Fleece has zero structural integrity once a dog's back teeth hit it. Those fibers separate and turn into a stringy mess that can actually cause gut blockages if pieces get swallowed. Denim might hold up better but the real pro move is canvas or heavy cotton duck fabric, it's what they used for tug toys in K9 units before all the fancy stuff hit the market.

My husband used to clean his brushes in the driveway with a garden hose, said it worked fine for years. Then one day he left them soaking in a coffee can of turpentine and the bristles completely melted off. I showed him the little scrub pad from the art store and he acted like I invented the wheel.

Did you check if that stuff eats through floor sealant over time?

Yeah the "band-aid fix for a bigger problem" thing really made me rethink how I've been doing ferments.

Yeah, "lose the natural rhythm" is exactly what I was worried about and you nailed it. I tried counting once and ended up rushing my hits and messing up the heat, so now I just go by feel too. That Maine guy probably couldn't even tell you how many blows he took, he was just in the zone.