Choosing Between Solid And Engineered Wood
Another factor to consider when choosing the best hardwood flooring for dogs: the solid wood vs. engineered wood debate. Solid wood is one piece of wood throughout. Engineered wood is made from a thin layer of hardwood bonded on top of high-quality fiberboard or plywood.
While there are some clear advantages to engineered products, even the best engineered wood flooring can really only be sanded down and refinished a few times at most. Solid wood, on the other hand, can be refinished almost endlessly.
If your dog is going to be zooming across your floors for years to come , the ability to refinish your flooring is something youre going to want to consider.
Pro tip: if you go with engineered hardwood, make sure you select a veneer no thinner than 2mm if you want to refinish it at least once!
Is Your Dog Ready For Shopping
OK, we all know that shopping sometimes can be a little stressfuland that holds true for our dogs, too!
Before you get ready to hit the stores with your dog, determine if your dog is a good candidate for shopping right now. He might need additional training and socializationor might be more of a hiking buddy than a shopping buddy.
Ask yourself:
- Is my dog OK with new situations? Will your dog be comfortable going to new locations and seeing new people without pulling at the leash or barking?
- Does my dog have basic obedience skills including sit, watch me, and leave it?
- Does my dog walk politely with me on leash? Shopping doesnt require precision heeling but your dog needs to remain near you on leash, politely moving out of the way of other shoppers.
If you answered no to any of these questions, youll want to do some additional training with your dog.
Visit local parks and practice walking your dog near other people, on leash. Ask your dog to watch you or sit while distractions are occurring. And check out local positive reinforcement trainers who can help work on your dogs training, socialization, and self-confidence in new situations.
Dont Argue With Employees
Unless a store specifically states that they allow pets, dont argue or create a scene if they dont allow your dog inside. Retail employees dont get paid much and are only following the policies that they have been taught. Being that customer does nobody any good. Be polite, take your dog back to the car, and spare your pup from being embarrassed by their owner. Consider any opportunity to shop with your dog a bonus, not a right.
Don’t Miss: Bob’s Upholstery And Decorating Center
Flooring Materials To Avoid With Pets
In addition to carpeting and hardwood , several other flooring materials are best avoided if you have active pets:
- Engineered wood flooring: Although it may perform somewhat better than solid hardwood, engineered wood flooring uses a surface layer of true hardwood that can be scratched. And because the surface layer is relatively thin, you can’t refinish these floors the way you can with solid hardwood. Although attractive, these floors are easily damaged by pets.
- Laminate: People are sometimes drawn to plastic laminate flooring since it looks like hardwood and is thought to be stain-proof. But moisture can seep through the cracks of laminate flooring, and the surface wear layer is more susceptible to scratches than almost any other hard flooring material. This is also a very loud flooring under the “click-click” of pet toenails. Most people with active dogs come to regret installing laminate flooring. Finally, laminate can be a very slippery surface, and some pets may suffer hip injuries from sliding around on the floor. If you are attracted to laminate flooring, check out luxury vinyl flooring instead, which has a similar look and much better performance for pet owners.
Your Floors Finish And Overall Design
In addition to picking a scratch-resistant flooring, you should also consider choosing a matte or satin finish to hide some of the inevitable scratches from your dogs nails. Small scratches will show much easier on a glossy floor when the light reflects off of it.
Also, intricate wood floor designs are a great way to hide and distract from any imperfections or scratches in the wood. If you cant see it, did it even happen??
Don’t Miss: Decorative Glass Front Entry Doors
Emotional Support Dogs And Service Dogs
Although emotional support dogs can be a great boon to their owners, those pets are generally not allowed in stores with strict no-pet policies. In comparison with official service dogs, emotional support dogs do not have specialized training to assist their owners.
Service dogs are able to accompany their owners almost anywhere. In fact, according to the ADA, service animals are allowed in all areas of public facilities and private businesses where members of the public, program participants, clients, customers, patrons, or invitees are allowed.
To ascertain whether a dog is a service animal, businesses are allowed to ask two questions:
- Is this animal required because of a disability?
- What work or task has this animal been trained to perform?
There are some exceptionssuch as in cases in which the service animal is not well-behaved or in locations with strict safety requirementsbut otherwise, service animals are able to accompany and assist their owners even in locations that do not typically allow pets.
In A Snap Carpet Tile With Pad
It doesnt matter how beautiful your carpet is at first if its ruined by stains. Thats why stain-resistance has to be a priority, and this carpet tile is all about stain resistance.
Boasting a limited lifetime stain warranty and a 10-year soil warranty, this carpet is ready to handle the messiest pets. Its even resistant to bleaching! Now thats impressive.
But wait, theres more! In a Snap Carpet Tiles are also very easy to install on your own. They feature a peel and stick back with attached padding. You can install them quickly and easily, and then your worries about stains are over.
Price: 3/5
You May Like: Floor Decor Tile Wood Stone
How To Hide/repair The Already Present Scratches
If you have a hardwood floor that has already been scratched by dogs or pets and you want to fix it. Below are some of the best things that you can try to fix the scratches and improve the look of your hardwood floors.
- Fill in the scratches: You should start by filling up the deeper scratches on the surface of the hardwood floor. First, you need to identify the planks that need repair, and then you should fill all of these with the recommended fixing materials.
- Restain hardwood: This is the second step after properly filling up all the scratches, you need to restrain your hardwood floor planks so that they look like the original hardwood floor.
- Recoat with oil-based polyurethane: Once you are done with restaining and your floor has been dried. You should apply an oil-based polyurethane coat over it to provide more protection in the future.
Some Tips When Shopping With Your Pet
Although you can always use a leash, you might wish to use a slight or a sturdy backpack that offers more support. But its only ideal for a small dog. A shoulder bag for dogs is cute and in fashion, especially if youre shopping in a department store.
If you have a big dog, use a solid collar and leash. Go for the harness-style collar so that you can have extra control over your dog. And before you head out and shop with your dog in those major stores, make sure that your dog is well-trained so it can behave well while shopping.
About the Author:
Catrin Cooper is a freelance writer from San Francisco. She loves writing about marketing, self-development and real estate. In her free time, Catrin enjoys traveling and yoga.
About
Looking for stores with a dog-friendly policy? Here are eight of the biggest stores that allow dogs inside.
Navigate This Article
Read Also: Floor And Decor In My Area
Can I Surrender My Dog To Petsmart
Can You Surrender Animals To PetSmart? There are a variety of reasons that a pet might need to be rehomed or surrendered, but unfortunately, owners cannot take their animals to PetSmart to be surrendered. PetSmart does not accept pets for rehoming, even if the animal has been adopted from a PetSmart location.
The Rules For Shopping With Your Dog
Regardless of the store, youll need to follow some basic rules when bringing your dog to a store.
If your dog isnt able to consistently do these activities, return to your trainingand to a professional dog trainer, if neededto work on these skills.
Stores are only appropriate for non-reactive dogs who are dependable in a public setting.
Once you decide your dog is ready for a store visit, here are some helpful tips to make those first shopping trips a success:
Recommended Reading: Home Decorators Collection Sonoma Vanity
Which Flooring Is Ideal For Pets
Considering maintenance & wear and tear.
Livspace Editorial Team
Choosing the flooring for your new home or remodelling project is essential but can be a daunting task. For pet owners, its twice the pressure because youll have to consider maintenance and wear and tear, as well as the effect of the flooring on your pets limbs. Here are some pet-friendly flooring options to get a head-start on your planning process:
Pet-friendly Flooring #1: Hardwood
Pick the hardest of the lot
Hardwood flooring is often the flooring of choice for those after neat, plush-looking options. The rule of thumb to follow when choosing hardwood as pet-friendly flooring is to pick a variety that is the hardest of the lot oak, mahogany and walnut. Its easy to vacuum and keep clean as well, so fur-shedding season wont be that much of a hassle. However, hardwood can sustain scratches over time and tends to stain if not cleaned immediately.
Pet-friendly Flooring #2: Laminate
It is low maintenance and water-resistant
With the looks of hardwood but easier to clean, laminate is a viable flooring option for pet owners. It is low maintenance and water-resistant, which is a boon if your pet is young and yet to be toilet-trained. However, laminate is not the ideal dog flooring option as it is slippery and could harm your dogs joints and bones over time. If your heart is set on laminate, balance out the cons by adding non-slip rugs for additional traction.
Pet-friendly Flooring #3: Stone Tile
Brazilian Walnut Or Ipe
Whenever you want the hardest hardwood, domestic species tend to be the way to go. However, Brazilian hardwood flooring is universally hard and dense. Ipe, often called Brazilian walnut, is hard enough that it is even used on outdoor decks. A number of years ago, ipe entered North American markets at premium prices. Today, ipe has come down in price so it’s affordable to more homeowners.
Don’t Miss: High End Christmas Decorations For Sale
Best Carpet For Pets In 202: 7 Pet
| Fact Checked By:Katy Engelhard
Your pet is a member of your family, so of course you want to consider their needs when buying a new carpet. If you want to find the best carpet for pets that is non-toxic, stain-resistant, and easy to clean, youre in the right place.
We know a thing or two about carpets, and we know a thing or two about pets. So we created this guide on pet proof carpet to make things easy for you!
To get started, learn what you need to look for in carpet, including stain resistance, durability, and healthiness. Then check out a roundup of our seven best pet-friendly carpet options.
Best Flooring For Pigs
Mini pigs are cute, smart, and love to get dirty, so finding the right flooring for their perfect little hooves is essential. Not only are mini pigs great at making a mess, but they also have hooves that are meant for the outdoors. Pig hooves walking around your flooring can cause dents and scratches if you dont have flooring that is made to protect itself. Its best to consider options that are made with pets in mind, like sturdy luxury vinyl or porcelain tile.
Recommended Reading: Led Christmas Tree Outdoor Decoration
Laminate: An Insanely Strong Wannabe Wood Floor
We often see people comparing bamboo flooring vs. laminate, and we get it. Both options are incredibly strong and can take a beating . However, you might be asking yourself: what is laminate flooring, exactly, and what makes it strong enough for my massively-destructive dog?
Well, laminate flooring is a composite material traditionally made of three layersa core layer, an image layer, and a wear layer. The image layer can be made to look like absolutely anything, but it almost always resembles wood. The wear layer is where laminate gets its strengthits a plasticate, protective coating that makes laminate super hard.
If youre debating laminate vs. hardwood flooring, we should note that although laminate is tough, it cant be refinished like wood can. Additionally, it can be susceptible to water damage, so people comparing tile vs. laminate for the bathroom often settle on tile. And thats definitely something to consider when dog urination is in the equation!
Are Grocery Stores Pet
Due to food safety regulations, dogs that are not service dogs cannot go into most grocery stores and restaurants. Granted many restaurants and coffee shops do allow dogs out on their patios. So check with yours!
Remember that it is important for only service animals to go into non-pet-friendly stores. Otherwise, you can be jeopardizing the well-being of someone who actually needs their dog to survive.
Don’t Miss: The Colony Floor And Decor
How Long Do Carpets For Pets Last
Carpets last 10-15 years on average without pets. With pets, this lifespan could be shorter if you dont have a carpet with protective features like stain resistance. If you have a durable carpet and you take care of it with the proper maintenance, you can expect it to last for more than a decade. Many warranties for pet-friendly carpet last as long as 20 years.
Are You Looking For The Best Floor For Dogs
Virtually DOG PROOF, because….
Drool Happens
There is nothing better than sharing life with pets. But we all know that living with those fur babies can get messy! That is why our virtually DOG PROOF, Pet Friendly Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring was created! We know that active households need a floor that can take anything that life hands throws it’s way. Whether that means housebreaking a new puppy, leaky juice boxes, or a case of the zoomies, you can rest easy knowing that you have the “Best Floor for Dogs”! It is scratch and scuff resistant, waterproof and soft and comfortable. The best part of having Pet Friendly Flooring is being able to relax, and to not have to worry about the messes that may come your way!
Read Also: Margie Mae’s Holiday Decor
Shop Locally With Your Dog
All the retailers mentioned above are chains, but theyre not the only stores that allow pets! Many local small businesses are dog-friendly. Were just a country full of dog lovers! Always make sure to call ahead and ask the owner if its all right for your dog to come with you, though, if they dont have their pet policy listed online.
Looking for other local places to visit with your pet? Check out Bring Fido for recommendations on dog-friendly shopping, hotels, restaurants, and more!
Want More Articles Like This?
Additional Care Guidelines For Floors That Are Good For Pets
Here are some of the additional care guidelines that can help you protect your hardwood floors even if you have pets.
- Take off your shoes: Most people think that their floors are being scratched by their dogs but in most cases, it is not true. If you walk on your hardwood floors with shoes, there are more chances of your hardwood floors getting scratches as compared to having a dog or pet in your house.So, you must make sure that you do not damage the hardwood floors. Always take your shoes off before you walk on the hardwood floors. This will protect the surface of your hardwood floors and make them last longer and will also not damage their surface.
- Periodically cut the nails of your pets: The nails of your pets are the most dangerous thing for your hardwood floors. If you do not cut them periodically and they grow proportionally larger, they will cause more damage to your hardwood floors.
- Use oil-based polyurethane: Using a water-based polyurethane coat to protect the surface of your hardwood floors is not a great idea if you have a pet inside your house. This is because the water-based polyurethane coat provides a very fine and thin layer of protection over the surface of your hardwood floor.This thin layer can easily get damaged by the strong nails and claws of your pets. That is the reason you should choose the oil-based polyurethane coats to provide your hardwood floors more strength and provide better protection from scratches.
Also Check: How To Find An Interior Decorator
