The ultimate source for German Shepherd Dog news

What's in your tack box?

Grooming secrets from the pros that you can use.

We asked three professionals to share tack box essentials.

Tell us your trade secrets: Email us your must-have and quick-fix
and we'll print it here.

Channing Sheets

Must-have:

1 - Bodifier. I love a full, plush coat. A little bodifier goes a long way. It also helps with close-

coated dogs or girls that are in season.

2 - Hairspray. Mostly used for dogs with long guard-hairs that blow in the wind, and let's not forget the wonders it works on croups.

3 - Matt splitter. For puppy coats and really plush-coated dogs, to strip some of the hair out.

4 - Thinning shears. Every double-coated breed needs some sculpting. You're not changing the dog, just cleaning up the lines.

Quick-fix: Every good Californian brings either a pair of pliers or a nozzle for water hoses. It is amazing what a bath on the morning of a show can do. (This is a bad idea, though, for heavy-coated dogs.)

Cindy Bartley

Must-have: Well, the most necessary item is always a good brush and I love Chris Christiansen brushes.

Quick-fix: The best quick-fix for anything is my bottle of Naked Care. It can fix a coat quicker without a bath, or make a sour dog smell better, and it can liven up any dead-looking coat. I swear by the stuff. I have tried other products, but always end up coming back to this.

P.S. I do not sell this product! I'm just a big fan.

Greg Eschette

Must-haves:

1 - Naked Care. It is a coat conditioner. And it works to fluff-up the coat for shows.

2 - Matches: Make sure a dog uses the bathroom.