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Oil Spill Clean Up
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Perhaps the most important use for dog hair is absorbing oil. When stuffed into booms and deployed into the ocean, the fur is an effective way to contain a spill and keep oil off the coastline.
Currently, Matter of Trust is collecting hair from dog groomers across the nation to help with the Gulf Coast oil spill. The hair is stuffed into pantyhose, which is then stuffed into a floating mesh. These packets are placed along the marshlands to reduce the amount of oil that reaches the coast.
Spinning into Yarn
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Some people take the downy-soft fur of breeds like Samoyeds and golden retrievers and spin it like wool from sheep. From this they make yarn that can be knit into a scarf or sweater. The soft, fuzzy yarn can be dyed any color. Although most dog hair can be spun into yarn, the long-coated breeds tend to produce the warmest fur.
Nesting Material
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Brush your dog outside in the spring and keep the cast off hair. Birds will use the soft nesting material to line their nests. You can also fill an empty suet holder with the fur and hang in an easily accessible area.
Keep Deer Away
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Dog hair, stuffed into pantyhose and interspersed among plants in your landscaping, helps to deter deer. The smell of a predator--the dog--will keep the deer away.
Most dog groomers will be happy to donate dog hair clippings if your garden is bigger than your dog's shedding abilities.
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Uses for Dog Hair
Dog hair comes in several different varieties: wiry, undercoat, topcoat, coarse and fine. Dog groomers and animal-care professionals often find themselves with plenty of dog-hair clippings. Owners, too, find themselves awash in shedding hair from their beloved pooch, especially in the spring when the weather changes. The excess hair might seem to be of no use, but there are plenty of things to do with the cast-off locks.