The Ultimate Guide to Dog-Friendly Hardwood Floors

When it comes to choosing the right type of flooring for a home with dogs, hardwood is the best option for a multitude of reasons. 

Hardwood floors are sturdy and relatively easy to clean, especially compared to other options like carpet, where removing a stain and smell from an accident can present a considerable challenge.

Hardwood floors are also quite durable, which makes them the best option for dog-loving families.
In this article, we’ll be covering the best types of hardwood floors as well as maintenance tips, helping you ensure that your floors stay scratch-free despite your dog’s best efforts to make a mess!

Wood Hardness

Before we get into the best hardwood floors for dogs, we need to understand how wood hardness is measured.

The strength of hardwood floors comes down to the Janka hardness test, which evaluates how well the wood can withstand dents and wear. 

For homes with dogs, it’s a good idea to choose a type with a high Janka rating.

• Brazilian Walnut (Janka hardness rating: 3,680): This is a highly durable type of wood. It is scratch resistant and moisture resistant, which makes it a great option if you have a highly active dog who’s likely to make a mess every once in a while.

• Hard Maple (Janka hardness rating: 1,450): Hard Maple is a good option for homes with moderate pet traffic, it resists scratches well and comes in a lighter shade which suits most homes well.

• Bamboo (Janka hardness rating: 1,380): Yes, we know bamboo is technically not a type of wood. It is still tougher than many woods, making it a highly durable and eco-friendly choice.

Choosing the Right Finish

Now that we’ve covered different types of hardwood flooring options, let’s take a look at different finishes, which can significantly affect the floor’s durability and also hide signs of wear.

• Matte and Satin Finishes: These finishes do a good job of hiding scratches and dents, especially compared to glossy finishes which only serve to exaggerate  the amount of damage on your floors.

• Oil-based Polyurethane: This finish will not only strengthen the wood surface, but also hide minor imperfections like scratches.

Grain Pattern and Color

Another big factor to consider when choosing the right flooring is grain pattern. Selecting a type of wood with a pronounced grain pattern can sneakily conceal scratches and minor dents from dog nails.

• Red Oak (Janka hardness rating: 1,290): Red Oak has a very distinct and strong grain 

pattern. It’s also a very pretty type of wood that suits most homes quite well. 

• Ash (Janka hardness rating: 1,320): Ash’s resilience is comparable to oak,  and it has a strong grain pattern. Additionally, ash has a light natural color that brightens up rooms.

Preventive Measures and Maintenance

Sometimes, you have to prevent an accident before it happens. Here are some tips that will save you the trouble in the long run:

• Use rugs and mats in hot spots where your dog spends the most time.

• Trim your dog’s nails regularly.

• Clean up after your dog as soon as possible to prevent moisture damage. It can lead to staining and warping of hardwood floors.

Conclusion

Keeping all of the different factors we’ve mentioned in mind, hopefully you’ll be able to make an informed decision on which type of hardwood flooring you should get. The most important thing is the floor’s hardness, but the color and grain pattern play a substantial role in this equation.

As long as you take good care of your floors and your dogs, we’re sure you’ll be fine.