mine get a refinishing periodically. I use a fine steel wool over them to remove any rough spots, then apply a thin coat of clear varnish, then another light steel wooling between varnish coats. This tough, clear finish lasts me several seasons and I have yet to have a problem with hides sticking to them.
Putting your canines on the stretchers "skin side out" for a few hours until they slightly glaze over, then carefully turning the hides to fur side out on the same stretchers for the final drying also helps to keep them from sticking, especially thin fox hides.
Jim-NE
