Easy Ways To Dog-proof Your Hardwood Floor

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Published December 1, 2023

Hardwood floors are an exceptional choice when it comes to home flooring options. However, if you’re a proud fur parent, you can easily envision a common scenario—a dog scratching hardwood floor incessantly. The occasion demonstrates that dogs and hardwood floors may not be the best combination. Regrettably, it leaves you pondering whether hardwood flooring is the right choice.

You’re not alone in this dilemma. Many people believe that having a dog means sacrificing their dream of having pristine hardwood floors and vice versa. However, giving up your beloved pet to achieve the perfect flooring isn’t an option.

While it’s impossible to prevent a dog scratching floor scenario completely, you can reduce the damage they cause.

Here are some tips on how to protect hardwood floors from dogs.

1. Opt For Distressed Or Hand-Scraped Hardwoods

Textured hardwood has a rough and rustic look. Choosing distressed wood options not only adds character to your space, but also provides an ideal disguise for any inevitable dents and scratches that may occur over time. This clever camouflage allows imperfections to become less noticeable, ensuring the long-lasting beauty of your floors.

2. Apply A Surface Finish

Hardwood finish is a protective coating for hardwood floors that prevents damage from regular use. A more robust option, like a waterborne finish, provides a better bond that’s harder to scratch or wear through. It may be a little expensive compared to other finishes, but it’ll save you money in the long run by not having to re-coat more often.

3. Opt For A Lower Sheen Finish

A lower-sheen hardwood finish is much better than a glossy finish, which only magnifies the marks. A lower sheen finish, however, doesn’t eliminate dents and scratches from dog claws. But it can make scratch marks less noticeable. Matte wood varnish and penetrating oils do a great job of achieving that natural, low-sheen finish.

4. Apply More Coats Of Finish

Applying finishes on your hardwood means the dents and scratches will happen in the finish, not the wood itself. The more coats you apply on the wood, the less damage it’ll get from dog scratches.

5. Put Some Rugs And Carpet

Place some mats or runners in hallways or places where your pets stay the most. Putting rugs in front of entrance ways and dog doors also helps minimize scratches and dents on the hardwood floor. Placing a rug underneath your dog’s water bowl helps keep spilled water from soaking the floor.

6. Choose Engineered Wood Over Solid Wood Planks

Apart from being much cheaper, engineered woods are also more moisture-resistant than solid woods. That’s because engineered hardwood only uses solid wood on the top layer. The bottom part is laminated wood, which uses synthetic resins as adhesives. Doing so prevents moisture from seeping into the wood.

7. Go For Strong-Grained Woods

Like textured woods, strong-grained ones also do a great job of hiding dents and scratches. Their prominent lines and graining patterns make those abrasions less noticeable. Some of the most popular strong-grained wood species are hickory, red oak, and ash. If you plan to buy wood flooring soon, make sure to go for the strong-grained woods.

In case you want to minimize the appearance of scratches, it’s crucial to be familiar with how to fix scratches in hardwood floors from a dog. To remedy minor scratches, employ a wood filler or a touch-up pen corresponding to the wood color. To fix deeper scratches, sand the area first. Then, apply a wood stain or paint that matches the surrounding surface.

8. Keep Your Pet’s Toenails Clipped Or Apply Nail Caps

One of the basics on how to protect hardwood floors from dogs is to prioritize your furry companion’s toenails. Applying nail caps or regularly clipping the toenails will help prevent scratches on your hardwood floors.

9. Consider Doggie Booties

Doggie booties don’t work for some breeds, as keeping them on can be challenging. But for calmer breeds, they’ll make an excellent alternative to nail caps and constant nail trimming.

10. Choose Factory-Finished Woods

Factory-finished woods are infused with layers of aluminum oxide urethane finish. If you’re unfamiliar, it’s a naturally occurring element typically used as an abrasive in sandpaper. It improves its hardness and lends it abrasion-resisting qualities as a wood finish.

11. Invest In Woods With A High Janka Rating

The Janka test measures the relative hardness of the wood. Hardwoods with a high Janka rating are generally more resistant to scratches and dents. Some of the woods topping the Janka scale are teak, tigerwood, chestnut, cherry, white oak, and Brazilian walnut.

12. Opt For Light-Colored Woods

Scratches and dents aren’t that obvious on light-colored wood surfaces. Plus, they’re a great way to hide your dog’s hair, minimizing the need to clean your room occasionally.

13. Train Your Pet

Training your dog to keep off the hardwood floor is also an excellent way to reduce dents and scratches. But this only usually works for calmer breeds like poodles and golden retrievers. If you have a stubborn dog breed, like a bulldog or basset hound, they might have already scratched the floor before you finish training them.

14. Avoid Soft Types Of Wood

This one is pretty obvious. Softwood flooring is an absolute no-no if you have fur babies at home. Examples of softwoods you should avoid are American cherry, walnut, fir, and cedar.

15. Clean Up Pet Urine And Other Liquids Immediately

Changing moisture levels can cause wood to shrink or expand. Unfortunately, some dogs just can’t be stopped from urinating on the floor. So clean up your pet’s urine or other liquids spilled on your floor before they can seep into the wood and cause it to warp.

16. Set-Up Dog Gates

If you haven’t installed a dog gate at home, maybe it’s time to get one. It prevents your dog from destroying your furniture and keeps them from setting foot on your hardwood floor.

17. Keep A Touch-Up Kit Handy

As the name suggests, wood touch-up kits are excellent for quick repairs. Also known as wood repair markers, they hide scratches and discolorations on the wood’s surface by drawing over them. These pen-shaped tools also come in different colors to suit different floor finishes.

18. Manage Your Expectations

Scratches, stains, and discolorations are part of the struggles of having wood flooring. It’s just the nature of wood. You can put preventive measures in place, but there’s no way to avoid it altogether. Even if you have no dogs, your floor can still get scratched. It’s essential to remember this so you can manage your expectations when caring for your hardwood floors.

Harmonizing Hardwood Floors With Your Canine Companions

If you want to keep your hardwood floors looking nice even with pets, you need to take some steps and make smart choices. You also have to accept that the floors will get scratched and worn over time. While knowing how to protect hardwood floors from dogs is vital, you must acknowledge that scratches are unavoidable. Make the most of these valuable tips and enjoy the company of your pet while keeping your hardwood floors in good shape.

Hire The Timber Experts For Your Next Project

Vintage & Specialty Wood should be your source of the highest quality timbers from around the world. When it comes to fabricating and installing reclaimed wood or specialty wood products in your home, we don’t cut corners. We offer many reclaimed wood and specialty wood products such as Douglas Fir, white oak, and much more. We also offer timber framing and wood flooring services as well. Contact our team today to speak to a timber expert about what Vintage & Specialty Wood can do for you.

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About The Author

Experience, exploration, and knowledge are the hallmarks of writer Rei Bayucca. Her dedication to crafting articles that both inspire and educate will leave you thinking long after you’ve finished reading.

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