Best Finish For Hardwood Floors With Dogs: 5 Best options

One of the best of its kind, Rust-Oleum Oil Polyurethane is a premium choice on our list. Although expensive, this product is excellent for giving your floor a protective coating. If budget isn’t a concern, we highly recommend picking this over others.

Rust-Oleum Oil Polyurethane is thickly formulated and packed with features that make it suitable for heavy use. It can take a while to dry down because of its thickness, but humidity and temperature dramatically determine the drying time.

This premium hardwood floor finish gives your floor a rich, satiny, and durable finish. It does not soak too deep into the floor, and its odor is milder than many oil-based finishes. That said, any oil-based finish releases fumes while it cures, so ventilate well and keep pets and children out of the room.

Disclaimer: You might not like this product if you already have a pre-treated floor.

Another oil-based hardwood floor finish that promises durability and protection against scratches is this one from Duraseal.

Duraseal is a trusted brand for providing hardwood floor finishes, and this product is among the best in the market. You can rely on it to make your floor more scratch-resistant. It is a transparent product that deepens and enhances the wood’s color. Since it is oil-based, it prevents dirt and spills from permeating the wood.

The best part about this product is that you can choose different types of finishes based on your preference- satin, gloss, semi-gloss, and matte. You can also purchase it in 1, 2.5, and 5-gallon sizes.

The product takes about 8 hours to dry. You wouldn’t require a professional to do the job as it is pretty easy to use with clear instructions included on the label. One gallon of this product offers coverage up to 500 sq. ft. Therefore, it is a cost-effective option if you don’t want to spend a fortune on a hardwood floor finish.

Those who aren’t into oil-based formulae will find this finish better. The Rust-Oleum Waterborne Diamond floor finish offers a glossy crystal-clear finish to your hardwood floors and shields them from scratches and dents.

This hardwood floor finish is made for high-traffic areas, so it copes well even if your house is a den! It provides strong protection from scuffs and abrasion.

Kudos to the chemical and stain-resistant formula; dog vomit or urine won’t soak straight into the wood as long as you wipe it up promptly. Puddles left to sit for hours can still damage any finish. It is an excellent product that ensures durability and wood grain preservation.

Since this product is water-based, it takes very little time to dry. You can recoat your floor on the same day, unlike other times when you have to wait for 24 hours for the second coating.

Another advantage of using the Rust-Oleum Waterborne Diamond floor finish is that sanding is not required between coats. It only requires a waiting time of 1 hour after the first coat to apply the second time.

If looking at brush strokes after painting something is a pet peeve, you surely wouldn’t like to see it on your floor when you give it a finish. This semi-gloss hard floor finish from Zar ensures that you get a smooth application.

It has a self-leveling feature that gives your wood floor a smooth, streak-free coating. Since it dries within an hour and a half to two hours after the initial coat, you can get the work done quickly.

There are no problems with the Zar semi-gloss finish regarding durability. You’ll notice far fewer scratches from your dog’s nails once you coat your floor with this finish.

The main downside is its very smooth finish, which can make floors slippery. That matters for dogs, especially seniors or dogs with joint problems, so add a few rugs or runners in the areas where your dog walks, turns and plays.

The Deft Lacquer Sanding Sealer Spray is a handy option for smaller jobs, such as touching up worn spots, thresholds, stair edges or wooden trim your dog keeps scratching.

With 100% nitrocellulose in its formula, this spray hardens quickly from the first layer. Keep in mind that it is a sanding sealer: it seals the wood and gives the topcoat something to grip, so for a whole floor you’ll still want a floor-grade polyurethane over it. An aerosol can also isn’t practical for covering an entire room.

A coat of the Deft lacquer spray helps keep moisture and stains from getting into the wood. You can lightly sand and apply a second coat for a smoother texture. Fortunately, the spray doesn’t harden or discolor inside the can even if you store it away for a long time.

The Deft lacquer spray dries in about half an hour and doesn’t leave a tacky finish. Expect to sand lightly after the first coat, as it can leave a slightly rough texture.