The Best Area Rugs For Dogs in 2022
A good area rug can strike the perfect balance between your pet’s needs and your own. It provides pooches with a great spot curl up by your feet, and owners with a focal point and a cozy ambiance. However, not all rugs are pet friendly rugs, and many just aren’t hardy enough to stand up to sharp claws, muddy pays, and molting.
With this in mind, we’ve searched high and low to bring you the best eight pet friendly area rugs on the market right now. Each features a unique style, and with these diverse options we’re confident you’ll be able to find one that looks right at home with your decor. To help you get the most out of your new dog rug, we’ve also compiled a useful guide to their cleaning and maintenance, as well as some useful information about what to look out for in these versatile floor coverings.
The Best Area Rug For Dogs
1. Unique Loom Trellis Area Rug For Dogs
Key Features
Area rug with Moroccan style lattice design
Simple and bold pattern
Available in 21 different shades
Made from non-shedding, stain resistant polypropylene
Backed with cotton for improved durability and flexibility
Also available in a round shape
Kicking off our list is Unique Loom, with their sleek Moroccan style lattice rug. The simple symmetrical pattern makes for a great focal point, without being busy or distracting. It’s available in 16 attractive colors, so you’re virtually guaranteed to find a shade that matches your interior. This huge variety also allows you to find an option that won’t show your dog’s hair. Each rug is made in Turkey, with stain-resistant, non-shedding polypropylene fiber.
The rug is backed with cotton, improving its durability and softness. Meanwhile, the rug’s front is quick and easy to clean, making it ideal for households with pets. The rug is also available in a round design, making it easy to fit virtually any room. Customers say they love the high quality design, which allows the rug to be softer and more flexible than other options at this price point.
2. Diagona Designs Moroccan Trellis Design Area Rug
Key Features
Turkish-made rug featuring a simple criss-cross pattern
Made from durable polypropylene fabric
Resistant to shedding and stains
Short pile makes it ideal for high traffic areas
Available in three different colors
Soft and flexible
Easy to vacuum
The next pet carpet to earn itself a spot on our list is this soothing gray area rug by Diagona Designs. The rug is machine woven in Turkey from durable polypropylene fabric, which allows it to resist shedding, meaning less mess and no fibers for curious pooches to nibble.
The rug can naturally resist stains, too, so there’s no need to worry about muddy paws. The relatively short pile makes it ideal for use in high traffic areas, since it’s hard for dirt and debris to be caught between the fibers. As well as being durable, it also looks good – the simple criss-cross pattern is available in three different colors, designed to compliment almost any living room. Owners say the rug is a steal at its price point, soft, and easy to vacuum too.
3. Unique Loom Baracoa Collection Area Rug for Dogs
Key Features
Vintage style area rug with colorful design
Made from non-shedding, stain resistant polypropylene
Relatively short pile is easy to vacuum
Cotton backing adds softness and durability
Bright colors lighten up any room
Also available in a round design
Earning themselves a second spot on our list is Unique Loom, with this intricate and traditional design. The durable carpet is one of the best rugs for dogs on the market right now, thanks to its non-shedding, stain resistant fiber. This polypropylene fabric is also durable and easy to clean, and thanks to its relatively short pile running a vacuum over it is a breeze.
The intricate mix of colors in the rug look great with almost any interior, while its cotton backing adds extra softness and helps it to last for many years to come. Customers report that the rug is smooth and comfortable on the feet, while its bright colors lighten up any room. Overall you can count on Unique Loom to provide excellent quality dog friendly rugs. This pattern is also available in a round design, and a larger rectangular one.
4. RugStylesOnline Area Rug For Dogs
Key Features
Low pile dog mat featuring pet-friendly bones and paw prints pattern
Available in different sizes
Woven from hardy but soft nylon fibers
Easy to vacuum and spot clean
Perfect for placing beneath food bowls
Absorbent
Features an anti-slip backing, making it ideal for hard floors such as wood or tile
If you’re looking for a rug that screams “pets welcome”, look no further than this adorable design by Rug Styles Online. The low pile mat is woven with a quirky pattern of paw prints and bones, helping pooches to feel at home. It’s ideal for placing underneath a dog bed, or in your dog’s sleeping spot. To accommodate all your needs, the rug is also available as a runner.
It’s woven from hardy nylon; soft enough to keep pets comfy, but firm enough to prevent dirt from becoming embedded among its fibers. Its low pile adds to this effect, making it easy to vacuum and spot clean whenever muddy paws come into the picture. Customers report using this cute and versatile rug for a number of applications – it can be placed beneath food bowls to catch extraneous pieces of kibble, or at the door to help absorb mud and water from your pooch’s paws before they enter the house. The rug’s anti-slip backing means it’s equally at home on both hard floors and carpets.
5. Persian Area Rugs for Dogs
Key Features
Shabby chic area rug featuring a faded medallion design
Provides an attractive focal point without dominating the room
Machine made in Turkey
Woven from high quality polypropylene fibers
Stain resistant and easy to vacuum and spot clean
Soft underfoot
Designed for longevity
Last, but not least, is this distressed blue area rug by Persian-Rugs. The tastefully faded pattern is perfect for those with a penchant for shabby chic interiors. Its medallion pattern provides an attractive focal point without dominating the room, making it ideal for a wide range of interiors.
The rug is manufactured in Turkey, using only high quality polypropylene fibers. As we’ve established, this material lends rugs a resistance to stains that’s ideal for households with pets. It’s soft, yet durable, so dogs will love hunkering down on the short but fluffy pile. Each Persian-Rug carpet is machine made, for excellent longevity, and users report that it’s soft underfoot and looks great in the home.
Best Area Rug For Dogs Buying Guide & FAQ
These eight area rugs are the best on the market right now. We’re confident that there’s something on our list for every dog lover, no matter the size of your space, or the style of your interior. To help you work out which rug is right for your home and dog, we’ve compiled this handy buying guide.
We also know how important it is to keep your home in good condition. With this in mind, we’ve put together some handy tips for maintaining your area rug, and answered some common questions surrounding this topic.
What to Look for in Area Rugs for Dogs
When selecting an area rug for a home with pets, there are a few key factors to consider:
- Materials
The first thing to watch out for when choosing a dog friendly area run is what it’s made from. As we’ll cover in more detail later, not all materials are equally suitable for pets. Look out for a good quality synthetic material such as polypropylene, which is stain resistant, soft, and durable.
- Patterns & Colors
Whatever area rug you choose, it will end up being a prominent feature of whichever room you place it in. This means it’s very important to select one that will match your interior, and your tastes. Fortunately, the options are virtually endless in this department. It’s a good idea to consider your dog’s hair color when making this decision. A light colored rug will show up dark hair more prominently, while dark colors will make light hairs more visible.
- Sizing
As obvious as it might sound, sizing is also a major issue to consider when purchasing any rug. Take the time to run a tape measure around the area you are planning to cover before browsing your available options. Luckily, manufacturers understand that homes come in all shapes and sizes, and tend to offer the same design in multiple sizing options.
You may also like our articles on Weighted Blankets for Dogs and Dog Food Mats.
Materials to Avoid
When choosing an area rug which both you and your dog can enjoy, there are certain materials and designs you’ll want to avoid:
- Loop Pile
Loop pile rugs are not ideal for pets, since their claws can become trapped in the fibers. Although this is more of an issue for cats, dog claws also have the potential to become stuck. Instead, it’s best to choose a cut pile, like the options on our list.
- High Pile
High pile carpets and rugs have the potential to trap pet hair and dander. This is not only unhygienic, but can also exacerbate allergies.
- Natural Fibers
It might come as a surprise, but synthetic fibers tend to make bette rugs in pet-friendly households. Natural fibers such as wool, silk, and jute, are more porous, and far less resistant to stains. They’re also less resistant to tearing and chewing, and can shed. On the other hand, synthetic materials such as nylon and polypropylene are great for homes with pets because they are durable, stain resistant, and don’t tend to shed.
- Plain Rugs
When you’re trying to cover up the occasional sprinkling of pet hair, and a small stain or two, patterns are your ally. Rugs with multiple colors and repeating patterns can easily hide a multitude of sins, keeping your rug looking better for longer.
Take a look at our reviews of Dog Couch Covers and Dog Cooling Pads.
Advantages of Using Area Rugs for Dogs
Using a pet-friendly area rug in your home has a number of advantages:
- Pets tend to slip and slide on hard floors, and a good rug will prevent this
- Rugs provide a soft spot for your dog to curl up and be near their family - without jumping up on the sofa
- Area rugs add an attractive focal point to almost any room
- Area rugs are an inexpensive and attractive way to protect your floors from claw marks
Our Top Pick
We’re of the opinion that the best area rugs for dogs has to be Unique Loom’s versatile trellis design. The simple, symmetrical pattern is available in 16 attractive colors, so you’re guaranteed to find something that fits in perfectly with your home’s unique interior.
Each rug is machine made in Turkey, with easy-to-clean, stain resistant, and non-shedding polypropylene. These properties make polypropylene ideal for households with pets, since it can stand up to the assault of muddy or dusty paws while remaining soft and comfortable. The rug’s relatively low pile strikes the perfect balance between comfort and practicality, ensuring that dirt and debris won’t become matted in its fibers, but still providing a deep enough layer for your pooch to rest comfortably on it. Overall, with its high quality, attractive design, this trly is the best carpet for pets.
FAQ
Q: Will steam cleaning or water cleaning damage my rug?
Assuming you have carefully chosen your detergent, no. Synthetic rugs, like those on our list, are especially resistant to damage from steam cleaning.
Steam cleaning your rug around once a year is a great way to keep it in top condition, and improve general hygiene. The process combines warm water, detergent, and a wet vacuum, to give rugs and carpets a deep clean throughout the pile. It’s great for removing, stains, allergens, and even pests, making it an excellent option for households with pets.
If you decide to steam clean your rug, be sure to vacuum away the water thoroughly, and not use too much water. If you’re not careful, you run the risk of mould or mildew forming in the carpet.
Q: How often should I clean a rug for dogs?
As pet owners know, a house containing dogs will need a little more cleaning attention than a pet-free home. Some of this TLC should be directed towards your new area rug.
How often you need to vacuum the rug will depend on how much your dog sheds, and whether anyone in the household suffers from allergies. For short-haired breeds with little dander, vacuuming the rug once a week should be enough. On the other hand, if your long-haired pooch is going through a molt, you may need to whip around the vacuum every other day.
As mentioned earlier, steam cleaning your rug annually is a great way to maintain hygiene. If you don’t want to invest in a wet vacuum yourself, you can hire a professional to steam clean your carpets.
Q: Do I need protectant on my rugs?
Carpet protectant coats the pile of your carpet, resulting in a protective layer that repels dirt and liquids, while also preventing UV damage.
Since synthetic rugs are inexpensive to replace, and designed to repel stains anyway, we would suggest that coating them with a protectant isn’t necessary. However, if you have invested heavily in an area rug, and expect it to experience considerable wear and tear, this is an option you could consider - especially if the rug is placed in an area with considerable sun exposure.