Clothing, accessories and blankets made from dog wool are becoming more and more common on the internet.The yarn from the combed out undercoat of dogs should be sustainable and, above all, produced without animal suffering.But how animal-friendly is dog wool really?Manufacturers of dog wool products state that they purchase combed dog wool from private individuals, breeders, animal shelters and groomers.[1]This is to ensure that the wool only comes from dogs that are kept in a species-appropriate manner.However, the husbandry of the animals is not controlled.Many animals are also treated badly in private homes and breeders.In addition, the fibers for dog wool products are currently being mixed with the fur of agriculturally exploited Merino sheep and alpacas to improve quality.The same applies to dog wool as to any other product of animal origin: sooner or later animal suffering is almost unavoidable.If dog wool clothing becomes a trend, many more people will want to get into the business model and breed dogs for wool production.As in many areas of the fashion industry, the animals will then suffer for the benefit of profit.In Asian countries, millions of dogs are already being tortured and killed for leather and fur production.The trade in dog wool could make the situation even worse.The excruciating mistreatment that animals are subjected to in the wool industry around the world clearly shows that as soon as you can earn money with animals, they suffer.Animals are not resources and are not there for us to attract.Once their fur is made into sweaters, hats and scarves, it's only a matter of time before they suffer from the greed of individuals.For more sustainable fashion, it is therefore better to invest in the development of plant-based alternatives such as Woocoa or soy silk.In order to make dog wool spinnable, products and clothing made from dog wool are often mixed with alpaca or merino wool, for which countless animals around the world are tortured, beaten, kicked, mutilated, abused and killed.[3] Numerous undercover investigations by PETA show animals being beaten, mutilated and painfully lacerated with shearing knives during shearing.Many Angora rabbits and cashmere goats have their fur ripped out of their bodies so violently that they cry out in pain.They are all killed once their fur quality decreases.In some areas of the world, dogs have historically been bred for their wool.In 2012, for example, the US Hibulb Cultural Center received a dog wool blanket from members of a historic indigenous coastal tribe.Dating from around 1850, the blanket confirms oral history and research that suggests that indigenous tribes on the Pacific coast bred dogs for wool production for over 5,000 years.Bones of the knee-high, hairy dogs have been discovered at more than 210 archaeological sites on the Pacific coast, but have not previously been assigned to any canine species.In order to be able to process their fur into wool, the animals were not combed but sheared.In the meantime, many other products made from dog hair have been discovered.Already, many dogs are treated like commodities and bred in large numbers.Every year around 80,000 dogs end up in animal shelters in Germany alone.[2] Irrespective of this, irresponsible people continue to breed and create dogs according to certain ideals, colors and shapes, which often goes hand in hand with massive suffering for the animals - for example in the form of shortened noses and the severe breathing problems associated with them.But there is a lot of money to be made from breeding these animals.Animals such as sheep, goats, alpacas and rabbits are already being bred for maximum fur growth.Many animals in the wool industry are torture breeds without natural shedding, which can no longer regulate their body temperature independently.To avoid sweating under the wool, contracting parasites or even dying of heat stroke, they have to be shorn.In the event of premature heat waves, the animals can die of heat stroke due to their unnaturally strong hair growth.If sheared too early, there is a risk that they will freeze to death in unexpected cold snaps.If dogs are soon bred for wool production, they may experience the same suffering.While it's considered "normal" in our society to wear wool made from sheep or alpaca hair, most people would probably never consider forcing a dog to the ground and shaving its fur off its body .Many cashmere goats and angora rabbits even have their fur ripped out in tufts while they are still alive.If dogs were subjected to this torture, most people would probably be horrified, would call it animal cruelty and protect the dog from further abuse.So why do we tolerate the same torture being inflicted on other animals such as sheep or alpacas in order to produce mohair, cashmere or merino wool?The answer is: because we are used to it.But it makes no difference whether animal wool comes from a sheep, a dog or a goat.They can all feel fear, but also joy and affection.They panic when they are forcibly restrained for shearing or even when their legs are tied.They are in pain when the shearing knives cut into their flesh and leave bleeding wounds.The fact that many people tolerate the suffering of one species but defend the rights of others is called speciesism.The border between the animal species is drawn completely arbitrarily.In order to spare dogs the fate of millions of sheep or cashmere goats, please do not buy products made from dog wool - unless it comes from your own animal as part of the necessary grooming and no other wool is mixed in.Only then is the dog wool really cruelty-free and does not promote the mass breeding of dogs as wool suppliers.[1] YarnSustain Schönrock Uhl GmbH: FSQ´s, https://modusintarsia.com/pages/faqs, (accessed on April 6th, 2021)[2] Planet Knowledge (03/03/2020): Animals in the home, https://www.planet-wissen.de/natur/tier_und_mensch/tiere_im_heim/index.html, (accessed on 04/06/2021)The rainforest is not only cut down for meat.The cruel leather industry also destroys the important living space.Read now!Badgers are killed for makeup and shaving brushes.These companies are making a statement and are no longer selling badger hair products.Find out here what is behind wild silk, Ahimsa silk and Peace Silk and why animals also suffer for this type of silk production.Friolzheimer Str. 3 70499 Stuttgart [email protected]Would you like to be informed regularly about the work of PETA Deutschland eV?Our free newsletter offers you the opportunity to do so!Your data is safe with us.You can find more information in our data protection declaration.You can of course revoke your consent at any time without giving reasons.You can reach our data protection officer at [email protected] .Your data is safe with us.You can find more information in our data protection declaration.You can of course revoke your consent at any time without giving reasons.You can reach our data protection officer at [email protected] .