Gosh, I never realized this thread would go so crazy.? Lots of good information and opinions.? So, I have another side to this.? Dry coats.? They seem to be faulted in the ring as well.? I know that folks do major grooming jobs on their dogs, getting them all fluffed up for the ring.? I have done this myself.? The only thing is they will stay fluffy for about 10 mins and be flat when they get in the ring.? That is not to say these dogs don't have undercoat.? They do and I can prove it when they blow coat and their runs look like they are covered in dog hair snow.? I can't believe how much coat they can blow. So, my question is this.? The Standard?states: "The outer coat should be as dense as possible."? Now, if the outer coat is very dense, then it SHOULD close up to protect the undercoat from wet and cold.? Yet, why is a dry coat looked at badly?? Or,?am I totally off base as to what a?true dry coat is?? And, if I am wrong, then I would appreciate some grooming advice on how to keep these dogs with great undercoats and short, dense outer coats, fluffy for more than 10 mins :-) Laura Thomas??? ============================================================================ POST is Copyrighted 2007. All material remains the property of the original author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind are permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE PROSECUTED. For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxxx VISIT OUR WEBSITE - www.showgsd.org ============================================================================