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leather furniture and pets

last year

I was just told by a leading leather furniture company that having leather furniture with pets won’t be a good idea. He said the oils on your pets body will ruin the leather (I have a 12 lb dog that is a couch potato). It really surprised me! Now I don’t know if I should not get leather and look for a fabric set. ???

Featured Answer

pricklypearcactus

last year

I would tend to agree that yes, body oils from pets as well as humans can stain leather. But it also can stain or discolor fabric. I will say that my carpet (which needs to be cleaned and probably replaced) seems to have more wear and discoloration in the areas where my 70lb shepherd lays. I don't let her sleep on the furniture, but I would expect similar impact if I did. I would also expect that if I regularly slept on the couch in the nude, there would also be oils and grime deposited. I don't think that necessarily means you cannot have leather, but we have to expect that our pets add extra wear and grime to anything that they lay on.

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Comments (7)

lizbeth-gardener
last year
I've not had a dog with a leather couch, but my DH had a quality leather recliner that he ruined the place where his head rested from oil in his hair. He showers daily, so it wasn't from lack of cleanliness. And it was over a number of years, so it didn't happen overnight. If the leather company is telling you that I would listen.
marmiegard_z7b
last year
I wonder what the fabric sofa stores would say about having dogs sleep on the fabric furniture regularly. I can’t imagine they would recommend it.
I’m not able to give a manufacturer- type viewpoint. But my DD has had brown leather sofas that are withstanding 10 + years of dogs and small children. I have no idea what brand or type of leather. I also can imagine that there are thinner or more delicate leathers and also lighter colors that are more problematic.

If you think about fabric and dogs, I’m not sure you can get a good result unless you can actually launder the fabric, such as a washable slipcover or a quilt or sofa- protector. Because, doggie odor, especially if the dog spends a good deal of time on the sifa ( or chair.) To me the leather does not pick that up much it at all, compared to throws and bed linens that dog snoozes on regularly.
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Laurie, Thank you! I love the floor too. DH says there are things we really did right in building our home (and wrong!! LOL) but this floor is one of the good decisions. It's engineered and from the "Old World" collection of a company called Provenza. It's wide plank white oak...rustic with lots of knots. And, the easiest flooring I've ever had. Bar none. Because it's natural, no stain on it, small scratches don't show or they blend right into the rustic nature of the wood. Even larger scratches seem to just get lost in the floor, like they become part of it. Taking care of the floor is a simple vacuum and occasional damp/dry mop using a solution we got from the company. I even dripped some rasberry juice on it once and it came right up with a damp sponge. Plus it's Bree's hair color!!! LOL Our cabinets are select alder. The stain was made by our painter to match the darker streaks in the oak floor. Here is a link that might be useful: Provenza Old World collection
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blueskysunnyday
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We have 2 dogs and a cat and our leather sofa is holding up better than our performance fabric sofa. YMMV.
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Get the dog his own bed and get the furniture you want. I really don’t understand people who let their pets wreck their homes. Dogs are so easy to train.
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We just trained our dog to sleep on a blanket on the sofa
blueskysunnyday
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The leather couch is the only one we allow the dogs on. But, their leaning against fabric the sofas has made marks.

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