I took your advie and contacted VanDyke and this was their response:

According to our taxidermist on staff the hide will have to be pulled and worked to regain the softness. After leather becomes wet when it dries if becomes stiff. You will have to work out the stiffness manually. Any product that you put on it will cause the hair to become greasy.

So, I guess I got to do some pulling and workin'!