Cording--I'm Going to Mat My DOG

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

For several days I've researched articles and videos of cording a dogs coat.  There are some positive and negative conditions to doing this to a dogs coat.  I do not see anyone on here that cords the coat of an F1b.  Also known as Dreadlocks.

Positive--no more brushing. Ease in daily grooming for the dog.   A way to deal with unruly, unbrushable doodle coats.  I don't mind the time it takes to do this.  I take that much time grooming him anyway.

Negative--there is the same amount of time that goes into grooming however progress is very SLOW.  Months to Years.  The coats have a different way to be kept clean, wash, and DRY--oh my how long it takes to dry.  12 hours or more. If not, the coats smell and can mold.
It takes at least 6 months to One year to make a coat like this--most of the time it takes much longer to have a nice look.  The first  year the look is messy.

We can add a lot to the above P/N

Some owners thought it was masochist to try and brush out a coat that has a network of fibers at the base of the coat--which is what I find in Spud.  A THICK DENSE GAUZE-LIKE BASE.  Spud is miserable with the whole process. 

Spud HATES grooming.  It doesn't even work with his coat after a certain length. He hates hair/coat products that prevent matting.  The smells make him run and growl.  He will allow me to clean his ears now, but do not attempt to place a smelly conditioner on his curls.  In cording you use NO products, no scented or oily conditioners.  On article said, Dawn Soap was the best.   The other alternative is to keep him clipped.    We've done that... we are moving on for now. 

I've never liked the frizzy poodle look--he hates grooming and gets the frizzy poodle look. 

The pictures and videos are common in Europe and many there do cording for the wooley poodle coat, breeds of water dogs, Pulis and Komodors.  

Here are some videos on how to cord:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gMkydW5Qrs&feature=related

Komodor Puppies--these look like Doodles to me
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ig7VBYnCrg&feature=related

This is my favorite--look how beautiful
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ebp7sTLd-XY


I'll let you know what happens.  He is not long enough yet.  My guess is that we are a month away. 

LET THE MATS BEGIN.   YES, I'm going to MAT MY DOG!

P.S.  Thanks to Nancy, Ned and Clancy, Nina, Phil and Harlow, and Shelly and Tori,  for their help and encouragement on my new project

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Oh SPUD would let me know if he is miserable. He is vocal, has an expressive face, and ... I would just know. He is my dog and has great communication skills.

Also, I plan on keeping an eye on his skin. One of the requirements is that you must be able to see skin!

[Camilla and Darwin]

Perhaps the difference is that mats are wider and cover more surface area. So it pulls as they move because it's over a bigger area of skin. Cords are small areas that go all the way down to the skin, so they move with the dog instead of pulling? Maybe?

I would guess that if the dog was uncomfortable it would not run or move as much. Since these breeds are corded later in life, their owners would probably be able to see change in behavior between their un-corded and corded selves. Again, they are pretty active so I would assume that if the cords irritated them they would show signs... maybe irritated pink skin or whatever. As far as I know, this doesn't happen. But I'm definitely going to do some corded dog research, I think it's fascinating.

[Bonnie and Kona]

I'm excited to see how this goes. We lived next door to two Komodors in the 1970's. They were amazing. Hoping the best for you and Spud.

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

The puppies are darling and the dogs in the photo shoot are awesome. I am sure my Roo's soft wooly super curly hair would do dreads, but I think I will just keep him shave, grow out, shave grow out. Actually your description of Spud's hair could be Roo. I don't care for the wooly fuzzy brushed out look. Nor do Roo or I have the patience to do it. We would rather play fetch. A six month swinning season means short hair too. But I can't wait to see how spud looks - awesome I bet.
Please post lots of pictures.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Well that was another consideration. Spud is a swimmer

So I weighed swimming--which causes so much matting so I might as well let him mat, to swimming--it is so hard to dry the locks out.

We shall see. Like I said it is only an experiment. We may just go back to what you and Roo do...... what was it, #3 ? That is what we ultimately ended up with and I did not mind it either. As long as there was no excessive brushing involved, Spud is a happy dog.

[Melissa & Porter]

I think it is always useful to try something new when you are not satisfied with the status quo. I am content to have Porter 3/4 to 1.5 inches, smooth face, trimmed ears and flat head. Others find that a disgrace to doodlehood :-)

I look forward to hearing you cording tales. I like the way the dogs get to have smooth faces and privates in the photo shoot video. The smooth face seems crucial to eating, drinking and no mold/yeast itchiness. As for the privates/belly, I know Porter kinda likes to bathe himself, so I would want to give him an area of his body that he can wash.

I would agree about the allergy-unfriendliness of cording. I am finding that the longer Porter gets, the more likely I am to get wheezy when he comes to bed or when I bathe him. I am almost positive that it is not his dander. It's the pollen, mold spores, and dust trapped in his "long" (currently almost 2 inch) hair. I am not going to restrict him to the sidewalk, so my resolve to have him look doodley is going out the window.

[Bonnie and Kona]

I went to your page to look at Porter. He looks very handsome clipped short! I really like the look on him.

[Melissa & Porter]

Why thank you :-)
Porter will be getting a new shorter doo this Wednesday because I want him to be ready for the toe-snow-balls, and because we are on the longer end of what I can deal with. Today he jumped in the town pond, which is basically a duck-poop cess pool. It took me a full 30 min of spraying/washing to get him clean afterward, and I suspect he will be wet all day.
The good thing is that this cements my plan to hair the groomer only brush and clip him...cheaper and less traumatic for my wussy baby.

[Kyoko]

OMG! I love the way the corded poodle looks!!! They are gorgeous!!! I want Ms. Charlie to look like that, too!! But, I know for the fact human dreadlocks takes a lot of work!!! Creating the dread part is not the hard part, but maintaining and keeping them looking nice and manicured is a tremendous amount of work!!! But I want to see what Spud will look like... Let me know!! If it is not too hard, I might bite that!!

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Come on Kyoko. Roxanne is gone. It is time. Winter is the best time. Do it with me. If anyone can do it with me, I think you would be the one!

[Kyoko]

Hahaha. If I did it, Charlie can be Bob Marley for the next Halloween for sure!!!

[Suzann, Rosey & Bandit]

Very cool Joanne!! DH and Devon the dog sitter want me to do this to Bandit and put beads on him. But his fur won't mat:(