

©American Kennel Club

The Havanese is the smallest corded breed and the only member of the Toy Group capable of developing cords. Its long, lightweight coat has a natural tendency to cord, although most pet Havanese are maintained with brushed coats.

Because of their size, Havanese are often considered among the easiest corded breeds to maintain. According to the AKC breed standard, adult corded Havanese should be fully covered in tassel-like cords, while younger dogs may display more loosely separated sections as the coat develops.

Spanish Water Dog

David Woo ©American Kennel Club

The Spanish Water Dog is one of the newest AKC-recognized corded breeds. Developed in Spain as an all-purpose working dog, the breed herded livestock, assisted fishermen, and worked alongside hunters.

Its grooming routine is unique. The coat is typically clipped to approximately one-quarter inch once each year and then allowed to grow naturally. Brushing and combing are avoided so the coat can develop cords. As the coat grows, some areas may mat and require hand separation to encourage proper cord formation.

The AKC breed standard describes the cords as “pencil-thin” and notes that each cord should end in a natural “fish-hook curl” that indicates the coat has not been trimmed or sculpted.

Pyrenean Shepherd

Romie DeCosta ©American Kennel Club

The ancient Pyrenean Shepherd comes in both Rough-Faced and Smooth-Faced varieties. Among Rough-Faced dogs, the long-coated variety is most likely to develop cords, particularly on the flanks and rump.

Traditionally known as “cadenettes,” these cords may be encouraged to form distinct sections but often remain flatter and wider than those of heavily corded breeds. The breed standard notes that long-haired dogs tend to cord more extensively than demi-long dogs, particularly around the elbows, croup, and thighs, but never on the head.

How to Start Cording a Dog’s Coat

Not every dog can be corded successfully. Cording should only be attempted in breeds whose coat texture naturally supports the process. In most other breeds, allowing the coat to mat will simply create unhealthy tangles.

According to Poodle breeder Joe Genarella, who has corded dogs in many of these breeds, success depends on careful coat management from an early age.

“Cords are a system of controlled mats,” says Genarella. “You start when the dog still has puppy coat, and continuously split the mats into smaller pieces, integrating any frizzy hair that you might be tempted to remove. Leave it! That frizzy hair will come to coat the live hair within the cord, giving it a finished look.”

Developing cords can take months of work. Genarella notes that repeated cycles of wetting and drying are essential because they help tighten and compact the cords.

“Each time the cord gets soaked, it shrinks up a bit and gets more dense,” he says. “But then you have to dry it thoroughly because cords that are left wet can mildew.”

“It takes about a year to grow 3- to 4-inch cords in a Poodle,” Genarella says, “two years to not look neglected!”

Once a coat is fully established, maintenance becomes more manageable.

“You don’t have to keep brushing and combing all the time, or even clipping. But if you do need to shorten the cords, you’re going to need some strong scissors!”

BORINA OLGA/Shutterstock

Bathing and Caring for Corded Breeds

Proper bathing and drying are among the most important aspects of caring for a corded dog.

Before bathing, owners must carefully separate new growth near the skin by hand:

• Prevent neighboring cords from growing together by separating them at the root
• Avoid mat-splitting tools — they cut the hair needed to create well-finished cords

Bathing itself takes time, since the cords are dense:

1. Soak the dog in a tub for 30 minutes or more so water fully penetrates the cords
2. Work shampoo through gently, without scrubbing or roughing up the cords
3. Rinse thoroughly

Drying requires just as much patience:

• Blot moisture with highly absorbent towels rather than rubbing the coat
• Avoid air drying — densely corded coats can remain damp for up to 48 hours, which can lead to mildew and odor
• Use cage dryers with caution rather than strong-force dryers, which may tangle cords
• Ensure proper ventilation, close supervision, and attention to temperature

Corded dogs can enjoy active lifestyles, but owners should consider the additional maintenance that comes with hiking, outdoor adventures, and water activities. Genarella cautions against allowing heavily corded dogs to swim because wet cords can become extremely heavy.

“The cords of a heavily corded dog can weigh 20 pounds or more,” he cautions.

For this reason, many companion dogs wear cords only a few inches long. Even with shorter cords, these dogs retain the distinctive appearance that makes corded breeds so memorable.

Frequently Asked Questions