Unless your friend is a Poodle or a hairless variety, your pet likely sheds a lot. This hair can be difficult to get out of carpets, and combined with pet stains, can quickly make a carpet look bad. It's no wonder that many pet lovers know they want hardwood flooring when it comes down to redoing their floors. Here are a few tips on choosing a good one for your pet.

Choose one with good surface traction

Different types of hardwood flooring come with different levels of traction. They can be as smooth as vinyl or have details in them that give them more texture. Choose a [FURL=https://wahardwoodfloors.com.au/]timber flooring[/FURL] option will benefit you and your pet in a number of ways.

A rough texture can give your pet more confidence in walking on it, as many pets find walking on slick surfaces unnerving. This will not only stop your dog from skittering and sliding across the floor, but also stop scratches from his nails as he inevitably digs in trying to find balance.

If you're choosing between prefinished flooring and unfinished, prefinished will be likely to have this traction. Some companies even finish their floor with a hardened coating that contains Aluminium Oxide in the finish.

The tiny particles help provide this traction, giving your pet the confidence he needs on your new floors. Some prefinished floorings also come with a UV hardened coating, which adds extra protection against scratching.

Choose a flooring with more grain

If you own a dog, it's inevitable that you will also end up with scratches in your flooring. You can help keep up the appearance of your floor by choosing species and colours that camouflage those scratches. Oak for example, has a lot of grain variations and a lighter colour, which makes scratches less noticeable compared to species with less grain and a darker colour.

Keep nails trimmed and filed

Keeping pet nails trimmed is one of the best ways to avoid scratches on your floor. Short nails are less likely to scratch, and your pet's nails can also be filed to make scratching less frequent. Dog nails should be cut and filed at least once every two weeks to keep them healthy, and your flooring less scratched.

For pet owners, switching to hardwood flooring is a big relief. Fur is easier to sweep up, muddy paw prints easier to clean, and every day living with your pet so much easier. If you're planning to switch to hardwood flooring, a little planning can make a big difference between a happy pet and a good-looking floor, and a miserable one on a scratched up floor. Look for light coloured, high grain flooring with good traction for the most pet friendly selection.