If you keep the dog's nails short, it is generally a non-problem. If you have a 'digger' dog, I would not use flannel for the top, but otherwise, go for it. A quilted quilt will last longer, I'm told, but most of my quilt giftees with dogs had tied quilts and didn't have a problem. I use Cascade 220 wool yarn to tie quilts as it felts nicely and doggy doesn't pull it out (most of the time).
I probably wouldn't make an 'heirloom' quilt. This is the <a href="http://
" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">quilt I made for my sister and her dog. Her dog was not a digger, but played on it a lot for several years before she passed away. Now 4.5 years later (and shared with 5 cats), it has not yet even needed repair. My point is that you don't have to feel restricted to only doing large pieces. Most of these squares were 2.5 inch finished. This particular quilt was tied and has a Snuggle Flannel (Joann's) back.
