dog claws and wooden floors
Discussion
Hi All
Our family would love a dog (something of a reasonable size eg a Aussie cattle dog), however we have an oak parquet block floor throughout our small-ish house which has a commercial high traffic Bona semi gloss varnish on it. Unfortunately the oak is actually quite soft (it was new when laid about 5 years ago, we have reclaimed oak strip upstairs and that is way harder) and our fear is that it will get ruined with lots of scratches if we get a dog. I would be prepared to sand it and use a different matte finish but ....
Is maintaining a nice wood floor and owning a mid sized dog two mutually incompatible things? We could keep our dog's claws well trimmed and train it to understand that inside the house is for chilling and outside is for playing but would that be enough? Do we need to give up on keeping our floors nice if we get a dog?
Does anyone also have wooden flooring and how has it fared??
Thanks for any thoughts
Our family would love a dog (something of a reasonable size eg a Aussie cattle dog), however we have an oak parquet block floor throughout our small-ish house which has a commercial high traffic Bona semi gloss varnish on it. Unfortunately the oak is actually quite soft (it was new when laid about 5 years ago, we have reclaimed oak strip upstairs and that is way harder) and our fear is that it will get ruined with lots of scratches if we get a dog. I would be prepared to sand it and use a different matte finish but ....
Is maintaining a nice wood floor and owning a mid sized dog two mutually incompatible things? We could keep our dog's claws well trimmed and train it to understand that inside the house is for chilling and outside is for playing but would that be enough? Do we need to give up on keeping our floors nice if we get a dog?
Does anyone also have wooden flooring and how has it fared??
Thanks for any thoughts
We have a solid oak wooden floor in an old cottage and a young, bouncy Labrador.
We have laid several rugs down in high traffic areas, and in particular where there is a 'corner', ie, when having to negotiate a 90 degree corner around the staircase that protrudes into the room.
Funnily enough, this is where the majority of the wear was showing from the dog, where he barrells around the corner, claws scrabbling for grip.
We have laid several rugs down in high traffic areas, and in particular where there is a 'corner', ie, when having to negotiate a 90 degree corner around the staircase that protrudes into the room.
Funnily enough, this is where the majority of the wear was showing from the dog, where he barrells around the corner, claws scrabbling for grip.
We don't have wooden floors, but we do have tiled floors throughout downstairs (our dogs don't go upstairs).
I wouldn't contemplate having this type of flooring without rugs and runners. I just don't think it's safe for the dog besides anything else. They can slip, especially when their paws are wet.
I wouldn't contemplate having this type of flooring without rugs and runners. I just don't think it's safe for the dog besides anything else. They can slip, especially when their paws are wet.
Our, admittedly pretty chilled out, saluki cross copes fine with wooden floors by walking carefully but is obviously much more comfortable where we have rugs down.
Also, be very careful before deciding on an Australian Cattle Dog - I know one and he's a serious handful. Literally never stops and makes their other dog, a working border collie, seem like the most chilled dog in the world!
Also, be very careful before deciding on an Australian Cattle Dog - I know one and he's a serious handful. Literally never stops and makes their other dog, a working border collie, seem like the most chilled dog in the world!
Would partly depend on the type of paws your dog has.
A cat pawed dog has less pronounced claws that may not ever touch the ground.
A hare pawed dog has really pronounced claws and is more likely to damage flooring. That been said I have both and they have never damaged the floor and walk/run around no issues.
A cat pawed dog has less pronounced claws that may not ever touch the ground.
A hare pawed dog has really pronounced claws and is more likely to damage flooring. That been said I have both and they have never damaged the floor and walk/run around no issues.
Grahamdub said:
We have a Westie and some wood floors. He is quite used to them now and lives sliding on them when chasing a ball. Any scratches are no worse than you'd get with normal wear and tear anyway.
We have a Westie as well, nothing better than getting a standing start from him on the wooden flooring. His “wheelspin” is impressive. Certainly does not seem to bother him. Stone floors are more high risk than Oak floors. Without beating about the bush, dog puke is about the most acidic substance known to man, and if your dog chucks up in the middle of the night, you're going to get a mark burnt into a stone floor.
We have a mixture of Oak and Stone floors, with 2 German Shepherds. Other than puke, general dirt and hair ... never had a problem with either!
We have a mixture of Oak and Stone floors, with 2 German Shepherds. Other than puke, general dirt and hair ... never had a problem with either!
skullcandy said:
Thanks for the thoughts everyone. Dog oversteer! Only on PH.
I think I would like a high drive dog as getting out for long walks is half the fun and we are a pretty active family, however that does need to be carefully thought through first!
I'd think about it, and then think again. A friend of ours breeds them and won't allow them to go to just anyone (including us) because they require so much exercise. She'll only let them go to farmer types where they'll spend all day outside. I think I would like a high drive dog as getting out for long walks is half the fun and we are a pretty active family, however that does need to be carefully thought through first!
Get hold of Pesty regarding the breed...he has two and is a very helpful chap.
Regarding the wooden floors we have a lab and Frenchie and both have perfected the sliding stops and yes...off the mark is like something out of a cartoon. Never scratched them and good for clearing up dog sick etc.
They definitely prefer carpet as we have it in a basement office...if they get a chance to bolt downstairs they are both rolling on their backs in the sheer joy of softness
Regarding the wooden floors we have a lab and Frenchie and both have perfected the sliding stops and yes...off the mark is like something out of a cartoon. Never scratched them and good for clearing up dog sick etc.
They definitely prefer carpet as we have it in a basement office...if they get a chance to bolt downstairs they are both rolling on their backs in the sheer joy of softness
Gassing Station | All Creatures Great & Small | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff