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Best deck stain for dog scratches?
No deck stain is impervious to dog scratches. Dogs scratch up decks, it is just a fact of life as a pet owner. You should still stain your deck to protect it, but you will need to do more maintenance and more frequent reapplication than people with less harmful traffic.
Key takeaways
- Semi-transparent penetrating deck stains are the top recommendation for pet owners, as they better hide dog scratches than film-forming options.
- Decks stained with penetrating stains can be cleaned and re-stained within a day, making extra maintenance manageable for dog owners.
- Film-forming deck stains and deck paints show every nail gouge, making them a poor choice for homes with dogs.
- The wood grain visible through semi-transparent stains naturally disguises scratches, reducing how noticeable pet damage appears on your deck.
- Pet owners should expect more frequent reapplication than average, since dog traffic causes more wear and surface damage over time.
Best deck stain to use when you have a dog?

More information about deck stain traffic and scratches
- Re-staining an Old Deck
- Best Stain for an Old Deck
- Why Penetrating Deck Stains are Best
- When to use a Solid Color Deck Stain?
- How to Restore Your Deck all in One Day
- How Often Should you Stain your Deck?
