MaryLynn

I know it's not everyone's cup of tea, but I feel really drawn to the look.

I would like to know how to do it.

Do you start after the puppy coat is gone? Do you grow the hair out long before you start cording?

How do dogs like being corded, does it pull at their skin at all, do they chew at them?

Are poodles that are corded harder to maintain/keep clean, and while it's obviously very tedious to start, is it more time consuming than keeping a pet cut?

I don't think the DH would ever go for it (not that he can change my mind anyways) because I think he is afraid of getting his manliness caught walking something "silly" or froo froo looking.

I am just not sure if this is a something a non groomer should attempt or not.

Tell me what you think, do you like the look?

If you have a corded poodle do you get harassed ever (seems like a silly question but I get a lot of strangers prying at me if I am going to do something stupid with his hair-just wonder if cording is ever met with hostility)?

Thanks

faerie

my female poodle is corded (topknot/tail and neck) and i get a lot of rasta comments ... but people are generally intrigued as it's not a common poodle look. but then again, standard poodles are attention getters anyway.

i started her tk and tail during coat change and she's 3 now. it's a bit of work getting them started, because you don't want mats, but you want formed cords ... it looks like a hot mess in hte beginning, but about 9 months in you can tell that they are cords.

it's different to maintain than a pet clip. you can not dry with a hv dryer, you have to blot dry and not rub the cords. you don't want to condition the cords. but you want to use a good moisturizing shampoo.

once formed you have to occasionally check the cords and make sure they aren't forming together and do some separating and once in a while trim up the ends to not be scraggly (although i kind of like scraggly LOL)

btw, some people shave the ears but i keep some of the fringe, but that's extra maintenece in that i don't want her ear hair to cord (it's too heavy) and so we have to brush and dry during grooming.


She's all that. At least to me. #spoo #standardpoodle #poodle #dogs by faerie made, on Flickr


Untitled by faerie made, on Flickr

MaryLynn

Thanks for responding, I had hoped that you would!

I really think I want to go through with it, I think maybe I should try and find someone in my area to teach me how though. It does seem a lot more complicated then one would imagine, although I am relieved to hear they don't seem to be more complicated to maintain.

It's hard because I love both the traditional (continental/miami) looks, and the corded, but from what I understand when it comes to cording it takes a long time and it's a commitment.

faerie

it is a commitment. because it takes a while before it looks like something besides a matted mess.

no one taught me how to do the cording. i did research online and did it that way.

Bunny

I love the corded look, too and I think Temperance looks fantastic! I'm just way too lazy to make that commitment. I think Cookie's tk doesn't like to grow, either. It seems to stay short even when the rest of her is growing.

Anntig

Here's my scruffy little daffadilly (aka Zeph) we've been playing with the hose as it's scorching today.
I started with long hair and banded Zephs hair to get the cords started but you can start with short hair as well, Zeph chews the front of her tk as we raw feed and she won't wear a snood but other than that she leaves them alone and they never seem to bother her, the bracelets are the only part that seems to get very dirty and full of things and I'm often tempted to take them off entirely.
We get lots of attention when we go out, more than the others do and so far it's all been positive, most people are fascinated by the style (we got very mixed attention when Shadow was in a conti).
i don't see cords as being particularly silly or fru fru and the guys I know seem to prefer the cords to the fluffier styles.
As far as keeping them clean goes Zeph gets bathed on a three week schedule and I've had to adapt a slightly different style with washing and drying but I don't find it as hard as I thought I would.
I think if you're willing to commit to the work in getting them established and you can tolerate having a dreadful looking dog for 6 months or so it's something anyone can do and once they're established they're much easier to maintain than a more normal style.

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bookwormjane

Here's a website that talks a lot about cording. They'll cord your dog for you for a boatload of money.
Cording the poodle - The corded poodle - Jolettes Corded Poodles - Cords - Cording - Cording the standard poodle - Poodles corded - Standard poodles corded - Jolettes Kennels Cording Poodles - Let me cord your poodle - Cording your poodle

faerie

i just downloaded this book for free on my kindle (i have amazon prime)
i'll be back with a review.

i will tell you this, it's not too hard. when you start you just bathe, don't blow dry and don't brush. then you start with this:
mist (don't soak) and scrunch
as the mats begin to form, then you do this:

mist and scrunch
and separate (not daily) just during grooming time every few weeks.

shampoo (don't condition), blot dry. you want them to dry so they won't mildew. don't rub because you want them to form.
when they form, you don't scrunch any more. you don't need to.

i haven't updated this in a while, but i have some pictures and information on when i started temperance

Poodle cording project take one - a set on Flickr

poo lover

GREAT JOB she looks awsome

MaryLynn

Wow thanks everyone. And thank you Faerie for your effort, I would love to know how that book is.