Fredmo Posted May 29, 2012 Report Share Posted May 29, 2012 I have a young golden retriever that sheds hair prolifically. As I was recently brushing her and getting handfuls of hair, golden and very delicate, I wondered if there was a use for it in fly tying. Anyone ever use dog hair and have any opinions about how to use it. Can't really stack it like deer hair and I don't know how sturdy it would be in a fly. Looking for ideas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob G Posted May 29, 2012 Report Share Posted May 29, 2012 Fred, I have seen fellows use the under fur from their dog or cat as dubbing to create some really neat nymphs much like a hare's ear nymph. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike G Posted May 29, 2012 Report Share Posted May 29, 2012 I use coyote fur from some strips I salvaged from a coat collar. Like your golden the skin has longer guard hairs and shorter cottony underfur. I cut bunchs close to the skin and then comb out the underfur to get the long guard hairs like the ones used for the tail on this bug. That leaves a lot of underfur for dubbing. What you brush out of your golden is mostly underfur. It would be hard to sort out the guard hairs unless you cut right off of the dog leaving a bedraggled looking pet. (Though the long fibers on golden's tail look great for streamers, I never had the heart to tie a Golden streamer.) Last thought. Wash the underfur before you use it on a fly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob G Posted May 29, 2012 Report Share Posted May 29, 2012 Mike, why do you wash the under fur before you dub it, is that to keep potential bugs from eating up your flies? Btw, I've got a cat that produces lovely grayish underfur that works well with my scud patterns. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike G Posted May 30, 2012 Report Share Posted May 30, 2012 That is the idea, Rob. It is just something I heard and passed along. I have seen some moth eaten flies in the past-not pretty. You don't know what is on an animal that goes outside, while an indoor pet is low risk. Figure yoour risk. BTW I do not not wash because my coyote hide is clean. With some people, I make a bad joke that, when Gretel, our German Shepherd, died, I could not pass up the chance to get some 1st class AKC tying fur. These guys kick it up a notch: http://www.fieldandstream.com/blogs/flytalk/2012/01/domestic-pet-fly-patterns-best-recipe-wins-book http://www.fieldandstream.com/blogs/fishing/2010/04/deeter-fly-tying-roadkill-and-domestic-pet-hair Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klrbaer Posted June 4, 2012 Report Share Posted June 4, 2012 I have a Soft Coated Wheaton Terrier, a few years ago when I was trimming him I put some of his blonde trimmings is a baggie and I do use it evey once in a while. I have also trimmed his longer hair to make streamers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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