Dog hair (called Chiengora) can be spun, like sheep’s wool, alpaca or any other animal fiber. The process is the same. Dust and oils can be removed from spun hair, so there is no “doggy smell”. Surprisingly, the spun yarn is warmer than wool, easy to care for and has a fluffy texture similar to angora. Until recently, most dog owners did not realize that the beauty of the colors and texture of their dog’s coat could be used as sheep’s wool.

It really is as easy as brushing your dog. There are a few guidelines for getting the best, smoothest yarn possible.

When you brush your dog, be sure to pick it up where the fur is longest and softest. This is the bottom layer. Hair should be 2 inches or longer for best results. Hair should be clean and dry, free of grass and debris. Brush the hair from the longest and softest parts of the dog, leaving only this hair. It’s the first layer you want, not the thick top layer. Clippings will not work well for spinning with dogs that have double coats. There is too much guard hair and the yarn quality will not be as good as the pure undercoat.

Remove the dog hair from the brush and store it in a paper bag. Store hair completely dry and as clean as possible. (Don’t try to clean it after you’ve brushed it off the dog!) Give your dog a bath first and brush it when the coat is dry.

The paper allows the fiber to “breathe” and not get trapped with oils in a plastic bag. The best way to store brushed hair is in a paper bag or cloth bag, like a pillowcase. Despite what your mother or grandmother used to do, NEVER USE COCK BALLS! Mothballs contain a toxic chemical that is dangerous to breathe and it is impossible to remove the mothball smell from hair.

How much do you save? It depends on what will be done with the finished thread. Most small projects use about 6 ounces of hair.

Turning dog hair into yarn takes a lot of time and care. First, the thread is evaluated for spinning. Depending on the length and how the yarn will be used, I determine if the hair needs to be mixed with a soft merino wool. The blend minimizes shedding and produces a more durable thread. Although most people want 100% of their dog’s hair to be used in a product, this is not always possible. You can still see the color of the dog and the fluffy texture is still present in the finished yarn.

From this point on, the process is the same as spinning sheep’s wool. I use a drum carder for the mixing process. This carder has metal teeth that comb the wool so that the fibers are aligned and ready for spinning. The fiber is lifted from the drum carder, loosely wound, and pushed aside by the spinning wheel.

The thread is spun into individual strands on a spinning wheel and then doubled to make it stronger. The yarn is then cleaned by hand, using a mild conditioning detergent or dog shampoo, and air dried. It is then wound into balls or skeins and is then ready to be knitted or crocheted into a scarf, a hat, an ornament and many other things.

Because it is handmade and personal, a chiengora gift is a sentimental keepsake. It is best to start hair harvesting while your pet is healthy and younger. People have often told me that it’s comforting to have a scarf, hat, teddy bear, or other soft, “cuddly” item made from their dog’s fur, and that it brings back happy memories.