Best Flooring For Big Dogs

Q: We have 2 large dogs and as you can imagine, their claws are very hard on flooring. Hardwood is a bit out of our price range and we are debating between bamboo and high quality laminate. Which is more durable? What laminate brand is the best quality?
Thanks so much for your help!
A: When it comes to large dogs and floors there are several things you can do to help ensure your floor looks great. First let’s look into product. I would honestly suggest looking into laminate instead of bamboo because bamboo’s finish is not quite as durable as the finish applied to high quality laminates.
Laminate by nature is built take the most abuse of any wood floor. Now this doesn’t mean you can drag a piano across the floor without wheels and expect the floor to look immaculate, but it does mean it is built for much higher levels of traffic without showing wear and tear.
To answer your questions about which brand is the best the answer is none. Let me explain why I say no brand is the best – each manufacturer puts out various lines of flooring. Each collection varies in finish, construction, and durability. This being said a big name in the industry like Pergo, makes many lines. Pergo Select is one of the best laminate lines on the market, but at the same time Pergo’s Everyday is an economy line built for folks who want o save a few bucks. Everyday is a great floor, but when compared to Pergo Select it is night and day.
This being said, your best bet is to look into a well made AC4 or AC5 rated laminate. The best examples here would be Pergo Select, Quick Step Perspective, Westhollow South Pacific and Wilsonart Red Label.
Now, the next important thing you can do to help keep your floor looking tip top is routine maintenance and cleaning. This includes making sure your dog’s nails are trimmed and trim away long hair from the pads on their paws. This will help prevent your dogs from relying on their nails to get traction when running around, and thus, lower than chance of scratches. Regular cleaning and using entry mats at exterior doors to prevent dirt and debris from getting on or building up on your floor.
If you combine these few tips, you should not only have a great looking floor, but you give yourself the best combination for anti-abrasion over time from your dogs and general traffic.