Hardwood Floors and Dogs: 2 Years With a 75-Pound Goldendoodle & Bona Floor Products
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Hardwood floors and dogs…the internet will tell you these two things can’t coexist, but I’m living proof that’s not true.
We refinished 2,700 square feet of hardwood in our multigenerational home, and continued sharing this space with a 75-pound goldendoodle who thinks the bottom of our stairs is his personal racetrack!
Two years later, our floors look surprisingly good, and I’ve learned exactly what works and what’s complete nonsense.
Most articles about living with dogs and hardwood give you the same advice (this is legit advice btw…you do need to trim them) about trimming nails but they don’t address the real issues.
Why do some floors handle dog scratches way better than others?
Durability and how much your dog’s personality matters compared to their size are what really matter.
I’ll also tell you why I went slightly insane for the first month after refinishing and put booties (these were great booties!) on my dog because after spending thousands of dollars, I wasn’t taking any chances. 🤷♀️ I caved after the first few weeks (my neurotic behavior wore off 😉) and the booties have lived in the drawer ever since.
The Dark Floor Disaster Nobody Warns You About
Before we refinished, our floors were stained dark cherry color.
Here’s what happens if dog scratches hardwood that’s been stained dark: you get light-colored scratch marks that stand out like crazy against the dark background.
Every zoomie session, every excited greeting at the door, it all showed up in stark, permanent contrast.
The difference between light vs dark hardwood with dogs isn’t just aesthetic, it’s the difference between driving yourself insane and actually enjoying your home!
When we refinished our red oak floors to look like white oak, we had the dogs in mind.
Going with that light Scandinavian look via Bona NordicSeal, it wasn’t just about following trends. It was about survival.
Here’s the brutal truth about dark floors with dogs:
- Scratches show up as light marks against dark stain (worst possible contrast)
- You become hyperaware of every single movement your dog makes
- They hide dirt better (the only upside), but show many scratches
- You’ll need more frequent refinishing if you want them pristine
What light floors actually do:
- Scratches blend into natural wood grain variations
- The lived-in character works with the aesthetic instead of against it
- You will see every piece of dog hair and dirt (weekly mopping is mandatory)
- Satin finish diffuses light instead of magnifying imperfections like gloss does
The question everyone asks (do light floors show dog scratches less?) has a nuanced answer.
They don’t show fewer scratches; they just hide them better because the contrast isn’t as dramatic. And that makes all the difference.
The Best Floor Finish for Dog Owners: What Actually Holds Up
I’m not going to pretend I tested every floor finish on the market, but I did extensive research before refinishing hardwood floors with pets in mind.
The Bona Traffic HD finish has a reputation for durability, and two years in, I can confirm it’s earned that reputation.
Why Bona Nordic and Bona HD works for dog owners:
- Satin sheen is forgiving (it doesn’t act like a spotlight on every imperfection the way gloss does)
- One coat of Traffic HD over the NordicSeal has held up to daily abuse from a 75-pound dog
- Light scratches just blend into the overall character of the floor
- We haven’t needed touch-ups or maintenance coats yet
Could I have done two coats of Traffic HD for extra protection?
Sure.
But honestly, one coat has been plenty for our situation, and I wasn’t about to extend the drying time and keep people (and the dog) off the floors longer than necessary when we were living in sections of the house during the project.
Real talk: would the floors look better without a dog?
Obviously.
But they don’t look trashed, and after seeing what our old dark floors looked like, that’s a massive win.
How to Protect Hardwood Floors From Dog Scratches: The Nail Trim Reality
Let’s talk about nail trimming dogs on hardwood, because this is non-negotiable if you want your floors to survive.
Monthly Dremel sessions at the groomer aren’t optional; they’re mandatory especially if you have a large heavy dog like we do.
Our goldendoodle gets his nails Dremeled every 8 weeks when he gets bathed and cut.
Yes, it costs money.
But let me do the math for you:
Nail trims might run $15-25 per month ($180-300 annually).
Refinishing 2,700 square feet of floors?
Thousands.
Even if you DIY it, the products alone add up fast.
But here’s what surprised me: it’s not just the length that matters—it’s how your dog moves!
Size Doesn’t Matter As Much As Temperament (Unpopular Opinion Alert)
Our bull mastiff (sadly he passed away a few years ago) weighed over 165 pounds.
Our goldendoodle is 75 pounds.
Logic says the bigger dog would’ve caused more damage, right?
Nope.
The goldendoodle does frantic circles at the bottom of the stairs when he can’t get traction.
The bull mastiff mostly just existed, heavy but not particularly destructive to the floors. He wasn’t a crazy runner in the house and didn’t have issues with the stairs.
This completely changed my understanding of what actually damages hardwood.
What really causes dog scratches on hardwood floors:
- Dogs who get wildly excited when you come home (shoutout to Jim for riling ours up every single time 😡)
- Areas where they scramble for traction
- Repeated high-traffic patterns
- The personality of your dog matters more than their weight
Dogs who pace anxiously or do zoomies (regardless of size) will cause surface scratching simply because of the constant quick movement.
This little guy above belongs to Jim’s sister and he got stuck wearing the booties too as we happened to be dog sitting the week the floors were redone.
I think I snapped this picture towards the end of my paranoid period because they don’t seem to be wearing them 😉.
Strategic Area Rugs: The Secret to Protecting Hardwood Floors From Dogs
Our goldendoodle loses his mind at the bottom of the stairs, he can’t get traction, so he does these frantic circles that were creating hairline scratches.
I put a 2×3 rug right there.
Problem solved immediately!
Where to strategically place rugs:
- Bottom of stairs where dogs build momentum
- In front of doors where they pace and wait
- Under food and water bowls (we use a 4×5 area rug in the kitchen—the dog’s a slob with bones and the drool is gross🫣)
- Hallways where they race back and forth
- Anywhere you notice developing “dog traffic patterns”
Rugs are washable and easily replaced. Hardwood isn’t. This is not complicated math!
Living the Refinished Life: The First Few Weeks When You Lose Your Mind
Let’s be honest about something: after you finish refinishing hardwood floors with pets incoming, you become temporarily unhinged.
I bought dog booties. Made everyone wear socks. Monitored every step.
I probably stressed out my entire family with my floor paranoia, but you know what?
After all that expense and work, I wasn’t about to let anything damage them during the critical curing period!
What actually helped:
- Bona NordicSeal can be walked on with socks after just a few hours (genuinely helpful)
- Light traffic is fine after a couple days
- Dog booties for 1-2 weeks isn’t crazy, it’s smart insurance when you’ve just spent thousands
- Accepting that floors are meant to be lived on, not preserved in museum condition
We refinished in sections and lived upstairs during the process. My parents were in Florida (multigenerational living perks), so it was just three of us and the dog using one entrance.
This made everything way more manageable than trying to vacate the entire house or tiptoe around wet floors everywhere.
When to Choose Something Other Than Hardwood (Real Budget Talk)
Look, if you have multiple dogs, kids who are rough on floors, and your budget won’t stretch to quality refinishing or durable finishes, luxury vinyl plank is a legitimate choice, not a compromise.
Jim just finished building a multigenerational house for another family (above). They have multiple dogs and insane foot traffic, so they went with LVP.
It looks great, it’s waterproof, and nobody’s stressed about scratches or damage.
When alternatives make more sense:
- You have 3+ dogs, especially very active breeds
- You’re not willing to maintain regular nail trims
- Your budget can’t accommodate hardwood finishes
- You have young kids AND dogs (chaos multiplier is real)
- Your dogs have frequent accidents and you need truly waterproof flooring
Can You Fix Scratches Without a Full Refinish?
Sort of. You could lightly sand a damaged area and apply fresh Bona, but getting it to feather into the established floor without creating obvious patch marks is tricky.
My advice? Test this technique in a closet or somewhere hidden first. Once you nail the process (how much to sand, how much product to apply) then tackle visible areas.
But here’s the thing, with light floors and that durable Traffic HD topcoat, most scratches are barely visible unless you’re really looking for them.
Regular nail maintenance and strategic rug placement is 90% of the battle.
Pro tip for high-traffic areas: Runners in front of kitchen cabinets or along hallways don’t just look good, they’re functional. They protect the floor and give your dog better traction so they’re not scrambling and scratching trying to get grip.
Get Real With Your Expectations About Hardwood and Dogs
If you want absolutely zero scratches, don’t get a dog. Or a cat. Or kids. Or basically live in your house at all 🤷♀️.
Floors exist to be used. Yes, protect them. Yes, maintain them. But if you’re constantly stressed about every tiny mark, you’re not enjoying your home, you’re being held hostage by it!
Our washing schedule is pretty simple, deep clean once weekly, spot clean during the week.
The kitchen area rug near the garage entrance is crucial! That’s where all the dirt, work boots, and dog traffic converges.
The Bottom Line on Hardwood Floors and Dogs
You can absolutely have beautiful hardwood and a dog. You just need to be strategic about it.
Go light with satin finish. Keep those nails trimmed monthly. Use rugs strategically where your dog gets excited or loses traction. Accept that perfection isn’t the goal, durability and livability are.
After 2 years, here’s my verdict: The Bona NordicSeal with Traffic HD combo has been solid. Our 75-pound goldendoodle hasn’t destroyed anything. Now if I could just convince Jim to stop antagonizing the dog into doing laps around the house every time he comes home, we’d be in even better shape. 🙄
More Refinishing Hardwood Floors Posts
- 1 year later, how our red oak floors are holding up
- Red Oak Floor Stains (how to pick the perfect color)
- Refinishing red oak floors lighter (see how we made red oak look like white oak!)
- Red oak vs White Oak Flooring (several pictures showing red and white oak floors)
Meet Jessica
What started as a hobby, Jessica’s blog now has millions of people visit yearly and while many of the projects and posts look and sound perfect, life hasn’t always been easy. Read Jessica’s story and how overcoming death, divorce and dementia was one of her biggest life lessons to date.
