The words Dog Breed Info with the letter D inside of a black paw print

Havanese Corded

Information and Pictures

A corded Havanese is standing in a stack pose on a stand in front of a tye dye canvas

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

Other Names
  • Bichon Havanais
  • Havana Silk Dog
  • Bichon Havanese
A corded Havanese is being posed by a blonde haired lady in front of a brick building.

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.

A corded Havanese is being posed by a blonde haired lady out in the grass at a dog show. There is a man in front of them holding a ribbon.

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.

Left Profile - A corded Havanese is standing in grass and looking up. Its mouth is open and tongue is out

Eddie in baby cords at 17 months old, photo courtesy of MistyTrails Havanese

A corded Havanese is trotting through grass with its cords flying around from the movement looking up and to the left. Its tongue is sticking out a little.

Eddies cords were developing well. He was proving to LOVE showing off in the ring. Photo courtesy of MistyTrails Havanese

Left Profile - A corded Havanese is standing in grass.

Eddie still in baby cords, photo courtesy of MistyTrails Havanese

A corded Havanese is running across grass. Its hair is going up and down

Eddie in baby cords, photo courtesy of MistyTrails Havanese

A corded Havanese is running across grass. Its mouth is open.

The following summer Eddie's cords had really come in nicely. Photo courtesy of MistyTrails Havanese

A corded Havanese is standing in grass. Behind it is a skinny tree. It has a very large red, white and blue ribbon attached to its side.

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

A person in a dress is holding up the neck of a corded Havanese at a dog show.

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

A corded Havanese is standing in front of a tye dye background. It is looking up and to the right

Eddie the corded Havanese in 2012—photo courtesy of MistyTrails Havanese

A corded Havanese is posed outside in grass at a dog show. There is a person behind them

Eddie the corded Havanese in 2012 at 3 1/2 years old—photo courtesy of MistyTrails Havanese

Right Profile - A corded Havanese is standing in sand and looking up and to the right

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

A white with black corded Havanese is being posed on a stand by a blonde haired lady at a dog show. Next to them is a Lady holding a purple and yellow ribbon

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.

See more examples of the Havanese