When most people think of a show Poodle, it’s the one with big hair, with lots of time spent brushing and blow-drying every hair straight and stretched. These Poodles demand meticulous scissoring and sculpting of hair into the correct show trim. Once at the shows, you have to section and band the hair, hair spraying and combing the hair high up, fanned out and blended, hoping it all stays in place as you run around the ring.
After showing, it’s back on the table, all the bands removed, a light conditioning spray and blow-dry, brushing all the hairspray out (or better yet, washing the head, neck, and ear hair, then blow-drying again and brushing out). Then, you maintenance band and/or wrap sections of hair and are done for the day—only to start the process all over again the next show day.
The Poodle Breed Standard calls for two types of hair: a curly dense coat that is brushed or shaped and a lesser seen corded variety of tightly grown solid cords. I’ve always liked something different, so in 2011, I thought, why not try my hand at cording my Standard Poodle, Lacey, who was in a short kennel pet trim. We started by first shaving in the Continental pattern, then, where there was body hair, made a grid-like pattern of quarter-sized sections of hair. From that moment on there was no more brushing or blow-drying; just washing and drying out in the sunshine (or warm room).
At this point, you just let the chunks of hair start to mat, being mindful to keep each section separated and not allowing the new growth of hair to stick sections together. As new hair grows constantly on a Poodle, the weight of the initial mat helps to form the cord. So, at this point, you can start to twirl the cords.
Bath time presents new challenges. My approach is to soak in a full tub, rinse, soap, rinse, then a second soaping, more rinsing, and rinsing again. Then lots of towels to blot and absorb and squeeze the cords (like a mop!).
Drying the coat takes a lot of time; its best done by placing the dog in a wire crate with several layers of towels and box fans on the sides. Do not use any force dryers. Outdoor sunlight in an enclosed pen works great too.
What is it like to show a corded Poodle? You will be able to show in Conformation and Performance events, and grooming can be done by owner handlers with minimal work to get ready for the ring. You will get a lot of spectators excited to see a pretty corded Poodle and they always ask if they can take a picture! Keep in mind that while any Poodle can be corded, a structurally sound and correct Conformation dog will look fabulous upon standing and moving. You can’t hide any defects, as the coat lies flat.
Lacey wowed the crowds in 2012 at the Poodle Club of America Specialty Show as she floated around the ring with her cords flying in the breeze! Fast forward to my “Ava,” GCH Aurora’s Green Acres Classy Lady, who has just made corded Poodle history. Judges awarded her beauty and elegance with not one but two Specialty Best in Show wins: June 2024 at the Orlando Poodle Club show under Judge Mr. Robert Todd Jackson, and Best in Show at the 2025 Tampa Bay Poodle show under Judge Mrs. Linda Hurlbaus. Ava is just warming up in her show career and we hope you’ll get to see her soon.
I’d love to help anyone who wishes to go down the corded Poodle path and I’m hoping my book will be written and available soon.
