I have a dog-loving friend (has a large collection of numerous strays) who tiled her entire downstairs to be dog-friendly. She has some area rugs and her place looks wonderful--actually beyond wonderful. It's fabulous. Tile was set on the angle and is large scale. Not cheap, but works functionally and decoratively. (Her house is built on a slab--easiest to tile on concrete surface. Subflooring, if build over basement or crawl space, would need firming before any tiling could be done).

And, yes vinyl is an answer. too. Would not contribute positively to house value, but would be practical and would work. Investing in wood or bamboo and then having it ruined by spots of dog urine would not be a wise investment nor would it impress as anyone at re-sale time.

Me? I would ditch the dogs. Indoor dog urine on an ongoing basis as part of anyone's lifestyle horrifies me… But, I know that is no answer for a dog-lover…. You need a practical solution that will have you--and the dogs--living in harmony.

Happy Decorating!

There isn't much that can replace the look and feel of wood and an engineered wood or engineered bamboo are a step in the right direction. However, vinyl plank should also be a consideration. They look and feel much like hardwood without having to worry about moisture issues. That being said, claws aren't vinyl's best friend. Go with an engineered product and really try to catch the spills within hours rather than days of when they happen.

Thanks everyone! I love the idea of wood but just know that it's not practical for us. Thankfully it's not like the dogs pee all over the place. It is not often and confined to the laundry room where they are kept when we aren't home and only if we have left them for a long time ...like an unusually long work day. I do like the way laminate looks but everyone tells me it devalues your home. I think no matter what I am going to go buy a cheap piece of something that I can put down under the wee pad in case it leaks or they miss a little and then that could easily be disposed of as opposed to my flooring! My builder said he is concerned bamboo is too soft.....thoughts? I read that it was hard.....

Have you considered porcelain tile?

Engineered flooring is a great option. When you go engineered you'll have that versatility in your flooring to be able to go into basements, kitchens and stairs. If you are considered about claws and the everyday wear scratches on your flooring then you should consider a few distressing finishes you can get on engineered flooring. Wire brushing and Hand Scraped finishes are perfect for environments where animals and a lot of people will frequent and potentially scratch at the flooring.