5 Types of Dog-Friendly Flooring For Your Home

5 Types of Dog-Friendly Flooring For Your Home – There are quite a few things to consider when adding a new pet to the family. One that may often be overlooked is what kind of flooring would be the most advantageous to the dog and owner.

It needs to be able to withstand scratches, dirt, hair, and even the potential accident. The dog’s comfort should also be a major factor when it comes to choosing the best flooring. The following list will explain which types of dog-friendly flooring will best suit various needs.

It will also provide advice to those who desire hardwood or carpeted floors.

Vinyl

Vinyl is the best choice for dogs and owners alike. It is both resilient and comfortable for the dog. Vinyl’s water resistance makes liquid messes easy to clean up. It is also durable, making it perfect for claws, especially if you go for luxury vinyl.

Despite its hardiness, it still has some give to it making it comfortable for dogs as well. It’ll even be good for giving the dog enough traction to not slip on the floor. The other major benefit is its price. Vinyl is an easily affordable flooring, and luxury vinyl is even more so.

That being said, it is better to invest in slightly more quality vinyl to ensure durability. The only downside to vinyl, particularly luxury vinyl, is that the disposal of it isn’t eco-friendly. Overall, the pros still far outweigh the cons, marking vinyl the best choice for a canine household.

Linoleum

Not often talked about and pricier than vinyl, linoleum may come across as a surprise addition to the list. It has many of the same benefits as vinyl, although is less water-resistant. The one exclusive positive in linoleum’s favor is its longevity.

With proper care, it could potentially last for upwards of 40 years. However, especially with a dog around, it will quickly experience fading and eventually degrading. It will be important to maintain the upkeep of the floor with plenty of waxing and polishing.

Stone Flooring, or Tiles

Although not really comfortable for dogs, stone and tiled flooring will offer the best protection for the pet. The durable surface will be extra resistant to any claw marks. The hard surface will also make cleaning up spills or accidents a simple task.

The tile does potentially face the issue of liquids getting stuck in the grout, however.

The biggest downside, once again, is how uncomfortable it is for the dog. The best way to circumnavigate this is to offer plenty of rugs and pet beds. Alternatively, heated floorboards can provide warmth to the otherwise cold, hard surface.

Bamboo

A suitable substitute for traditional hardwood flooring, this grass-based alternative rates high on its durability. Bamboo flooring also does provide some natural heating to provide comfort for the dogs. It does require research, as there are both weaker and harder variants.

A good guideline would be to pay attention to whether the bamboo is strand-woven. Another bamboo flooring can be too soft to stand against dogs, especially rowdier ones.

Laminate

A very common recommendation for dog owners as it is possible one of the most scratch-resistant floorings. It is also extremely easy to clean up after accidents. The biggest issue with laminate floors is that it is slippery for the dogs.

It may also be uncomfortable for the dogs like the other hard floorings. The last of the problems that come from laminate is that it will make the claw echo loudly. So while it’s durable, it gives a lot of discomfort to the dog and owner.

Bonus: Hardwood Flooring and Carpets

There are types of hardwood floor and carpet that are more dog resilient. Engineered hardwood would be the best option. Otherwise, try to find the hardest wood you can. It’s also wise to invest in extra layers of finish and to frequently re-sand and re-finish.

For carpets, it’s best to go for low pile carpets. Just be prepared for frequent deep cleaning.

5 Types of Dog-Friendly Flooring For Your Home – Conclusion

Of course, it is possible to make any type of flooring work with your dog. Proper training can reduce potential scratch marks from energetic dogs. Keep a dog’s claws cut will also reduce claw imprints. Training your dog to avoid indoor accidents can also greatly reduce messes. These floorings are just additional steps to ensure clean health and a happy dog