There’s so much on your mind when preparing to bring a puppy home. You’re likely concerned with making your house a safe environment, but that requires more than a few baby gates. You may also need to review your current flooring types to learn if they’ll withstand life with a dog.
Check out a few things every dog owner should consider before adopting a puppy. You’ll know how they’ll impact your floors and what the best flooring if you have dogs is so your house is ready for anything.
Ways puppies impact different flooring types
Young pups are adorable, but they can also negatively affect your floors in surprising ways. These are the most common things that happen when puppies start living with their new families and how they’ll interact with your flooring.
1. They Have Potty Accidents
Potty accidents are unavoidable while your dog learns to go outside. Puppies younger than 12 weeks old often defecate five or six times daily and may pee even more frequently. Anything that excites them can cause a potty accident, immediately affecting your floors. Stains and warping are common effects of pee puddles and other potty accidents.
2. They Scratch Floors
Puppies have sharp nails that get duller with age. While exploring your home and playing every day, they’ll accidentally scratch your floors. Your puppy might also drag toys or household objects around and unintentionally create deeper marks.
Scratches can also occur when you’re away from home because your puppy is panicked or stressed. Although you can keep your young dog calmer by playing music while you’re gone or leaving a TV on, they may also dig at your floors to follow you when you leave your house.
3. They Create Water Damage
You can get bowl mats and stands to prevent your dog from splashing water on the floor, but that won’t prevent every spill. Puppies drip water from their mouths and have potty accidents all the time. They’ll also track wet paw prints through your home and lie down after going outside in the rain.
Potential water damage also doesn’t end after the first few weeks of life with your puppy. When your pup gets their necessary vaccines and comes home from their first trip to the dog park, they’ll have had lots of exercise and need water. The same thing happens after playtime in your living room or exploring your backyard. They’ll likely drink a lot and let it drip from their mouth as they walk around your home.
Average Length of Flooring Renovations
If you want to replace your floors with a new flooring type, installing new materials could take a few days or a week. It depends on what’s in stock and if the installation team finds issues underneath your existing floors. It may be best to replace your flooring materials before your puppy comes home so they don’t accidentally get hurt by walking through the area.
Tips to Choose the Best Flooring Types
Use these tips to find the best flooring if you have dogs and want your new floors to withstand life with a puppy. You’ll think of every possible problem and find the best flooring solution for your expanded family.
1. Look for Durability
Floors experience more wear and tear with dogs, so you’ll need a flooring type that’s more durable than others. Dogs also put extra weight on your floors, creating more pressure it needs to withstand.
Although people debate whether laminate or hardwood is better for homes with dogs, vinyl is popular among pet parents. It’s more affordable and made with more robust materials, so it can resemble your preferred floor styles without experiencing common flooring problems.
2. Review Water-Resistant Flooring Types
Water spills and potty accidents can cause stains and warping. Look for flooring types that are water-resistant for long-term durability. Ceramic and porcelain tiles are mostly unaffected by liquids, while vinyl can withstand spills in water-accident-prone areas.
3. Find Antimicrobial Options
Puppies have potty accidents all the time and trail dirt in from the yard. It leaves more bacteria on your floors, which can grow in microscopic cracks and deteriorate the materials. Look for antimicrobial options to protect your home from this problem. You might think laminate or hardwood is better for dogs, but they’ll only last if they include perks like antimicrobial sealants.
4. Get Scratch-Resistant Materials
It’s also a good idea to invest in scratch-resistant floors. Vinyl planks and tiles in bathrooms or laundry areas are hard to scratch. You’ll never worry about your dog’s nails, kennel, puppy playpen or toys leaving marks around your home.
5. Seek Stain-Resistant Flooring
There’s also stain-resistant flooring like bamboo that’s excellent for dog owners. It won’t absorb liquids as quickly, so you’ll rarely see stains from various puppy accidents.
Potty messes, muddy paw prints, spills and teething accidents with chewed-up pens will be a momentary inconvenience instead of a flooring emergency. This is one of the best flooring tips for dogs because anyone can remove stains from hardwood floors with stain-specific cleaners and an iron, but you shouldn’t have to worry about it when stain-resistant floors exist.
Prepare for Life With a Puppy
Many flooring types are available for homeowners, but certain features make some better than others when you have a puppy. Look for factors like stain-resistant materials, scratch-proof floors and durability warranties to ensure your home is ready for a future with a dog.