Engineered hardwood flooring is a fantastic and hardwearing option for those living with dogs. Ted Todd's Darwin flooring is made from Morado and features a durable satin lacquer finish that creates a subtle gloss effect without a reflective sheen. (Image credit: Ted Todd) 2. Laminate flooring

Unlike some cheap rubber and EVA mats they give a smooth fit with no bending, curling or spreading and no gaps to trap dirt. The mats will not move or spread over time. You can expect them to last at least 15 years with normal use – three times longer than the cheaper options. Expert Design Opting for a water resistant laminate is a sensible thing to do —particularly if your dog is partial to a dip on his daily walkies. An ideal floor is an easy to clean one! I understand this completely, so it can be easier to have a hard floor rather than carpet. Vinyl makes a great compromise as it is easy to clean and has excellent grip. After all, we can’t carpet every room, its just not hygienic or practical.This can lead them to be extra cautious as they walk across a slippery floor. Unfortunately, awkwardly walking across the floor can only make the problem worse. Sure, these floors may look great and be easy to clean. But to your dog, he might as well be walking on ice – he can’t get a grip. Dog breeds that shed a lot will of course damage things like wall-to-wall carpeting much faster,” explains Lisa Modica, interior designer at Cherry Tree Interior Design. “Some dog breeds, like Labrador Retrievers and Basset Hounds, have oily fur that can cause a lot of dirt buildup and staining on rugs.” Animat has over 30 years experience in designing comfortable, hygienic and durable rubber stable mats. These mats:

If you decide on a rug, make sure it doesn’t slip when your dog walks on it. A slippery mat can almost be as dangerous as a smooth floor!Mulberry House vets opted for the Whinfell wood effect Floors for Paws, using the planks to form a skirting. Fauna Vets – https://www.faunavets.co.uk/

But if you have an elderly or special needs dog, it’s even worse. Those aggressive staggering movements can cause irreparable damage to older dogs with arthritis, spinal, joint or hip problems. Although many people consider laminate one of the types of wood flooring, it is actually not made of timber at all. This flooring material is comprised of compressed fibreboard planks with a top layer featuring a photographic wood-effect image. On top of this is a clear and hardwearing protective coating. The top layer of engineered wood flooring is still real hardwood, but it’s easier to install, often cheaper, and can be used easily with underfloor heating. As the surface of solid wood and engineered wood flooring is essentially the same, both can be scratched by dog nails. The downside to tile is that it can be cold underfoot which is the last thing you want to feel first thing in the morning! However, there are many options available such as underfloor heating or opting for Vinyl tiles (LVT) that don’t have a cold touch.Read on if you want to make the most informed decision and ensure your dog-friendly flooring stays in great condition for as long as possible: How Dogs Damage Floors If you have hardwood where you feed or bathe your dog, use rugs or sheets to protect it. You can also read our separate blog on cleaning engineered wood flooring. Can I protect wood floors from dog scratches? Once some dogs lay down on a slippery floor, they can’t get up again. If your dog lays belly-down on the floor and looks like a starfish with his legs extended, he may be having difficulty getting a grip.

As a busy Veterinary Clinic, when it came time to replace our flooring, we had a few criteria that had to be met. We needed to make sure our four legged visitors would be safe on a non slip floor, but we also wanted the floor to look amazing and less clinical that standard Veterinary flooring. It also needed to be durable! Dogs do have accidents!Underfloor heating won’t make a floor so hot it burns, and is safer than radiators for dogs. What about carpets, are they good for dogs?