Guest Author - Beth Firme

Dog hair, which now has the name of chiengora on places like Ebay and other sales locations, is just like using any other fiber. Once the yarn is washed, there is no doggie odor and it fluffs up nicely and is also very warm.

What I discovered by doing, and verified by searching.

Like wool, dog hair works best when it is 2 or more inches long. I am fortunate enough to have 3 long-haired dogs living in my house. So, when I brush my dogs, I get the nice, soft undercoat. I try to brush from the portion of the dogs with the longest hair, and avoid getting the coarser, outer hair into the undercoat. Guard hair is not what you want to spin, and clippings frequently include the outer guard hairs. It’s fairly easy to pick out and if you miss one or two, you can still get it out when you card it or spin it.

Since my dogs are inside most of the time, I am able to avoid the problem of grass and other debris in the hair. However, if you have an outside dog, you may want to remove the debris, burrs, grass, etc. as you brush your dog. That way, you won’t wind up with a handful of “stuff” when you sit down to spin.

At this point, I have only spun my dogs’ hair before washing. I tried to spin some once that a friend had given me after she washed her dog, and it was a mess – matted and difficult. I would suggest brushing the dog, spinning the yarn, and then when you set the twist, wash the yarn at that point and let it dry. I’ve had really good results doing it that way, and no dog odor.

My best hair producer is my large, black, fuzzy dog. We believe her to be part Newfoundland and part Border Collie. She yields about an ounce every other day at times, more when she is blowing her coat in the spring and summer. My two shelties are becoming better fiber producers. I look for good results with them this year when they shed their winter coats. Like my sister’s shelties, they will have lots to share, I’m sure. Her three shelties regularly provide me with several ounces of hair of a beautiful color and fine quality.

If you have a long-haired dog and want to try this, all you have to do is save the fiber. Brush the dog, in the part of the dog with the longest hair. As you brush, remove any coarse outer hair, or guard hair, that you can. Also remove any debris that you can, as this will save you time later. Then, store the hair in a dry spot. (I use the top of the fridge, in an open plastic bag so it doesn’t “sweat” and mold and mildew) After you’ve accumulated enough, card it either with something, or without, your choice. (I have successfully used wool and alpaca with my dogs’ hair) You may wish to use hand cards if you are doing it by itself. If you are carding it with something, you could use a drum carder if you chose. After you’ve carded it to your specifications, sit down and enjoy your spinning.

There is a book out there, for those of you who want to have a look. It's called "Knitting With Dog Hair: Better A Sweater From A Dog You Know and Love Than From A Sheep You'll Never Meet" by Kendall Crolius, Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin. January 15, 1997. It's available on Amazon and probably Ebay too. While I haven't read it, the reviews on Amazon were pretty good.

Some people have been able to spin the fiber of a beloved dog into yarn for a sweater or scarf and used it to remember their friend when the animal was no longer with them. While this is not the only reason to spin dog hair, it certainly adds to the charm and enjoyment of the process. Have fun with it!! Our pets are our friends – remember them or celebrate them, but above all, Enjoy Them!!