Many people are under the impression that having a dog means having damaged hardwood floors. Without proper care, man’s best friend can become your hardwood floor’s worst enemy. Thankfully, there are a number of different ways that homeowners can prevent dogs from damaging hardwood floors, and many of them are easier to implement than you might expect.
In many homes, there is a particular route that a dog takes when running to check the door, look out the window or just get to the food bowl at dinner time. Wherever that is in your home, consider investing in a runner. A runner, or a thin rug commonly used in narrow hallways, is the best way to protect a high-traffic area from pet damage. Each home will have a different high-traffic area depending on the dog’s routine, so look around your home carefully to locate the area where the most damage occurs or is likely to occur in the future to help prevent dogs from damaging hardwood flooring.
Another common source of pet damage on hardwood floors is those little accidents that dogs, and especially puppies, sometimes leave behind. The longer these accidents are allowed to sit on the hardwood, the greater the damage. Even if the accident happened on a rug over the hardwood, remove the rug and ensure that it is completely dry before putting it back. The hardwood needs to be allowed to dry as quickly as possible in order to prevent any lasting stains or discoloration.
Your dog’s nails can grow quickly, and some breeds can see up to 1 inch of nail growth in a single week! Sharp nails on your pup can do some serious damage to your hardwood flooring, so keeping dog nails trimmed is vital. If you don’t feel comfortable trimming them yourself, hire a pet groomer to do it on a weekly or monthly basis.
Keeping hardwood floors waxed is a great idea for a number of reasons, but most people assume it is because of the attractive shine it creates. While the high-gloss look of wax is certainly appealing, it can also help to create a little more traction on the floor. This is beneficial to pet owners because their dogs won’t feel the need to dig their nails into the hardwood in order to slow down or gain control when moving quickly.
Sometimes called paw covers or nail clips, dog nail coverings are generally made from plastic and clip on over the dog’s nails. Dogs generally won’t mind them once they are on, and they can go a long way in protecting your hardwood floors. Some groomers also offer to put them on your pet after getting nails clipped.
Gone are the days when you had to decide between having a dog and having pristine hardwood floors. Schedule a FREE In-Home Estimate today to begin browsing our hardwood selections.
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