It’s no surprise that dogs and hardwood floors can be a recipe for trouble. Finding deep and noticeable scratches on your hardwood floor is not uncommon if you have a four-legged friend running around the house. If this is the case in your home, and you feel like you may be at a loss when it comes to possible solutions, don’t worry because there are ways to solve the problem! Here are some quick tips to help prevent those pesky scratches from constantly showing up.
Trim Those Nails!
By far the biggest reason your dog is scratching your hardwood is because of overgrown nails. Your dog’s nails need to be regularly trimmed in order to avoid annoying scratches. How can you tell if your dog’s nails are too long, you ask? Listen for a clicking sound as your dog walks, if you hear it, then their nails are definitely in need of trimming. You can either do the trimming yourself with a pair of scissor-like clippers or take your dog to a veterinarian or professional groomer to get it done.
Keep Your Floors Clean
It’s always a good idea to keep your floors free of dirt and hair, as they can act like sandpaper and grind into your hardwood when your dog runs and walks across the floor. Clean your floors regularly using a cleaning method of your choice.
Apply Protective Coatings
For a more permanent solution, consider checking with your flooring’s manufacturer to see if there is a protective coating available for their product. If there is, make sure to apply it regularly in order to maintain a strong protective barrier all year round. You also may choose to apply a protective layer of wax that will help form a protective barrier between your floor and your dog’s nails. Doing this means it will be easier to treat any light scratches you happen to find by simply reapplying wax and filling the scratches in.
Boot Up!
More and more dog owners are purchasing specially-designed fashion accessories for their dogs that are meant to protect hardwood flooring from being scratched. The most popular of these are boots that you can put on your dog’s paws. It may seem like a more farfetched idea, but it can be extremely effective in making sure your hardwood stays beautiful and unscratched. Although your dog may be walking a little bit awkwardly at first, they will get used to their new boots and eventually forget they are even there.
Throw Down some Carpets and Rugs
If you’ve tried other solutions but find that none are really working for you, you could always make a quick fix and simply place rugs or carpets over any parts of your hardwood floor that see a lot of dog traffic. Doing this will protect your hardwood with minimal hassle for both you and your canine companion.
Much like raising children, raising a dog means you are going to have to deal with the occasional mess and minor damage to your home’s interior; but with these tips, you can have a much easier time dealing with hardwood floor scratches and loving your dog at the same time.
