Puli Coat
There is no mistaking the Puli for any other breed, with his long corded coat often reaching the ground. The coat consists of a woolly undercoat and a coarse and wavy topcoat. The combination of the two forms the long cords which give the Puli his unique appearance. Grooming is important to any long-haired breed, and particularly to a corded breed such as the Puli. The cords must be separated by hand from time to time to keep them from growing together in mats, especially when the dog is young and the cords are forming. If they are maintained correctly during their growth they will hang in tight even cords at maturity. A mature coat will generally need checking and grooming once every few weeks. Without this care and grooming the coat will become badly matted. The cords are a type of controlled matting; the coat is never brushed or combed, the owner simply aids the coat as it cords by controlling the size of the cords.
The Puli is bathed when he gets dirty. The coat is thoroughly wetted, then shampoo is squeezed through. The coat is then rinsed thoroughly, squeezed, and then allowed to dry. The cords do not wash out or unravel, in fact they tighten up with age and bathing. If the coat should reach the ground and start to drag, it should be trimmed clear of the ground. He should also be trimmed around his feet if the hair grows excessively long, and cords that extend beyond his nose should be trimmed back so that he doesn't dirty his face cords when he eats and drinks. All trimming is easily done by the owner with a pair of scissors. Eyes, ears, nails and teeth require the usual care; in fact eyes and ears should be checked frequently, they are easily overlooked under all that hair!
The corded coat is open to the skin and parasites or skin problems are quickly seen by the owner who is diligent about maintaining the coat. Prompt action is required if a skin problem should develop, for patches of coat lost through scratching take a long time to grow back.
The Puli is tough enough to withstand extremes of weather; the coat warms in winter and is water-repellant. In extreme heat most Pulis will sensibly seek shade and become less active. The coat is never completely shed, in fact it is shed hair that forms most of the length of the cords, and this is the reason that only odd clumps of fluff are found in your house when you own a Puli. The coat should never be clipped off in the mistaken belief that the dog will be cooler - the coat acts as insulation against the heat.
The corded coat is open to the skin and parasites or skin problems are quickly seen by the owner who is diligent about maintaining the coat. Prompt action is required if a skin problem should develop, for patches of coat lost through scratching take a long time to grow back.
The Puli is tough enough to withstand extremes of weather; the coat warms in winter and is water-repellant. In extreme heat most Pulis will sensibly seek shade and become less active. The coat is never completely shed, in fact it is shed hair that forms most of the length of the cords, and this is the reason that only odd clumps of fluff are found in your house when you own a Puli. The coat should never be clipped off in the mistaken belief that the dog will be cooler - the coat acts as insulation against the heat.