9 Best Flooring for Dogs – A Guide With Pictures
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Buying or upgrading a house is a big decision, and it should always be made with one person in mind: your dog.
If you already know that dogs will be a big part of your life, then it makes sense to invest in a flooring option that will be suitable for sharing with your pet. If you don’t find a suitable floor for your dog, you could end up replacing it in just a few years — or worse, your dog could end up suffering as a result.
We’ve put together a list of the nine best flooring options for dog-friendly households. Not only are the options on this list stylish and affordable, but they’ll also be better for both you and your pooch. Here’s the best flooring for large dogs and smaller dogs:
The 9 Best Flooring Options for Dogs:
1. Tile
Tile is water and stain-resistant, so you don’t need to worry if you spill your pup’s water bowl on it. That also makes it a good choice for homes with an English Bulldog or Great Dane, as you don’t have to worry about all that drool rotting the floor. You can also bring puppies home without having your floor destroyed during the housebreaking process.
It’s not likely to be damaged by your dog’s nails either (you’re still on the hook for trimming them, though). The biggest downside is that it’s not terribly comfy for your dog to sleep on — but then again, that’s what your bed is for.
2. Stone
Stone offers most of the same advantages as tile, although it tends to be more attractive (and therefore, more expensive). It won’t rot or stain, and it’s incredibly durable, even if you have multiple dogs that like to wrestle and chase each other across the house.
Like tile, it won’t be all that comfortable for your dog, but with all the money that you save from not having to repair your floors, you can buy your pup a really nice bed.
3. Cork
Cork looks like regular hardwood flooring, except it’s scratch-resistant and antimicrobial. It can stand up to the abuse that a running dog can subject it to, and you won’t have to worry about bacteria spreading like wildfire just because your dog had an accident.
Even better, though, it’s naturally sound-dampening. That allows you to stay asleep even if your dog decides to patrol the kitchen in the middle of the night.
4. Bamboo
There are actually many different types of bamboo flooring, and they’re rated according to hardness. You want the hardest one that you can afford, and it’s likely to be a smart investment, as bamboo is hard to damage. It’s eco-friendly as well, so you can feel good about helping out the planet.
It cleans up easily, so whenever your dog decides to track muddy paw prints all over the house, you won’t have to waste an entire afternoon scrubbing them out.
5. Engineered Hardwood
If all these hardwood alternatives don’t rev your engine, sign up for the real thing. Just make sure it has a thick, scratch-resistant finish, and choose planks with a thick veneer. This gives you the option of sanding it if it becomes unsightly, rather than simply replacing it. This is one of the best flooring options for dogs.
If you choose pristine-looking wood, you’ll have your hands full keeping it that way, so it might be smarter to choose something with a more rustic feel. That way, any redecorating that your dog does will lend itself to the theme rather than marring the wood.
6. Luxury Vinyl
Luxury vinyl can mimic the look of just about any other flooring type on this list, and it can do it for a fraction of the price. Despite the low cost, it’s extremely durable, even if you have large, clumsy dogs running around.
You may be able to find waterproof vinyl, which would be ideal for a dog-friendly house. It’s soft as well, which helps when you go barefoot — or when your pooch decides that it’s time for a snooze right in the middle of the floor.
7. Laminate
A cheaper, easier-to-maintain alternative to hardwood, laminate flooring is great for dogs. It’s extremely durable and stain-resistant, and you can clean up messes in just a few seconds. It can be scratched, but the markings aren’t as visible as they would be on real wood.
It can be slippery, though, so it may not be ideal for homes with senior dogs or senior humans. If you’re a snob, you should also know that it doesn’t have the same snob appeal as real wood, but who are you trying to impress, your neighbors or your dog?
8. Rubber
You probably don’t want to cover your whole home in rubber, but if you have a room dedicated to the dog — like the utility room where you bathe them or the garage where they get to run around — rubber is an excellent choice.
It’s soft, slip-resistant, and easy to maintain. It will also last forever, even if you abuse the heck out of it. The only downsides are that it’s kind of ugly and smells a bit.
9. Turf
Again, turf isn’t the most attractive option, but if you’re willing to go above and beyond for your dog, it’s about as good as you can get. You can set it up indoors or outdoors, and it can give your dog a place to use the bathroom if they can’t get outside in time.
Most dogs love to run and wrestle on turf, so it’s a wonderful addition to a multi-dog household. It’s surprisingly expensive, though, so you might want to think twice about covering the entire house with it (no, seriously — think twice about doing that).
Which Will You Pick for Your Dog?
All the flooring options on this list can be wonderful for dog-friendly homes. They’re durable and easy to maintain and won’t require you to follow your pup around with a bottle of carpet cleaner at all times.
Of course, your dog will be happy with just about any floor you have; it’s what you prefer that ultimately matters. After all, a dog’s favorite floor is whichever one that you just dropped your hamburger on.
Featured Image: PicsbyFran, Pixabay
