Mary Allen
Carpet, parquet, laminate, or cork? We reveal which floor covering is really suitable – and what you should rather keep your hands off and your dog your paws on.
Which flooring is actually the best choice if you own a dog? It’s not just about comfort, but also about robustness: For example, carpets get dirty quickly and are therefore not always a good choice.
Because it doesn’t matter whether it’s raining outside, the sun is shining or there’s a storm – you always have to take your dog out and then back into the house. It is therefore often unavoidable that the animal runs ahead with its wet paws and thus brings in a lot of dirt. It, therefore, makes sense for a dog owner to choose a floor that is as easy to care for, hard-wearing, and easy to clean as possible.
Cozy carpets may look inviting in the hallway, but they are anything but practical. It is much better if you rely on smooth structures, such as laminate, cork, vinyl, or parquet.
Caution: Floors that are too smooth are unsuitable for dogs
Something that many dog owners may not realize is that a surface that is too slippery can be annoying or even dangerous for a dog – especially if it is a very energetic or older animal. Here it can happen that the dog slips away with its paws and injures itself. Basically, therefore, floors are to be preferred whose surface structure is somewhat rougher and not too smooth.
Of course, that doesn’t mean that you have to do without easy-care surfaces such as cork, laminate, or parquet. Many variants of it are also suitable for owners of dogs. It is best to ask the manufacturer in advance which products are suitable.
Parquet, laminate, and vinyl – what is suitable for dog owners?
Lacquered or sanded parquet is not suitable for dogs. If, on the other hand, the parquet floor is oiled, this is not a problem for the animal, since the surface offers the paws enough grip and is still resistant to moisture. In addition, oiled parquet is particularly easy to clean. However, some care is still required from time to time, because the floor should be re-oiled regularly – so consider this aspect before you lay oiled parquet floors in your home.
With laminate flooring, the surface should be structured as much as possible. This floor covering is one of the most popular nowadays, so dog owners have a huge selection of different colors and structures. Because laminate is specially sealed, it is not only antibacterial but also waterproof. Even if the laminate is heavily soiled, this can usually be removed quickly with suitable cleaning agents.
Another option is vinyl flooring if you own a dog. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a classic, rubbery PVC floor – many products nowadays can hardly be distinguished from laminate and are of very high quality. This floor is also ideal for dog owners as it is durable, easy to maintain, and effortless to clean.
Cork is also highly recommended: Cork floors have been a popular choice in living spaces for many decades – especially because they are easy to clean and timeless. The floor, which is significantly less smooth than laminate, is also ideal for dog owners: it easily forgives small scratches and stains.