How to Prevent Dog Scratches on Hardwood Floors

Enjoy your dog without compromising the beauty of your wood floors by taking measures to prevent scratches.

Your dog just walking on the floor with its bare paws can cause unsightly scratches. There are preventative measures you can take to reduce the chances of your dog scratching your hardwood floors.

1. Keep your dog’s nails trimmed. Purchase a pet dremel tool from a pet store to trim and smooth out sharp and jagged nails. Follow the directions enclosed with the dremel tool as operating instructions will vary among brands.

2. Take your dog for walks every day on the sidewalk. The concrete sidewalk is a natural means of keeping the dog’s nails trimmed.

3. Put booties on your dog’s paws. These booties boast a skid-proof bottom to keep your dog from sliding around on your hardwood floors.

4. Lay area rugs on the hardwood floors, especially in high-traffic areas for your dog. Train the dog to stay only in certain areas where the rugs are situated.

5. Apply a few coats of industrial-strength polyurethane wood floor finish. Also apply a protective wax to the floor. These products will help to make the floor scratch-resistant. Refer to the manufacturer of your hardwood floors for specific floor finishes and waxes to use on the particular floor you own.