LVT: the practical choice
A waterproof core means an accident is a wipe rather than a problem, the wear layer takes claw traffic well, and a damaged plank can be swapped individually. With a 0.55mm minimum wear layer it's the specification we'd put in a busy house with large dogs.
Wood: choose the finish carefully
If you want real timber, hardwax oil is far more forgiving than lacquer, because a scratch can be cleaned and blended locally rather than requiring the whole room to be re-coated. Brushed and textured surfaces hide claw marks better than smooth ones, and mid-tone, characterful boards hide them best of all.
- Textured or brushed surfaces disguise marks; high gloss shows everything
- Oiled finishes repair in patches, lacquered finishes don't
- Keep claws trimmed — it makes more difference than the product choice
Grip and comfort
Very smooth, glossy floors give dogs poor grip, particularly older ones on stairs and in hallways. A matte or textured surface and a couple of runners in the main routes solve it more effectively than changing the whole specification.
Accidents and moisture
Wipe promptly — the risk with wood is liquid reaching the end joints and sitting there. Around feeding stations and back doors, where water arrives daily, LVT is the sensible local answer even if the rest of the ground floor is timber.