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Renovating Flooring

Help - best flooring options for indoor dogs

5 years ago

Hi,

I have a dilemma. I currently have carpet in the entry, hallway and stairs in my home. I have 2 small indoor dogs who have developed a tendency to use the carpeted areas as a toilet. The living area upstairs has wood flooring which is working well. What is the best option to replace the carpet with? I have read elsewhere that bamboo flooring is highly recommended. I have looked at vinyl and been advised that there is no capping available for the stairs which rules it out. Laminate I am worried will stain and warp if the pee sits there all day (while I am at work). Tiling the stairs will be a problem as it will require metal strips to protect from the sharp tile edges which doesn't work for me aesthetically. I am in Melbourne so tiles are ideal anyway.

Can anyone offer any suggestions?

Thanks in advance for your insights, Angela

PS I will be replacing the flooring upstairs at some point in the future when I renovate the kitchen so I am not overly concerned about mismatched flooring for now.

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Comments (4)

oklouise
5 years ago
can you restrict the dogs to one area of the house with gates across the bottom of the stairs and closed doors and a chat to your Vet may suggest some options for reducing their stress when you're not home...luckily our little dog is quite happy in her luxury outdoor shelter with access to a lawned area and a window to the street and we always give her a special treat when we leave the house and return.... otherwise we're very happy with our vinyl floors
Angela Taylor
Original Author
5 years ago
Thanks for your response, unfortunately they don't have access to an outdoor area during the day and despite toys and treats they still keep leaving me surprises. Even with a gate to restrict their movement I still need to do something as it smells terrible in the entrance to my home.
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PRO
Wild Bear & Co Hervey Bay
5 years ago
Hi Angela, I know this doesn’t answer the flooring question but just wondering if it might help address the accidents instead. Is it worthwhile talking to your vet... just in case it is anxiety driven? Have you tried leaving a radio on (so they can hear other people talking)? There’s a product called Adaptil what might help? I have two older cats & when we take them to the vet etc, they stress themselves out to a manic level. When we moved, we had to drive 4 hours with them & given their age, the vet wasn’t comfortable sedating them so suggested Feliway for Cats... it’s a pheromone spray to help relieve anxiety in cats & make them feel calm. And it really helped them significantly. I just did a search & found something similar for dogs. It’s a plug in called Adaptil that you switch on & leave to work it’s magic. I hope you find something that helps all of you :)
Angela Taylor thanked Wild Bear & Co Hervey Bay
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Dr Retro House Calls
5 years ago
Carpet on stairs is a practical safe, cost effective option. I would gate the bottom of the stairs to restrict access to the stairs, recarpet the stairs (if it is already damaged), and tile the front foyer. You can also purchase indoor doggy litter trays (like a cat litter tray), which should reduce accidents, and make cleaning up easier. Are they accidents, or do they not have another toilet option apart from holding on until somebody gets home?

If you do decide to tile the stairs you can purchase terracotta or natural stone coping tiles (used for pool surrounds) which has a curved front lip and avoids the need for metal edge trim. They are non-slip and practical, but will be more expensive than new carpet, and expensive to install.

https://pool-coping-tiles.com.au/products/?keyword=pool%20capping&gclid=CjwKCAjwsdfZBRAkEiwAh2z65lzb388qnXait7iZiWmpIH_jvieG_4VnQlbk3JqShgSAc_jOz4G-5xoCEKwQAvD_BwE

Best of luck,

Dr Retro

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