We have 8 dogs at the moment... has ranged from 6-10 over the years. They are family and they sleep with us. I usually have 4-5 on my bed every night (good thing I have Calif. King) and my friend has 1-2 in her room. The main quilt on my bed is 4-5 years old - gets washed every other week, sometimes every week - and a couple of my dogs are diggers too.
I have had no problems with splitting seams. I treat my quilts like everyday objects. I don't find them to be delicate or need special treatment. Regular laundry and dry medium heat. I don't call them "utility" quilts. The one on my bed is made of batiks. But I do say that I don't quilt for profit, prizes or posterity. I do it because I enjoy it and even more enjoy seeing the quilts being USED.