Hardwood floors and dogs don’t mix. At least that’s been my experience. Even the pups that pet shop owners swear don’t shed, shed. All dogs shed. People shed too, but not as much as dogs (at least most people), which is why I am always amazed by dog owners, who say they don’t have to clean up dog hair, now that they have hardwood floors.
I have never been to a home with hardwood floors that didn’t attract at least a few tuffs of hair. Pet hair can add up quickly on a hardwood floor, though there are tricks that can make the mess more manageable, such as:
Trimming: Regular trimming minimizes shedding. Whereas you don’t want to shave off all of your dog’s hair, keeping his coat well-groomed will go a long way to keep your cleaning time to a minimum.
Grooming: Weekly baths and daily brushing can remove loose fur that may otherwise end up on your hardwood floors.
Training: Our neighbor tried to train his pooch to stay off the hardwood floors in the living room and den. Needless to say, he gave up after about a month. The dog refused to stay in the great room and my neighbor’s wife got sick of tripping over the dog in the kitchen. Still, if your dog is trainable, this might be worth a try.
Vacuuming: Instead of sweeping up dog hair, which can often spread more pet hair than it collects, you’re better off vacuuming your hardwood floor with an attachment or using a hardwood flooring setting. Doing so will help eliminate most hair, though if you have an energetic dog that moves around a lot, you will have to vacuum at least twice a day.
Mopping: Dry dust cloths will only pick up easy to reach dog hair. To get under furniture and in corners where pet hair can accumulate use a wet mop.