What type of flooring for a family with 3 dogs?

Janet Noel
by Janet Noel
We need to replace the carpet that begins in our family room and goes into our bedroom. We have 3 small dogs and grandchildren in and out. It is a high traffic area. What is the best flooring for these areas?
  11 answers
  • Donna Shipley Donna Shipley on Aug 06, 2014
    We have 3 tiny dogs, grandkids visit sometimes... We used laminate in our livingroom and are not that pleased with it. However, it has not been damaged by the dogs or foot traffic. I think if we had decided on a higher end product, I would have been satisfied. In the kitchen we used a stone laminate (Home Depot) and it has been so much nicer. It's much easier to clean also doesn't show dirt if you don't get to it immediately.
  • did you mind vacuuming? for me i have 2 dogs (one is an Australian shepherd who sheds) and 3 cats that come in and out all day long. I have hardwood floors down and carpet up. The hardwood shows all the hair! so I laid a large remnant on the living room/family room and boy does it show less dog and cat hair. Plus i like to vacuum and do it at least every other day and find it easier more pleasing to the feet and winter months with carpet above the crawl space. I too have laminate in the foyer where the hardwood was ruined by previous owner and the dogs and cats chase each other and have had no problems with it. small dogs are not as hard on a floor as bigger dogs. personal preference. but for me carpet hides a multitude of things going on...and if you do not vacuum one day it is not as bad as if you do not sweep and see the dust bunnies gliding about in the corners LOL
  • Carole Carole on Aug 06, 2014
    Tiles in a colour that won't show the dog hair. Or maybe linoleum. Either is easily washed or hoovered. Linoleum has come a long way and many great designs, including wooden floor effect lino.
  • Jeanette S Jeanette S on Aug 07, 2014
    We have a 60 lb. lab who loves to be outside in the rain so tracks in water, dribbles on the kitchen floor from here water bowl and runs through the place like a tornado! After 9 years of my BRUCE laminate being down, it looks like it went down yesterday. I have NEVER before had any flooring look as good 9 years later as it did the day it down as has my laminate. Hardwoods are FANTASTIC and I have them in the formal areas, but they would never survive in the rest of the house.
  • Elyse Mize Elyse Mize on Aug 08, 2014
    i have 4 dogs & i swear by the high grade laminate i have.. the only thing is, you have to dustmop daily because it shows the dog hair
  • Hellie's Corner Hellie's Corner on Aug 10, 2014
    Tiles are great, they are hard wearing, easy to clean and just need a quick brush to keep on top of the pet hair. Also if your pets come in wet, your not worrying about them soaking your carpet or wood flooring. I have tiles in my hall, and kitchen and I have a dog (collie) and a cat.
  • Janet Noel Janet Noel on Oct 03, 2014
    Thanks everyone! I think we will go with a high end laminate.
  • Grady Grady on Dec 08, 2014
    We have 47 dogs and we have hardwood, tile, and carpet floors and it works for us just fine. What kind of dogs are these?
  • Janet Noel Janet Noel on Jan 05, 2015
    Currently we have a dachshund and a toy poodle.
  • Grady Grady on Jan 07, 2015
    Well, I suggest carpet, since they're small dogs.
  • Stefan Stefan on Feb 28, 2015
    Stain concrete and use a clear varnish , about three coats. Looks great!