Flooring and big dogs

[ozzy73]

We have 2 labs @ 75lbs. Floor has not scratches. The only thing I recommend is get a laminate with tight seams.
Slober, puke etc... tend s to get stuck in the grooves and I have to scrape it out.

 

[Wooden Head]

We ripped up the old carpet a couple of months ago, with the intention of installing hardwood. After looking at what has happened to the subfloor, from the big dogs' claws, I'm not sure hardwood is a good idea. They are far from rambunctious. This is just everyday living for a couple of 150 lb dogs. We are thinking about a lower end laminate floor for now, to see how that goes. Or maybe carpet tiles.
Anybody have any thoughts?

Take a look on Lumber Liquidators website. Lookup Janka Rating chart. It will give you the hardness of various woods.

Have had dogs and hardwood floors for over 25 years without a problem, other than normal wear. I've caused more dents (dropping heavy objects) and scratches (pushing things across the floor) than the dogs have caused.

Have had carpet and hardwood and would never go back to carpet. Hardwood is much easier to maintain and clean.

 

[jeff_t]

We decided to go with a cheap (relatively) carpet. The big dogs will be seven in a couple of weeks, which is getting up there in mastiff years . We'll see what happens after that.

 

[eclecticcottage]

There are laminates that have texture and aren't glossy. We looked at them for our old house which will be a rental. We're still trying to decide what to do. It has original hard woods but there is a spot that needs patched because there was an old in floor heater there. People look at laminate as "cheap" but it seems most people feel it holds up better to scratching. Here we have the original wood in most rooms, and reclaimed garage sheathing in the living room. All except the bedroom (painted) are oiled (BLO and Turpentine, and tung oil for touch up). There's already wear, and we're happy with it-it's character. Everyone comments on the living room floor, and that's actually pretty rough in some spots. But it's all character. I wish it wasn't so dark though-I don't know why ANYONE would want a dark floor, they get sooooo dirty looking so easily.

 

[jeff_t]

So, two and a half years later, we are selling our house. The carpet looked pretty rough, from claws getting hooked and snagging threads, and just general wear. And apparently really smells like dog. Lesson learned.

I'll finish up the laminate today. The dogs will be confined to the laundry room and garage for the remainder of our days here.

 

[gzecc]

Dogs, love 'em, and what they do to solid wood floors is called "character." We have 9" fir flooring, well worn and scuffed after 23 years, most of the finish is gone, won't bother to refinish it, and love the character and love the dogs. I don't want to live in a plastic world anymore than I have to.

I agree. I don't do fake.

 

[semipro]

The carpet looked pretty rough, from claws getting hooked and snagging threads, and just general wear. And apparently really smells like dog. Lesson learned.

Yeah, we've adopted the policy that every "fabric" a dog touches should be machine washable. The use of dogs beds with removable covers in our house and seat covers in our car has significantly reduced dog odors. The dog beds also provide some grip for the dogs when they go to get up.