Corded Havanese MBIS CKC Grand Ch. Ex/AKC/Intl Champion Eddie Murphy at MistyTrails CGN, #1 Dog in Canada. Photo courtesy of MistyTrails Havanese Aug 2012
Emily showing Eddie in his first show with baby cords. Photo courtesy of MistyTrails Havanese
Cording a dog to look like Eddie takes a lot of time and commitment. This boy was corded by Emily starting when she was 13 years old. The initial work for the first year is very time consuming. After that it is really quite simple and the main maintenance is to keep him clean and smelling fresh, which Emily does, and to keep the cords separated to the skin. In a properly corded dog you can run your fingers through the coat and no cord will be attached to another cord and there is no restriction of movement.
Emily will separate every cord one by one at least once a month or more. Eddie also needs to be bathed as often as any other Havanese. How often depents on how dirty he gets. After a bath his coat absolutely must be thoroughly dried or his cords could mildew. He cannot have any products on his coat.
Emily showing Eddie in baby cords in 2010 winning First Point, Best of Winners, photo courtesy of MistyTrails Havanese
At 1.5 years old Eddie was entered into his first few shows and became a champion very quickly. He won three major wins in a week. Structurally and temperament wise Emily chose a perfect dog to cord.
Eddie in baby cords at 17 months old, photo courtesy of MistyTrails Havanese
Eddies cords were developing well. He was proving to LOVE showing off in the ring. Photo courtesy of MistyTrails Havanese
Eddie still in baby cords, photo courtesy of MistyTrails Havanese
Eddie in baby cords, photo courtesy of MistyTrails Havanese
The following summer Eddie's cords had really come in nicely. Photo courtesy of MistyTrails Havanese
Eddie won five Best in Shows that summer. He was shown by his owner and handler Emily who was then 16 years old. Eddie was 3.5 years old. As of August 2012 Eddie was the #1 Havanese in all of Canada. Photo courtesy of MistyTrails Havanese
Eddie the corded Havanese in 2012 wins big at Canada's largest dog show. He won Best in Breed and got a group placement. Photo courtesy of MistyTrails Havanese
Eddie the corded Havanese in 2012—photo courtesy of MistyTrails Havanese
Eddie the corded Havanese in 2012 at 3 1/2 years old—photo courtesy of MistyTrails Havanese
This is Eddie the corded Havanese in January of 2013. He has really grown into his cords. He is shown here at 4 years old winning Best Bred by in Show at the International Show. Eddies title at 4 years old is MBIS CKC Grand Champion, AKC Champion, International Champion Eddie Murphy at MistyTrails CGN. Photo courtesy of MistyTrails Havanese
Reo the Havanese—Eddie has the same coat as a normal Havanese and the same bloodlines as the 2012 Westminster Winner Reo. An owner/handler has to make the cords happen by stopping all grooming using a brush and comb and letting the dog matt up. Then separating the matts into cords. The more time you spend separating, the smaller and neater the cords will be. As the dog sheds his undercoat do not brush it out, let it turn into cords. A human head of hair can do the same if you let it. It is a semi manipulated coat, but so is a brushed coat. Just like Eddie would not have a corded coat without human's making it happen, Reo's coat would not look like this without daily brushing and conditioners.
