How to Keep Your Hardwood Floors Nice With a Dog

9 Tips to Protect Your Hardwood Floors From Your Dog

We know you love your fur kids. So here are 9 easy tips to protect your hardwood floors from your beloved pup.

1. Choose a "Hard" Hardwood

When it comes to flooring, pet owners know the struggle of keeping their floors free from scratches. Dogs are known for their love of digging and scratching, which can quickly ruin your expensive hardwood flooring.

If you're planning on replacing your floors or installing new ones, consider a harder wood or stronger grain. This simple step could save you the headache of constantly repairing scratches.

Hardwood flooring is an excellent choice for durability and style, but not all hardwoods are created equal. Oak, hickory, and maple have a higher Janka hardness rating than others

For example, pine or birch have lower Janka ratings. A higher Janka rating means that the wood is more resistant to dents and scratches caused by our furkid’s claws. Additionally, choosing a stronger grain pattern like straight-grained over swirls or patterns can also provide added durability against scratches from pet traffic.

Then again, you could choose wood grain-tile or luxury vinyl planks in place of wood. It will still look like wood, but is far more durable and cheaper to replace than hardwood in the event you need to do so.

2. Pamper Your Dog’s Paws

Keeping your dog’s nails trimmed and paws clean can help prevent scratches and scuffs.

As a responsible pet parent, it is important to keep your furry friend's nails trimmed and paws clean. Not only will this help prevent scratches and scuffs on your furniture, but it also promotes good hygiene for your pet.

Long nails can cause discomfort and even pain for your dog, so keeping them trimmed is essential. Regularly trimming your dog's nails also reduces the likelihood of accidental scratches and injuries to yourself or your floors.

3. Consider Booties for Your Pup

Training your dog to wear booties inside can be a great way to protect your floors and keep your furry friend from slipping around on slick surfaces.

While many people may think that dogs are naturally equipped to handle any surface, the truth is that some breeds are more prone to slipping than others. So not only will booties protect your floors, but it could help prevent injury.

Booties for dogs come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and materials. It might take some time to get your pet used to them, but it will be worth the effort.

4. Keep Your Dog Dry

If you’ve gone out in the snow, rain, or have given your dog a bath or even had a swim, it’s important to try them off. This not only prevents moisture damage to floors, but it can also prevent them from slipping and getting injured too.

Whether we like it or not, wet and muddy paws can make a real mess on floors if not taken care of properly. Keeping towels near the door or investing in a dog blow dryer is a great way to keep your pup dry.

5. Add Lots of Rugs

If you have hardwood floors, rugs are your best friend, well, next to your pup of course. Adding runners, rugs and mats around the area offer traction and add style to your decor. Dogs of all ages and breeds can slip and skid on hardwood and tile, so rugs are helpful accessories for multiple reasons.

Your best bet is to add skid free liners underneath them, and choose washable rugs. Apart from adding runners and rugs in high-traffic areas like hallways or entryways, you can also place mats under food bowls or water dishes.

6. Place a Mat Under Water Bowls

An alternative to adding a rug to your dog’s water and food bowl area, is to place a waterproof mat or tray there.

If you are tired of constantly cleaning up water spills around your dog's water bowl, an absorbent mat or waterproof tray can save the day. Not only will it prevent floor damage, but it can also keep the pup’s feeding and drinking area clean.

As a bonus, this can also help further prevent moisture damage to hardwood floors that we addressed earlier.

7. Use Puppy Pads When Potty Training

Potty training can be a stressful and messy time for both puppies and their parents. You can make the experience easier on yourself with puppy pads - also called pee pads. Additionally, you may want to add absorbent materials with a waterproof backing to the area to catch anything your pup doesn’t quite make onto the pads. Look for puppy pads that have attractant on them so your pet will be more likely to use it.

If your pups are having trouble with potty training, check out this guide from the American Kennel Club for assistance. When your pup does miss, or has an accident, be sure to clean up the area as quickly as possible. This can prevent stains and smells from setting in.

8. Place a Mat or Pad Under Your Dog’s Crate

Many dog crates cause significant scratching to floors - especially hardwood floors. That’s where dog crate floor protectors can come in handy. Something as simple as padding, a mat, or even just a towel or blanket can help prevent scratching.

Dogs, especially puppies, are going to wiggle around in their crates. Having a dog crate floor protector is critical to keep your floors safe.

9. Choose a Crate That Won’t Damage Floors or Furniture

Of course, the better way to handle protecting your floor outside of buying a dog crate floor protector is to choose a crate that won’t damage your floors in the first place. Let’s face it, while wire crates are a popular option, they can scratch and scrape floors when moved around.

That’s where the Revol dog crate really shines.

The materials in our crates are far less likely to scratch or scrape floors, making it an ideal option for pet parents looking for a reliable investment.

Hardwood Floors and Dogs FAQ

To close things out, we thought we would share some of the most frequently asked questions we see related to hardwood floors and dogs.

Can I have hardwood floors with dogs?

The simple answer is yes! If you can install harder wood that is resistant to scratches, be sure to do so. However, if that’s not an option, keeping your pet dry, booties on, and using lots of rugs can go a long way in keeping your floors looking great. And, don’t forget to use a high quality dog crate that is less likely to scratch your floors like the Revol dog crate.

How do I keep my wood floors nice with my dog?

To keep your wood floors looking their best with your beloved dog around:

• Trim your dog's nails regularly to prevent them from scratching the surface of the floor
• Place mats and area rugs in high traffic areas, and
• Clean up spills, wet areas, and accidents as quickly as possible

How do you protect hardwood floors from dogs?

Yes! Two of the most effective ways to protect your hardwood floors are to use rugs and/or mats in high traffic areas, and to invest in a quality dog crate like the Revol dog crate.

How do I keep my dog crate from scratching the floor?

You have a couple of options here - one is to invest in a dog crate floor protector or look for mats for under dog crates. The other option is to swap out your current crate for a scratch-resistant one that won't damage your floors.

How do I protect my wood floors from my dog crate?

The best solution to this problem is getting a Revol dog crate. The Revol crate is designed with both your pet’s safety and comfort, and your floors in mind. It’s made of quality materials that won’t scuff up your floors and it won’t rust either.

How to Keep Your Floors Nice + Your Dog Happy

We’ve shared a lot of tips in this post to help you keep your hardwood floors looking great while also keeping your pet protected and happy. Drying your pet, investing in booties, keeping nails trimmed, adding rugs, and swapping out your dog crates for Revol Dog Crates are the best ways to protect your floors.

Want to learn more about the collapsible Revol Dog Crate and all of its amazing features? Click here to learn why it’s the safest dog crate, and the best option for your dog.