Dogs as Sheep in 1918

During World War I, the British Red Cross took over several work rooms at Burlington House, home of the Royal Academy during the war, in order to spin yarn and make garments and bandages for the wounded. When it became difficult to find wool towards the end of the war, a new industry was started – spinning dog’s hair into yarn. The British Dog Wool Association was formed, and they mostly spun hair from Pekingese, Chow, Collie and Pomeranians.

Dog hair had been used for yarn before, of course. In pre-historic Scandinavia, dog hair was used as a spun fiber, and dog hair was also a main fiber spun by North American Indians prior to the Spaniards introducing sheep.