I am thinking of getting laminated flooring for the dining room because I am fed up with trying to clean the carpet of its "traffic lane" dirt as the family troll through. But I wondered how this flooring would stand up to doggy use! Would it get scratch marks or would urine affect the laminate?

I have laminate flooring in our lounge as you walk straight into it from the front door.  We have gone through two BC puppies and apart from a couple of dents where we dropped a radiator on it, it has done very well.  In fact has been a godsend when going through puppy stage and through the winter time my only thing is ensure that you have a large rug or something like that on it or the dogs can go flying if they run in.  You can get some backer stuff from argos that stops rugs etc moving around whcih is what we have used but otherwise I think it is great.

i agree with dvnbiker its absolutely fantastic going through the house training stage its so much easier to clean and doesn't smell like a carpet will. As for scratching ours has never got scratched or damaged and if you have a very chewy dog or pup like my first was i found that there was no where it could get to chew it up (where as he found edges of carpet great fun to dig up and shred :rolleyes: ) Gizmo has gone flying on it a few times until he got used to it and now has no trouble walking or running on it.

The thing that worries me about it is the effect it may have on joint development and the hip scores and also what about the oldies when they get bad on their feet?

That's a very good point about the oldies, Brainless. My mother had to have her kitchen carpeted because her old dog kept slipping over and wasn't able to get up again.

Hi

Mine do not spend their whole lives on the laminate flooring (which is now over 20 years old) and I have had hip scores of 0:0, 0:1, 2:2, 1:3, 0:4, 3:3 and 3:5 so I do not think it affects them that much.

My old girl who is now rather arthriticy and dodgy on her back legs walks okay on it although I have had to put down some larger rugs for her as she needs the purchase for her feet when getting up - have had to do the same in the kitchen on the quarry tiled floor as she has trouble getting up and the rugs help

Ive got laminate flooring in my living room and my GR pup has no problems with it except if he gets over excited and comes charging into the room he skids a little, but he hasnt scratched it and providing any accidents dont get left as with any spills on laminate it shouldnt have any problems. As far as how it affects them when they are older my inlaws have the 13 year old GR who is a little overweight and has lost the feeling in one of her paws and she is fine on laminate.

My friend has it and thinks it wonderful, except as you say for the possible skidding problems when travelling at high speed!

We have it aswell and it is a god send for weeing purposes. The downside wee seems to be invisible with certain lighting resulting in wet socks and a few choice words much to kids amusement. My older dog cannot sit on it as he just slips pup has no trouble.

We have laminate flooring throughout the downstairs part of the house, however, my dogs have skidded on it a few times so be careful. Although no damage, I wasn't waiting for there to be any, I put washable runner mats down to give security to paws.

I absolutely agree with Brainless and I would say it's too slippy for old dogs with arthritis or young pups undergoing joint development.   

I have laminate flooring and the only litter that I've allowed to go on it had higher hip scores than I would of preferred (though only 2 of them scored so far)!!  Anton is just above breed average and he was terrible when he was a pup as he used to dive from one settee to another skidding across the room, I'm almost certain this is why his is just above the average.

Not allowed this last litter to come to my house, although the same mother they are a different father so it will be interesting to see what theirs will be in the future.

My old girl has no problems on it, though she doesn't think she's old yet.

i HAD laminate floor throughout hall living room , kitchen & dining room , bought for the same reasons as yourself , my 5 little dachsies & the occasional litter of puppies . i found it to be an absolute nightmare !! when the dogs had a mad half hour charging around , they skidded into  walls , fire place, in fact everything !! and the noise !!! 20 paws drumming when running & 20 paws tick ticking !! it drove us around the bend !!! but when we had pups, great easy to mop & clean but eventually , it started "lifting" at the joins and it was the supposedly "waterproof good stuff "!!!!! it lasted only 3 years !! we now have the whole of the downstairs tiled in non slip ceramic , no sound when running around , no skidding & can be mopped ,bleached , whatever u want & still looks great !!! :):):) it has been the most practical yet it looks trendy. its not cold either as we put under floor heating , and it all worked out cheaper than laminate . !!!! IMHO!!!
Caron ( laminate floor hater !!)

My poor old purdy well she isnt old but is the oldest in the house keeps skidding over and I am terrified she is going to hurt her ligements again.  I think that it has affected my beagles movement as she had lovely movement when we got her but because she had soft paws she tended to skid everywhere.  As soon as we get the money I shall be replacing it!

Sorry - I'd never use it -

Jo and the Casblaidd Flatcoats

Had it a short time, got rid of it even though it had cost a fortune. Couldn't bear to see the dogs slip and terrified of the damage they might do themselves

BUy the heavy duty stuff to stop scartches or stillito marks

my 6 all cope with it ok we have one pup, one oldie the rest are in between, the whole of downstairs bar the kitchen is laminate, we also have a large rug in each room we dont have any probs with them playing as they play on the rug or outside!

Thanks, it seems the only problem would be slipping, but our dining room is very small, just enough room for wall unit and table and chairs so doggie cannot run around too much. I could put a mat by the patio doors so he doesnt slip as he comes in.

One last argument to settle!! for all you budding designers out there....my hubbie thinks that we wont find a floor which would go with the mahogany furniture. I dont want to go as dark as mahogany and the floor would blend in with the furniture - any mahogany owners out there with laminate floor? what colour wood did you choose? (sorry know this is supposed to be a dog site!)

Hi June,

One of those super absorbant mats at the patio doors should help (name escapes at the moment!)

Re floor colouring - light Oak ;)   Regards, Teri

My mum has mahogany furniture, she's got oak coloured laminate, it looks lovely :D

My daughter has oak Amtico with her dark furniture and it looks lovely.  Me?  I have ceramic tiles and vinyl!!:)

June,

BTW, I believe you can now get laminate that has a texture to it so the surface is not flat like ice.   It should help with regard to slipping.

Like other posters have said though, slipping is a concern and I would never install laminate because of it.  I have had too much experience in many years with dogs with hip problems, knee problems and accidents resulting in broken legs to tempt fate with laminate flooring.

I've seen the Amtico flooring and it looks fantastic.  I've gone so far as to get some samples and it's much nearer to looking like real wood than any laminate I've seen.  Plus, it is not slippery. There's another brand which looks great too, but of course I forget the name.   Amtico is pricey, but there's a flooring website where you can buy it cheaper - plus the sell laminate and lino flooring too.  Flooringsupplies.co.uk

Stacey