Flooring for low-riding dogs and their nails

[BetterOffRed]

I am starting my research on flooring for my house. I don’t want tile through out (although, I know this would be the best for dogs). I am considering between hardwood, engineered wood and some laminates. One of my corgis drags his front feet and makes a slipper sound as his nails drag the floor when he walks so hardwood floor is probably out of the question due to the maintenance required.

I am think about getting that 'handscraped-look" in the engineered flooring. Would it hold up to dog paws? Does anyone have any thoughts? Any brands to consider?

[Go_Fish]

Pergo…it’s indestructible. I wanted hardwood when we built our house but the contractor took one look at my menagerie and recommended the Pergo. I’ve been thrilled with the way it has held up.

We have a pot-bellied pig that sneaks in the house every chance he gets. I usually have to chase him out with a broom and he scrambles and does wheelies across the floor to escape. Not a mark on the Pergo, anywhere.

[Simkie]

Are you looking to maintain the value of your house, or add value? If so, skip the laminate or engineered. If you don’t mind reducing the value of your home, go ahead and install it.

I replaced all of my carpet with hickory about 3 years ago now. I initially wanted Pergo or something similar, until my real estate agent told me that buyers viewed it as a MINUS–something they would have to replace. No one wants fake hardwood flooring in their house. Engineered is not any better. Talk to some hardwood floor people–even though the manufacturers says you can sand engineered (once) the actual hardwood layer disappears when you actually touch a sander to it.

I have Chelsea Plank 3/4" x 4" wide Hickory flooring. Hickory is the hardest “traditional” hardwood floor. My dog only scratches it when her toenails are long and I have been remiss in dremmeling them down. The floor is beautiful and adds value to my home, and it can be refinished.

[Guin]

I’ve had oak floors in my house for 20 years. It has survived two dogs, two baseball players who wear cleats in the house (don’t ask), and all sorts of abuse. It is only in the past year that it is starting to need refinishing, and ONLY in the high-traffic areas like the paths to the doors. If you get a good floor installer, they will finish it with three very thin coats of polyurethane (or whatever they use), and it will stand up for years. Plus, solid oak can be refinished half a dozen times with no ill effects.

[jcotton]

I would consider tile floors. I have a corgi, a bassett and coonhound. All do fine on tile - long nails, when that happens.
Easy to maintain.

[jetsmom]

Real hardwood or 18" or larger tile. Dremel nails to reduce scratching.
I almost bought a house with new pergo, and looked at it as a minus for resale. We were going to remove it and put hardwood in.
Engineered hardwood is fine, as it IS real wood. But depending on it’s quality, you may or may not be able to refinish it once if needed.

[Oakstable]

I’m putting Earthwerks plank vinyl in my kitchen and family room. It looks like hardwood.

For me, my property would sell as a horse property, period. The house is an after thought. It was for me, and would be for any future buyer.

So I am doing what I can afford. Hardwood was out of the question.

We have two Dobies in the house. The Earthwerks is in the kitchen and I am very happy with it.

It comes in both tile and wood looks. Check it out.

[BuddyRoo]

If your pooch is clicking that much, do a few more frequent nail trims (a little at a time) and shorten those nails.

Me? I love hardwood. We are going to rip out the faux hardwood (engineered) in my fiance’s house and put in real. Why? Because the engineered has only a thin layer of wood and it’s not that indestructible. A dish was dropped and it punctured right on through so now we have crap showing.

In my house (not fiance’s) I have old oak. The dogs really didn’t do any damage. But the nails aren’t long. They go on my leather furniture too–no issues.

The other thing I like better about real wood than the laminates and such is the “warmth” of the wood in the winter.

another option? Put down the hard wood and throw out some throw rugs and runners in the high traffic areas.

Regardless, anything is better than carpet for a plethora of reasons.

[BetterOffRed]

Thanks everyone for your input. I am starting to make some appointments with installers. I really like the porcelain tile that looks like hardwood planks- Eleganza??

@BuddyRoo;5730374

If your pooch is clicking that much, do a few more frequent nail trims (a little at a time) and shorten those nails.

Can’t trim the nails. He’s built downhill in front they are so worn down there is nothing to trim in front…the nails are just lil nubbins.

[jetsmom]

Maybe these?

http://www.softpaws.net/

[equusvilla]

I have real hardwood floors…

…and low riding Corgi’s… although it is true, I can hear them every time they take a step… they have not done anything to harm the floor. Now their water bowls are a different story!