Grooming and coat
How do you care for a corded coat like a Puli's?
Last updated 23 September 2026 · How we write and check this
Short answer
A corded coat, seen on breeds like the Puli and Komondor, needs regular hand separating of the cords to stop them fusing into one solid mat, along with careful, thorough drying after every bath since a soaked cord can take a full day or more to dry through. It is never brushed once cords have formed.
Why brushing is the wrong approach here
Once a Puli's soft, wavy coat has begun forming cords, usually starting around eight to twelve months old, brushing would pull the cords apart rather than help them, so care shifts entirely to separating individual cords by hand every few weeks to stop neighboring cords from matting together into one solid block.
Bathing and drying take real planning
A full bath is necessary every four to eight weeks to keep the skin underneath the cords clean, but the dense, rope like coat holds an enormous amount of water, and a soaked corded coat can take twelve to twenty four hours to dry through completely, often needing a dedicated dryer and considerable patience to avoid leaving the skin damp for too long.
Checking the skin underneath
Because the cords hide the skin from view, running fingers along the base of several cords each week to check for redness, odor, or unusual moisture catches problems that are not visible from the outside, which matters more for this coat type than almost any other.
Key takeaways
- Corded coats are never brushed once cords form; instead, cords are separated by hand every few weeks.
- A soaked corded coat can take twelve to twenty four hours to dry through fully after a bath.
- Checking the skin at the base of the cords weekly catches problems that are hidden from view.