My sewing room is in the basement and the dogs don't go down there. But I have put a sewing machine in an upstairs room. The Rottie won't come in the room, but the Dane comes in and goes back out. My dogs have rules to follow. They know they are not allowed in the kitchen at mealtime, and know they are not allowed around any of my sewing. Any animal can be trained to know what NO means. A lot of people have pet allergies and/or just plain don't like animals in the house. I don't allow the dogs around my charity quilts, even though I wash them before delivery, I try very hard to keep animal hair away from them. There are also a lot of dangers in a sewing room. I am rather paranoid about pins on the floor; don't want the dogs stepping on them. Cats being so inquisitive should not be in a sewing room.