Information and links about the extinct Woolly Dog will be added as we find them. It's been a fascinating and deep dive into the history of the raising, harvesting, and application of fur from these small white dogs so far, and if you have additional information to share, please get in touch. Also, if you spot a broken link or something you know to be factually wrong, please don't hesitate to let us know.
Note: We've encountered multiple spellings for Woolly Dogs in the records and research. We use W-O-O-L-L-Y as our convention but adopt the localized/historical spelling (woolley, wooly) wherever appropriate.
Links
Salish Wooly Dogs
Interesting essay on the textiles created with Woolly Dog fur from the weaver's perspective.
Researchers, Coast Salish People Analyze 160-Year-Old Indigenous Dog Pelt in the Smithsonian’s Collection
The Smithsonian's news release about the DNA from "Mutton," and a clear overview of the importance and extinction of the woolly dogs in the Coast Salish territories.
The Dogs That Grew Wool and the People Who Love Them
Possibly the most thorough article we've found yet (with an audio podcast too) detailing life among the Woolly Dogs. Excellent article based in interviews and research, and artist Jeffrey Veregge did a beautiful illustration for the page header.
A Woolly Tale: Salish Weavers Once Raised a Now-Extinct Dog for Its Hair
An excellent, brief on the importance of Salish woven goods — particularly the textiles from Woolly Dogs — in American Indian Magazine, a publication of the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian.
How a 160-year-old pelt piqued new findings on Indigenous ‘woolly dog’ breed
Mongabay is a nonprofit environmental science and conservation news source, reporting here on the genentic research performed by the Smithsonian pelt of Mutton.
Woolly dogs once provided fleece for Coast Salish tribes. What happened to them?
A 25-minute story explores the crossover between these dogs' cultural impact and the genomic research of "Mutton," the woolly dog pelt kept in the Smithsonian collection. Wonderful, long story with interviews of individuals knowledgeable of the Coast Salish peoples and the significance of the weavings, dogs and their place in society. Treat yourself and listen to the story.
The history of Coast Salish “woolly dogs” revealed by ancient genomics and Indigenous Knowledge
A very detailed, very long scientific exploration of the genomics of the extinct Woolly Dog. Article features DNA research into "Mutton," who's pelt is in the Smithsonian. A great place for resources and links.[PAYWALL]
Extinct woolly dog was carefully bred for weaving, ancient DNA confirms
Carolyn Johnson writes a very thorough, well-researched piece on the science and heritage of these dogs. [PAYWALL]
Salish Woolly Dog
An excellent brief overview of the Woolly Dogs from the Canadian perspective, with links to additional Canadian resources.
Coast Salish Woolly Dogs
An outstanding source of information on the Coast Salish Woolly Dogs, as well as everything having to do with the history of our region. As they put it in their About page, "Our writers are Washingtonians, writing about Washington, tunneling through our state's rich archival resources, and serving up Washington's history." Do yourself a favor and get lost in their online encyclopedia for an afternoon... you won't regret it.
Project Naming – Stó:lō and S’olh Temexw Version
A web page dedicated to locating the origins of the photo depicting two Stó:lō women with a woolly dog, from the Chilliwack Museum efforts to gather information on unidentified indigenous peoples in photographs.