1. Avoid the soft woods: American Walnut Pine, Fir, Cedar, American Cherry, American Walnut, Carbonized Bamboo (caramel colored)

   These woods are softer and will dent easily. They are beautiful but not very practical. Ironically, most of the softer woods are more expensive too. Always remember that the softer the wood, the more they are prone to denting and scratching. It’s always better to go with hardwood as they can hold up better in high traffic without getting damaged. Note: American = soft; Brazilian = hard (example: American Cherry and Walnut are different than Brazilian Cherry and Walnut.)

2. Solid wood rather than engineered wood! –  Your dog’s claws are likely to cause scuffs and scratches to your floor.  Solid hardwoods are not only of better quality but can also withstand significantly more sanding than engineered floors.
3. Woods with stronger graining and higher Janka rating (this indicates the hardness of wood and its resistance to dents, scratches and wears.) The higher the Janka rating, the more resistant the wood will be.
4. Pre-finished engineered hardwood usually comes with aluminum oxide layers that give the wood a harder, more durable finish. Pre-finished engineered wood floors have strong coating that works very well for children and pets.
5. Hardwoods with pronounced grain and texture are excellent for masking the scratches. For example, Red Oak and Hickory with a high Janka hardness, will do an excellent job of hiding the dents and scrapes.
6. Use distressed or hand-scraped wood flooring.  This look has natural markings that helps camouflage any imperfections on your floor’s surface.
7. Light colors help hide scratches or dents too.

Millions of homeowners with pets can enjoy all the benefits of hardwood flooring.  We hope this helps!

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