Dogs and wooden floors

[westridingpauperlunaticasylum]

I'm interviewing for an after school nanny tomorrow (bear with me, it is relevant!). She dog walks through the day so wants an after school position. My OH and kids have been mithering me for a dog for a long time and I've always been able to talk my way out of it because I'm at work etc etc. So if I capitulate and get a dog and nanny can walk it before school run, my final excuse is our lovely wooden floors. They are engineered wood (I think). They are fairly hard wearing but I'm worried a dogs claws will cause all kinds of damage. I'm overly house proud and couldn't imagine living with obvious damage to my lovely floors. PS I have a good quality vinyl in the kitchen, would that get trashed too?

I don't know about damage op- but the clickety clack of their claws on the hard floor may drive you mad after a while!
I can tell from upstairs if my dog is asleep, awake or excited!!

Our lab refuses point blank to walk on wooden floors so we have to keep carpet in the living room and rugs in the rooms where there is wood and he needs access to.

In my experience, our cat has caused much more damage than the dog. Vinyl will be fine unless a dog deliberately tries to damage it.

I have lacquered wooden floors and BiteyDog hasn't made any marks on it and he is 16 months old having got him from a puppy. He happily slides across it easily but will always seek out a mat or rug to lie on as it's too hard for him to be comfortable. The clip clopping I find cute as I love to hear that sound as he bounces down the corridor. However, it isn't cute when he does that at 3am in our bedroom as it wakes me up.

However, what jumps out from your post is you say you are house proud. Dogs make a mess with hairs and dirty paws so you will either find your standards drop because you love the furry monster more than your clean floors or you start to resent having a dog. My standards dropped and I hired a cleaner to help keep on top of things

Bitey - I have a cleaner already and yes the hair is a worry. I've not been brought up with dogs but OH has. I would need to train him and the kids in the ways of the hoover and anti bac wipes before I succumb

I had engineered oak floors in my old house and my dogs scratched it to fuck. It possibly depends whether you have sensible lazy dogs or my ridiculous pair who skid round corners like Scooby Doo on speed.

The thing is floor gets cleaned but in winter unless you have a paved garden with no grass they mess your floors up instantly and life is too short to 'wash' their paws after every toilet or play visit. Toys get left everywhere as you can't tell a dog to tidy up after themselves. Unless you get a dog that does not shed you tend to live with dog hairs everywhere although having wooden floors does help with that. And I am not sure from your post on whether you were thinking of a puppy or an adult dog but a puppy obviously has lots of accidents inside until fully trained. Wooden floors also help with the dog smell as well but I am sure our house still smells doggy especially in winter when dog gets hosed down after every walk.

I always wanted a dog so was happy to compromise on the house proud side.

It doesn’t sound as if you want a dig. And that’s totally reasonable- they are a big responsibility. It’s nit just your floors - puppies chew things etc. And if the nanny leaves, and you then need to sort dig-care as well as childcare... and who will look after the pup between 8 am & 2 pm (guesstimate timings)?

Bloody hell, my phone hates me and my fat fingers! Dig = dog, of course! nit/not etc.

They can skid about on floors as can't grip. Cousin's ddog broke her back 😞 on their skiddy floor.

All fair points folks. And yes I don't really want a dog but I'm outnumbered by those in the family who do. I like the scooby doo vision!

I have engineered wood floors in the hallway and we have 2 x JRTs and a BIG springer.

Floors are all fine. The JRTs skid on it so never run because they don't like the slip. The springer runs and has big paws with big claws but lots of fur too so don't seem to do any damage.

The damage to my sanity having to hear clickety-clack all day long is another thing, though....

As is the discomfort of seeing all the dirt on it all the blooming time.

Dogs are filthy (the springer especially so) and despite constant cleaning my home has never looked so much like a sh*t hole.

Good job I love them dogs and have accepted the muck as small price to pay for the joy they bring. I could see how others might not, though.

If you are really house proud then don’t get a dog

If you don't want a dog, don't get a dog.
Dogs are extremely hard work and time consuming, You have to factor them in to every activity you do on a daily basis.

If you don't want one now, you aren't going to put the effort in when the dog is misbehaving, chewing everything, peeing everywhere, nipping you, barking etc. and it will make you and the dog miserable.

We have engineered wooden floors and the living room floor has been wrecked by the dog. Not so much his claws (although that has caused some) but through damage by toys he has thrown and dropped since he was a puppy. And the muddy paw prints! Dogs and being house proud do not mix!

The floors are pretty much irrelevant tbh, you don’t particularly want a dog and there’s nobody in till school run time...

Who’s going to look after the dog?

Don't get one! But your husband & kids could volunteer to dog walk at weekends for Cinnamon Trust say? The pleasure without the mess for you (& expense!)

I would wait a few years before getting a dog, if you are house proud. We have just got our first dog and I love her to bits BUT. My god does she create a lot of work. I have bought new mats for the hall, porch and back door. Despite this, the house is full of her foot prints, hair and dog slobber when she chews toys. She comes in wet and I try to dry her off but she shakes everywhere splattering mud up the walls. When she comes in From her walks I don’t have anywhere for her to go but straight into the house.

We are both retired so have the time to clean, it it is never ending. She brings so much love and fun into my life so I am happy to let The tidying and cleanliness go. I think that you would not be so happy to put up with it.

To answer your original question, she has scratched the floors, and also our very expensive leather settee now has a small rip. It was immaculate for the previous 6years.

One person not wanting a dog / cat / horse ( insert any pet) outweighs the opinion of any number of people who do want one . Do not get a dog .

I have wooden floors and the floors have not been scratched with claws. They have been dented to fuck with her throwing her bone about