Breeds known for their curly tresses are the Poodle, Bichon Frise, Irish Water Spaniel, and some varieties of Portuguese Water Dog. Curly coats are beautiful and impressive when groomed, but they are high maintenance. Curly coats are single coats, and depending on the texture, they tend to mat easily. The softer the coat, the more likely it is to mat. You need to brush and comb the dog to the skin, daily if possible. These coats are blow-dried straight before they are trimmed. If you prefer a curlier look, a simple spritz of water after grooming will make the hair curl up.

Curly coats have body and volume and are easy to sculpt into any style. Most creative grooms are done on curly-coated breeds because they can be easily cut and shaped and retain their shape due to the thickness and body of the coat. Drying these dense coats is time consuming, but the end result is worth it!

Corded Coats

Some curly-coated breeds can have corded coats. What is a corded coat? Well, imagine a four-legged rag mop and you have the idea. Cords are dreadlocks. The Komondor, Puli, and Poodle can grow cords on their naturally curly coats. Cords take two years to develop on these dogs. The cords are actually hair that is purposely matted together. The cords are split to equal widths of about one inch, either by tearing the cords from the ends and splitting them toward the body or cutting the cord vertically from the end.

Corded coats are so high maintenance, most people with a corded breed as a pet eventually opt for a short, brushed-out style. Corded coats easily catch yard debris, leaves, sticks, burrs, and grass that you need to pick off the coat by hand. It also tends to hold odors, and if your Puli tangles with a skunk, you may smell that skunk forever!