Meet the Corded Breeds

Nothing in the dog world is as beautiful, sick and dramatic a look since pulling off a long died felted dreadlock dog. With the Corded Breeds, you enter a bizarre land of aesthetic shapes evolved for deep function. These dogs, known for their unmistakable look and appearance around the world are bred from ancient Hungarian plains to snowy Italian mountain passes, combining thousands of years worth of working dog ancestry.

Unique Coat Development and Function

The cords that are signature to these breeds (such as the Puli) do not result from effects of styling tools and braids, but rather through a unique intermingling of a soft, thick undercoat, along with a stiff, wiry outer coat during the natural maturation process. The two layers then interlock as the hair grows, bundling into individual ringlets or flattening from beads into solid cords of mature, protective hair.

It served as protective armor, historically. You discover that the dense mats protected skin from armor-piercing brambles, kept the dogs warm in frigid weather and cushioned them against wolf attacks while guarding livestock when you meet the corded breeds.

Notable Corded Breeds

Even though there are many dogs with wavy or curly coat, only a small number possess the true corded variety and these breeds are rarer than most. The most notable being the Puli and the Komondor — two quintessential Hungarian livestock guardians/herders known for their mop-likeness and loyalty bordering on fanaticism.

Perhaps one the most extreme examples is an Italian Alps breed, the Bergamasco Sheepdog, which has three different hair textures braided together to form wide, flat sheets of felted-driven hair called “flocks.” Anyone who plans to Meet the Corded Breeds would benefit from studying their past in order to truly appreciate this exciting group of historic working dogs.

Grooming and Modern Companionship

Compacting a coat into cords is not done with any form of normal brushing, there is an entirely different way to maintain them. You are taught to regularly hand-separate maturing cords as the mats at the skin level can be extremely painful and washing requires special skills, meaning hours of careful drying.

In the end it is well worth the time to Meet the Corded Breeds — beneath those big, dramatic coats lie warm and affectionate loving little companions with incredible intelligence and a way of absorbing any part of your family unit; The ultimate in loyalty and devotion. They are well suited for contemporary families, including a duel of types — ancient instincts mixed with homemaking advocacy.