Vinyl flooring is durable and cost-effective, making it a good choice of material for homeowners with pets. A range of different options, from commercial grade vinyl to antimicrobial vinyl, are available. This gives you more options when choosing the best flooring for your dog.
Most dog owners forgo hardwood flooring because it can be easily damaged by dogs' nails. If you're set on hardwood, consider a hard wood variety or engineered hardwood planks, which tend to hold up better. Laminate, vinyl, tile, and carpet have excellent scratch resistance to hold up to the click-clack of claws.
As such, your flooring needs to be not only durable but also resistant to moisture, stains and odours. As such, water-proof and water-resistant flooring may be a better choice for homes with pets. The most suitable options are hybrid flooring, vinyl plank flooring, tiles and laminate floors.
Vinyl is a favorite flooring option for kitchens and bathrooms and also makes great flooring for dogs that pee, as it's very resistant to liquids and easy to clean.
As for keeping your vinyl-like floor free from pet messes, BISSELL's Pet Inspired line of products and the formulas used with their carpet cleaners are all "purr-fectly safe" for your pets. Additionally, BISSELL's Steam Mop is fabulous because it simply uses steam for cleaning.
The outer layer of vinyl flooring is typically scratch-resistant, which means their claws can't scratch it up and their nails won't leave scratches when they get the zoomies. And, scratch-resistant flooring or not, it's always a good idea to trim your pet's nails so they stay comfortable.
Laminate is known for its durability and ability to withstand scratches, making it a great option for highly active pets. Laminate has a similar appearance to vinyl but it tends to more closely mimic the design of hand-scraped or distressed hardwood thanks to its surface detail and texture.
Healthier flooring options include solid wood, natural linoleum, cork, bamboo, tile and stone. A key feature of all of these is that they are easily cleaned of dust and dirt.
Ideal Options for Dog-Friendly Wood Floors. The best flooring option for a home with dogs is not wood at all. Take your pick of any alternative: vinyl, laminate, tile, or stone. All might be better than wood in a house with a dog.
Tile flooring made from har material such as ceramic or porcelain are among the most scratch-resistant flooring you can find. Tile flooring is also one of the most versatile, customizable flooring options with a multitude of shapes, sizes, colors, patterns and styles.
Durability. Laminate and LVT/LVP flooring are both extremely durable, but they have their weaknesses. Laminate is prone to scratches and chipped corners over time, so vinyl is probably a better choice for your home if you have pets. LVT/LVP is scratch-resistant, but it's more vulnerable to denting and tearing.
If you are environmentally conscious, bamboo flooring has spiked in popularity because of its sustainability. As long as you stick to a light finish, it will also do a great job of hiding dirt. Cork is another environmentally-conscious choice that does a good job of hiding dust and dirt.
Laminate flooring is much cheaper than vinyl, even though it has a higher ROI when it comes to home value. Laminate flooring costs about $0.70 to $2 per square foot, with installation costing about the same as vinyl flooring.
Dogs remember past experiences of slipping
In many cases, fear of slipping from a prior bad experience is the “why” behind your dog's fear of hardwood floors and other slick surfaces. So, how can you help your dog in a way that supports his natural reflexes and abilities?
Tile does not tend to scratch or scuff easily, and it's one type of flooring that has continuously proven it's a great option if you're looking for durable waterproof floors. Luxury vinyl is another one of the most durable waterproof flooring options, thanks to the materials it is made of, as well as its features.
“Tile is the highest-rated flooring among the categories we test,” says Enrique de Paz, who leads flooring testing at Consumer Reports. “It doesn't wear out, scratch, or stain. Its color doesn't fade, it's waterproof, and it is surprisingly slip-resistant, even when wet.
Good choices are linoleum, ceramic tile–both very common–and wood. Linoleum is inexpensive and provides an easy-to-clean surface and comes in countless designs. Ceramic tiles are even better. Also easy to maintain and available in a huge range, they offer superior durability, resisting most dents, dings and scratches.
Hardwood Flooring
what's better than hardwood flooring? It's beautiful, it's durable, and it never goes out of style. Not to mention all of your friends, family, and neighbors aspire to have it, so you'll have your entire network envying your home's flooring design.
Unless you are a quick draw on the mop; dog urine will damage laminate flooring, real wood flooring, engineered wood and tile grout. Unfortunately with a lot of flooring the pee will be absorbed into the floor itself or underneath and this is what can make the issue very difficult and expensive.
Vinyl Flooring
Vinyl is soft underfoot and quiet to walk on, making it ideal for homeowners with large, active dogs. Overall, vinyl is a safe, comfortable, and low-maintenance flooring material for dog owners.
Can dogs scratch laminate floors? By its very nature and construction, laminate flooring products are durable and able to withstand scratches from even the biggest dogs. Sometimes scratches happen, however, so if and when they do happen you'll want to use a laminate floor repair kit.
Affordable and animal-friendly, vinyl flooring often nabs the number one spot for pet-friendly flooring. Not only is it inexpensive and suitable for anywhere in your house, but vinyl flooring is also resistant to scratches and stains caused by mucky pups and playful felines.
Flooring like treated hardwood, ceramic floor tile, porcelain flooring, vinyl, and laminate are perfect for pets—their texture keeps paws from slipping, they are water resistant to prevent damage from accidents, and they protect against scratches and dents from long nails.