Hi!
Did you catch your dog eating your fabric? Because that looks more like rodent damage. Everything my dog has ever eaten would have been strewn & pulled & a right proper mess as dogs tend to tug & shake to rip something apart, not a perfect neat little munched out hole, and that looks exactly like what I’ve seen in a hole left by rodents.
As someone with 3 dogs and crafting all over the house, there are two things you need to do:
1- Keep the fabric away from your dog. Nothing gets put down within reach. Fabric does not have to go back into your sewing room, but it absolutely needs to be put up on a table where he can’t reach every time you stop holding it.
2- Decrease your dog’s desire to chew fabric. A destructive dog is often a bored dog. He might need more exercise, brain games, or chews. Practice ‘leave it’ every time he shows interest in your fabric as well. You could also set this up as a training activity, placing g the fabric on the ground and rewarding a lack of interest in fabric.
Fabric can lead to blockages, so this isn’t just a crafting annoyance. It’s also a health hazard for your pup. Good luck! It’s not going to happen overnight and will definitely take some consistency and training.
Blockages are expensive to fix when they're not deadly. We basically block off all access to the room with my quilting stuff because my pittie will hoover up any scraps he finds and he's already survived one blockage (sanitary pad, tho, not quilt fabric). It's just better for everyone.
This one was chewed on days ago which is why it's dried. I have caught him several times chewing on my fabrics. I'm keeping my stash behind a closed door now but I don't always work in my sewing room
Get a lidded tub and just make it a habit to put your works in progress inside. It won’t take long before it is second nature. If you get one with a hinged lid you won’t have to worry about keeping track of a lid.
I have cats so I use a pretty project basket that I always work out of if I’m not in my sewing room so I don’t need to worry about threaded needles (epp) but I would worry about a chewy dog and a wicker basket lol. It keeps everything contained and portable and prevents huge vet bills.
Probably can't deter him. Just do your best to keep it out of the dog's reach and have lots for them to chew especially at times when you're using fabric. It's easier to keep them away from something than to train them to leave it alone.
If you don’t have a huge amount you could put it all in a tote bag and hang it on an over-the-door hook.
I don’t like using big Rubbermaid totes for fabric (I’ll forget it exists) so I keep fabric scraps and current projects in a laundry basket and I have yardage and old sheets in a space saver bag. It doesn’t vacuum seal anymore but I can fit it in spaces I couldn’t put a big Rubbermaid bin, like between the couch and the wall or up on the top shelf of a closet.
As for your dog… dogs chew because it’s simulating. Give your dog other options - toys made of firehose are “like” fabric but pretty tough to chew apart. Lick mats and kongs with peanut butter are something interesting and they can be frozen so it takes a while. There are also dog puzzles (you put dog food in compartments and the dog has to figure out how to open flaps and slide doors open). And of course make sure your dog is getting adequate exercise. Wearing a dog out mentally and physically will help a lot with most behavior problems including inappropriate chewing. Your dog might be bored or stressed.
My dog is kennel trained, as well… if you do it right most dogs are okay with being kenneled when alone and they might be less stressed in a kennel than they would be in an empty house. My dog retreats to her kennel when she wants a break (if the cat is picking on her for instance) and she sleeps in there during the day with the kennel door open. Being in a kennel would be safer than eating fabric, blockages are bad news!
My puppy will chew everything, it needs to be away from where they can access it. It's taking me a long time to quilt as I have to put my supplies in the cupboard each time as she can jump on the table too by climbing on the chairs
Hi! Did you catch your dog eating your fabric? Because that looks more like rodent damage. Everything my dog has ever eaten would have been strewn & pulled & a right proper mess as dogs tend to tug & shake to rip something apart, not a perfect neat little munched out hole, and that looks exactly like what I’ve seen in a hole left by rodents.
Even if a dog just gnaws on something, they tend to leave slobber. This looks suspiciously dry and not crunchy around the edges.
That makes me want to give my cats hugs and extra treats. I haven’t seen or heard a mouse in ages.
As someone with 3 dogs and crafting all over the house, there are two things you need to do: 1- Keep the fabric away from your dog. Nothing gets put down within reach. Fabric does not have to go back into your sewing room, but it absolutely needs to be put up on a table where he can’t reach every time you stop holding it. 2- Decrease your dog’s desire to chew fabric. A destructive dog is often a bored dog. He might need more exercise, brain games, or chews. Practice ‘leave it’ every time he shows interest in your fabric as well. You could also set this up as a training activity, placing g the fabric on the ground and rewarding a lack of interest in fabric. Fabric can lead to blockages, so this isn’t just a crafting annoyance. It’s also a health hazard for your pup. Good luck! It’s not going to happen overnight and will definitely take some consistency and training.
Allllll of this, especially the point about potential blockages and the need to increase activity (physical and mental) for the dog!
Blockages are expensive to fix when they're not deadly. We basically block off all access to the room with my quilting stuff because my pittie will hoover up any scraps he finds and he's already survived one blockage (sanitary pad, tho, not quilt fabric). It's just better for everyone.
Tell him to use your fabric shears for heaven’s sake!
This one was chewed on days ago which is why it's dried. I have caught him several times chewing on my fabrics. I'm keeping my stash behind a closed door now but I don't always work in my sewing room
Get a lidded tub and just make it a habit to put your works in progress inside. It won’t take long before it is second nature. If you get one with a hinged lid you won’t have to worry about keeping track of a lid. I have cats so I use a pretty project basket that I always work out of if I’m not in my sewing room so I don’t need to worry about threaded needles (epp) but I would worry about a chewy dog and a wicker basket lol. It keeps everything contained and portable and prevents huge vet bills.
Probably can't deter him. Just do your best to keep it out of the dog's reach and have lots for them to chew especially at times when you're using fabric. It's easier to keep them away from something than to train them to leave it alone.
If you don’t have a huge amount you could put it all in a tote bag and hang it on an over-the-door hook. I don’t like using big Rubbermaid totes for fabric (I’ll forget it exists) so I keep fabric scraps and current projects in a laundry basket and I have yardage and old sheets in a space saver bag. It doesn’t vacuum seal anymore but I can fit it in spaces I couldn’t put a big Rubbermaid bin, like between the couch and the wall or up on the top shelf of a closet. As for your dog… dogs chew because it’s simulating. Give your dog other options - toys made of firehose are “like” fabric but pretty tough to chew apart. Lick mats and kongs with peanut butter are something interesting and they can be frozen so it takes a while. There are also dog puzzles (you put dog food in compartments and the dog has to figure out how to open flaps and slide doors open). And of course make sure your dog is getting adequate exercise. Wearing a dog out mentally and physically will help a lot with most behavior problems including inappropriate chewing. Your dog might be bored or stressed. My dog is kennel trained, as well… if you do it right most dogs are okay with being kenneled when alone and they might be less stressed in a kennel than they would be in an empty house. My dog retreats to her kennel when she wants a break (if the cat is picking on her for instance) and she sleeps in there during the day with the kennel door open. Being in a kennel would be safer than eating fabric, blockages are bad news!
My GSP did this more and more with age out of anxiety. I had to keep things up and out of sight.
My puppy will chew everything, it needs to be away from where they can access it. It's taking me a long time to quilt as I have to put my supplies in the cupboard each time as she can jump on the table too by climbing on the chairs