The dreadlocks on a Puli aren’t just for looks; they are used in protecting the Puli from wolves’ bites since the wolves bite and find it difficult to penetrate through the corded furs.

Also, the corded furs help to keep the dog warm in the mountains with extreme weather conditions.

Puli are loyal dogs, they have a very high IQ, and they are happy and playful dogs. Their nomadic history tends to help them to develop strong bonds with their owners. Puli dogs are family-oriented; they remain very loyal to their own.

However, with these myriads of fun qualities they exhibit, Puli dogs are very reserved and suspicious around strangers.

Puli is a typical herding dog, but they thrive best in homes with enough yard space to run off that natural energy. Usually, a farm is ideal for keeping a Puli or a tall fenced yard.

Though Puli dogs can adapt to smaller spaces, rest assured that you will experience a lot of running around the dining area and leaping over couches. Puli is a loyal companion who can stay indoors with you and shouldn’t be forgotten in the backyards.

Also, Puli is a good dog for several canine sports, particularly the herding test, obedience competition, and agility test. If your Puli isn’t a working dog, you must make up for it with mental and physical challenges that will keep your dog alive.

Otherwise, your Puli will become bored and can tend to exhibit some destructive behaviors such as digging, barking, and chewing. It is expedient to properly train and socialize your Puli as these are essentials for a willed Puli.

Teach your Puli good canine manners and must not be bossy around him. Puli dogs are great leaders and can lead you if you allow them.

Many dog owners and enthusiasts have always wondered why some dogs look like kitchen mops.

Do these dreads grow naturally? How to care for your Puli, and how do you groom your Puli?

In this article, we shall be providing answers to various questions asked by Puli owners. After reading this article, you should have excellent head knowledge of your Puli.

When Do Pulis Grow Dreadlocks?

Puli isn’t birthed with dreadlocks, but they start to develop corded coats around nine months old. Puli is often described as dogs with woolly corded coats that can be flat or round. During adult life, a Puli’s corded coat can be as long as touching the ground.

At nine months, the puppy’s hair begins to mat, naturally forming cords known as dreadlocks. However, it is believed that this dog breed develops natural dreadlocks over time, unlike some related breeds, such as the Spanish water dogs and the poodle, who need the assistance of their human friends to grow the dreadlocks.

Puli dogs are a special breed of dogs with long and double-coated furs, making them a high-maintenance breed.

Usually, a Puli’s dreadlocks take about four to five years to completely mature. This is why a Puli dog’s hairs take a long time to grow. The longer the growth phase of a dog’s hair, the less they are prone to shedding.

Therefore, Puli’s dreadlocks often stay long without shedding, except the dog owner trims them. While the coat can be corded or brushed, keeping a Puli requires proper attention and care to improve the dog’s well-being.

Care for a Puli Dreadlocks

Pulik are double-coated dogs. These coats do not shed and are hypoallergenic. In Hungary, the most common coat colour is black, followed by the brownish fake described as the color of a whole-wheat roll.

However, many grey and white pulik are found in the United States. Black coats are known as “weathered” black, and this is because some white hair begins to grow as soon as the dog is a year old. And since Puli doesn’t shed cords, their coat colors may begin to fade with time because of exposure to sunlight and aeration.

Puli owners need to know why their dog coat behaves the way it does. First, you have to understand that the coats’ texture, the hair’s density, and Puli’s ability to cord are all genetic and are bred for.

This knowledge will give the dog owners a better insight and understanding of how to care for the Puli coats. Feeding your Puli with a balanced diet and certain supplements will help your Puli maintain a healthy coat.

However, topical use of substances on the dog’s coat to improve the dog’s dread will only effect a temporary change. These substances will never improve the Puli’s natural tendency to grow dreadlocks.

A puppy Puli requires little special attention until about 4 to 6 months old. Regular brushing of the coats is reasonable to keep them clean and debris-free during this period. Brushing the coats at this point will stimulate the skins in preparation for the cord formations.

After nine months, your Puli is expected to have started to develop corded hairs, and as they grow longer, these cords begin to form into dreadlocks. However, during this period, never use a brush on your Puli. Rather, you care for their coats using your hands.

Grooming your Puli Dreadlocks

As soon as your Puli becomes a year, his puppy fluff begins to transform into the adult coat. During this transition, the undercoat becomes packed into the outercoat tendril’s interior, resulting in a felt-like structure. Usually, it takes about four to five years to mature the Pulik coat fully.

Regular brushing and combing are required to keep the fluffy, uncorded Puli coat in good condition. This is done to eliminate tangles and dirt specks and ensure the even distribution of skin oils. However, the corded coat is never brushed but cared for by hands.

At first, the corded coat is moistened with water; then, the cords are separated and twirled. Sometimes, you might clip the corded coats to reduce their length and prevent your dog from carrying lots of dirt and dust.

Unlike most dogs, you need to bathe your Puli regularly. The process involved in bathing your fluffy Puli is just like that of every dog. However, if your Puli has developed corded coats, you should set out enough time when you decide to bathe your Puli because bathing a corded Puli can take well enough time and requires a lot of hard work.

Bathing Puli Dreadlocks

First, remember to dampen the cords with water. This may take a while for the coats to get soaked in water. Then, you can rub some undiluted shampoo and gently work this shampoo around the coat.

Rinse the shampoo. Rinsing can take up to 40 minutes. After rinsing, dry the cords by squeezing them by hand and then with a towel. After bathing, you can opt for putting a heavy sweatshirt on your Puli to continue soaking up water from the cord.

Also, air drying of the dampened coats can take several hours, usually between 24 to 48 hours. Heat drying isn’t advisable because it takes longer to complete the drying process, and during this heating period, the Puli might get irritated with the lengthy drying process. If you are a dog enthusiast, you probably know that it isn’t advisable to bathe your corded Puli frequently. Bathing should be done regularly and when necessary, usually once in six weeks.

Furthermore, his teeth should be cared for at least two or three times a week. Regular brushing of your Puli’s teeth helps to remove tartar buildup and lurking bacteria found on the teeth. You may brush your Puli dog’s teeth daily to prevent tooth or gum diseases.

Also, trim your Puli dog’s nails at least once a month. Note that cutting his nails can be tricky, so if you are not experienced in the act, you should employ the services of a vet to do that for you.

Start getting your puppy accustomed to being examined to make all these care processes easier for you. Handle its paws frequently, and examine your dog’s mouth. Make grooming a fun experience for your puppy, do this with lots of praise and rewards.

This groundwork will make handling veterinary exams less challenging in its adulthood. As you groom your Puli, check for sores, rashes, or any signs of infection like redness or skin inflammation on all body parts.

Do Puli Dogs Lose their Dreadlocks?

No! Puli dogs do not lose their dreadlocks. Some people believe that Puli dogs can lose their dreadlocks with age. But this belief or assumption isn’t in any way near true. Puli dogs usually only shed their first cords before becoming adults.

After the first nine months as a puppy, the dreads on a Puli begin to form naturally; then, the puppy coat is shredded. From here onward, the new growing Puli dreadlocks stay intact and are never lost.

However, the coat colors tend to fade as the Puli dog ages. This is often caused by exposure of the Puli coats to light rays from the sun, aeration.

What Happens if My Puli Loses its Dreadlocks?

You should consult a vet doctor if you notice that your matured Puli is losing its dreadlocks. As explained earlier, Puli only tends to shed the first set of youthful coats, after which they do not lose any of the coats except they are being shaved or trimmed by the dog owners.

For a Puli dog, losing its coats of dreads is a bit of an anomaly, ever rarely spoken of or experienced. However, if you experience this with your Puli dog, you need to see a vet, as this might result from certain underlying health problems.

Conclusion: Why do Puli Dogs have Dreadlocks?

Puli is a double-coated breed. These coats are corded to keep the Puli insulated in extreme weather conditions. Many years ago, these long dreadlocks protected them from wolves’ bites, as the coats were strong enough to resist Wolf’s bite.

In summary, Puli is a great dog with high intelligence, adaptability, and a great work ethic. They should be properly cared for and kept active.

The coats indeed help with insulation. However, if you keep your Puli in a warmer climate, it would be a punishment to leave your Puli coat untrimmed, as you will expose the dog to serious heat that will lead to skin irritations.

In addition, you can keep your Puli corded or brushed out. If the coats are not properly maintained, then you risk your pulik to possible skin irritations or infections.

Also, breeders must test the puppies’ parents for potential hip dysplasia and patellar disorders using radiographs or PennHIP screening. Eye exams should also be conducted to detect and minimize the likelihood of certain eye disorders that might be hereditary.