I am thinking about getting a new sofa and need to get a fabric
(textile or leather) that will withstand wear and tear by the family
and our dogs. (I'm not foolish enough to think that our labrador
retrievers will stay off the furniture--and their nails are
substantial.) What type of upolstery would work best?

We have three active dogs who like to paw and chew, and our sofa has
withstood them for several years. The fabric is heavy-duty canvas.
This may sound unattractive, but I've seen some very nice-looking,
stylish sofas upholstered in canvas.