Rigsby pet friendly holiday cottages – The Stables

Rigsby holiday cottages are ideally located for escapism in the picturesque parish of Rigsby, which is in the Lincolnshire Wolds – a designated area of outstanding natural beauty (ANOB). Rigsby is just 2 miles from Alford – renowned for its arts & crafts and striking five-sailed windmill. The holiday cottages are perfect for walkers and cyclists, with multiple public footpaths and cycle routes on the doorstep.

Within easy reach of the award winning, golden-sanded coastal resorts of Mablethorpe and Sutton on Sea. Louth, the capital of the Lincolnshire Wolds, is 10 miles away and the historic city of Lincoln is under an hour away.

Already With Two beautifully renovated holiday cottages the family wanted to offer another pet friendly option for their guests by renovating The Stables. So who better to turn to than Floors For Paws – The World’s best flooring for dogs and dog owners!

As farming has changed, Rigsby Farming Company, has ended up with a number of redundant buildings. We opened our first holiday cottage in 2008 and adding a second holiday cottage in 2014. The first holiday has always been the more popular one and we think this is because it is pet friendly and Rigsby in the Lincolnshire Wolds is surrounded by lots of great walks from the cottage door steps. So when we decided to convert an unused barn to make our third holiday cottage, we knew we wanted it to be very pet friendly. Great looks, longevity, paw friendly and easy clean helped us quickly settle on Floors For Paws. We selected Greenwood and it really hits the mark to give the holiday cottage a barn conversion look that also matches the contemporary interior finish we wanted to attract guests and of course their pets. Paul Read – Owner @ Rigsby Holiday cottages.

The Greenwood design worked beautifully with the original natural wood in the building.

Floors For Paws is 100% waterproof and due to its double wear layer protection it really is the best flooring for dogs and dog owners.

Floors For Paws worked closely with The Rigsby Farming company to provide the perfect fit for their vision, all the way through the process from discussing colour, to organising installation and aftercare. Call us today on 01937 830948 to help with your project.

For more information about staying at this beautiful holiday cottage please visit; http://rigsbywoldholidaycottages.uk or call 01507 463404

Best Flooring for Dogs UK

Simple: Floors For paws. Officially the Worlds best flooring for dogs & dog owners.

Over the last 20 years Dog owners have discovered the limitations of many different flooring types for dogs; carpet, laminate, wood and tile. Each of which has limitations; either impossible to maintain, slippery, or non-resistant to scratches.

With the introduction of Luxury Vinyl dog owners and indeed dogs exclaimed a cry of ‘halleluiah’ Here was something that offered us a solution. Waterproof, stain resistant and hard wearing.

Imagine taking that solution and making it even better! With the introduction of a double wear layer and a slip rating of 85 PTV Floors For Paws can now offer dogs and dog owners a flooring that is Scratch resistant, water proof, stain resistant, anti-slip and with the advancements in printing technology a flooring that has the look, warmth and feel of natural products.

Floors For Paws: The best flooring for dogs. Tested by dogs for dogs. Run by Dog lovers for Dog lovers.

Wherever your dog goes; go Floors for Paws.

ORDER YOUR FREE FLOORING SAMPLES TODAY!

Dogs and Carpets

As Dog lovers we all know the limitations of carpets in a pet friendly house.

To begin with your family relishes the soft cushioned underfoot feel of the carpet; it looks great for the first few weeks and we don’t mind giving it a vacuum every few days. After 12 weeks of the dog trailing its wet paws over it, we need to go a bit deeper with the cleaning, so we use a carpet shampoo. That brings it back to nearly its best. Three months later its ready for another clean, but the stains aren’t coming out. ‘Right’ we say ‘we are going to have to get this deep cleaned!’

The cycle continues for a couple of years and we now have every carpet cleaning chemical known to man in our kitchen cleaning cupboard….and yet the carpet is looking dirty and tired.

Not only that – the allergens in your carpet are building and building and no amount of cleaning can get them out of the fibres. Not good.

Say good bye to scrubbing, say goodbye to stains. Floors For Paws offers a unique solution for dog owners’ homes. Anti-stain, Anti-slip, Anti-Scuff and hypo-allergenic.

Dog Slipping on Floor

Most of us have smooth floor surfaces in our homes, but did you know they pose a safety risk for your dog? Laminate, tile and hardwood floors look great but your dog’s paws aren’t designed to walk on such smooth surfaces. And that can lead to slipping and falling – and potentially serious injury. Luckily, there are many ways to prevent these accidents from happening.

Dog paws like grip

Your dog’s paws will try to garner traction on any floor surface. When walking or running on a smooth floor there will be nothing available to gain that grip. Dogs slipping and falling on smooth floors can lead to injuries varying from bruising to painful cruciate ligament damage.
Floors For paws unique ridged surface gives dog paws a higher level of grip than smooth floor finishes allowing greater traction. As good as this is there are still further measures to consider to ensure you maximise your dogs enjoyment of the flooring.

Cracked and dry paw pads can really increase the chances of slips so it is important to take good care of your dogs pads. Concrete, sand and salt, as well as cold conditions will dry out your dogs pads giving them less moisture and thus less traction.

There are many good waxes and balms available online at very reasonable prices. We personally use Musher Wax to keep our dogs pads in good condition.

Prevention

1. Keep your dog’s nails short.
2. If your dog has hairy foot pads, keep them trimmed.
3. Pay extra attention to where your dog likes to nap or rest. Getting up from a smooth floor can be quite challenging, especially for larger or older dogs, so placing a rug there will make things easier and more comfortable for him.
4. Consider stairs as well. If your dog slips and falls down the stairs, any injuries he sustains can be especially serious. Invest in a good runner and install it securely on your steps.
5. Keeping your dog physically fit is important, too. If your dog maintains an ideal body weight, there will be less pressure on his joints, and that makes walking easier.

Order your free samples today

Preparing you floor for Floors for Paws

To ensure you have a lifetime of hassle free flooring it is essential to have your sub-floor prepared in the correct manner. If you have a perfectly smooth and dry sub-floor you can simply adhere Floors For Paws directly onto it. Unfortunately this is rarely the case, so we would like to look at the best solutions.

Latex sub-floor
This option is a quick and trusted process to ensure your FFP is fitted onto a suitable base. It is used on existing concrete floors that need to be smooth and levelled. Quick drying options such as the Stopgap 300 is ready to walk on in 2 hours and to work on in 4. This solution is also ideal for going over existing tile floors (who wants to take out all the tiles and build up again!) The photo below shows a kitchen diner before and after being latexed. As you can see the grout lines show through while it is drying but as long as 3-4mm is applied onto the tiles the surface will dry completely smooth.


1. Tiled floor


2. Two hours post latex


3. Floors for Paws Greenwood flooring

SP101 Ply board – Flooring Grade
Ply board should be used over existing wood flooring, or when you need to bring up the level of the floor by over 4mm. In the case below the carpet that was removed was 10mm and therefore too deep to apply a latex without the need for Grano chippings. This depth of latex would take two months to dry! The 9mm ply board is cut into place and secured with mechanical fixings at regular intervals to ensure no movement. The ply board is then ready for FFP to be adhered directly onto it. We recommend a minimum of a 6mm ply board base.


4. Build up with 9mm ply


5. Floors for Paws Wychwood flooring

If you are not a DIY nut; don’t worry because our recommended installers can carry out the preparation and installation for you.

Here our superb installation engineer John carries out fitting of 130 sqm of Greenwood to Rigsby Wold Holiday cottages new accommodation. For more details on this Dog friendly holiday please visit Rigsby Wold Holiday Cottages.

Call us today to discuss any aspect of your project on 01937 830948.

The Best Flooring for Puppies

The Best flooring for a new puppy

We all know the excitement of bringing home your new puppy; those doleful eyes that make you want wrap your puppy in cotton wool and never let it leave your sight -The proof that love at first sight is real and the kids say ‘you’re the best parents in the world!’

Success; everyone is in love and happy. Now for the practical……

Short of taking your puppy into the garden at 15 minute intervals your puppy is going to pee (and worse) on your carpet at some point. (Crate training can be a good way to avoid this, but personally I find making a puppy sleep near their own mess is a little mean)

So as you clean your carpet for the seventh time in two days you start to think; ‘I need a new floor – ceramic will be good. Its wipe clean – problem solved.’ Unfortunately your little puppy will be like Bambi on ice on smooth flooring, and your vets bills will far out weigh the cost the new floor.

Laminate? Prone to scratching, and moisture underneath the top covering

Stone? Urine can soak into the stone

Wood? Scratches and stains

So What is the best flooring for puppies???

Floors For Paws is stain proof, waterproof, Anti-slip and Anti-scratch. Wherever your dog goes: go Floors For Paws. The world’s best flooring for dogs & dog owners.

The Challenges of Dogs and your Flooring; Part One

If you are reading this, you are more than likely a dog lover! We are too. To us they are the greatest animals on earth. Only dogs have evolved alongside man for the last 15,000 years. We become more and more educated on what behaviours drive dogs and as such we understand the needs they have when living in our homes.
What is the main driving factor of dogs?

Self-preservation & Play:

They love to play. One of the main characteristics of all healthy dog is the drive to play. Inherent from the evolution of the Grey wolf packs have utilised play to prepare themselves for survival and confrontation. Although domesticated dogs do not face the same challenges as wild dogs it is a trait that will not be disappearing anytime soon.

As part of your pack dogs will expect us to play with them. But even when we don’t they will entertain themselves; chasing after a ball, having a mad rush around the living room, and trying to dig through to Australia!

Dog Claws:

This can be very detrimental to your flooring, in the form of claw marks. Flooring such as wood, laminate, rubber and carpet will be damaged or gain unsightly scratches from dogs claws and cause expensive restoration or replacement. Your beautiful floor can become tired looking very quickly

Solution to dogs & Flooring:

Floors For Paws is The World’s best flooring for Dogs & Dog owners. We understand the challenges our beloved companions provide, and as such have found the solution. Our 0.6mm wear layer is twice the industry standard for vinyl flooring, and is capable of resisting the scratches and scuffs that are inevitable from dog claws.

Click here to view our range and order your free samples today.

The Pros and Cons of Flooring Types for Dogs

The best flooring for dogs UK

Wood flooring:

Wood flooring has a warmth and texture that make it a popular choice for home owners. It can last decades (if hardwood) and is hypo-allergenic. It is also easier to keep clean than carpet. The disadvantage of wood flooring when you have pets is that it can be scratched by dog claws, and stained by spillages. Pet urine which can lead to a process of sanding and re-sanding which can become expensive to maintain. It can also be slippery underfoot for you and your dogs.

Carpet:

Carpet is the most popular choice for home owners. We love the feel of soft carpet under our feet, and carpet has the highest warmth retention of all floor coverings. Unfortunately for dog owners it can become worn relatively quickly by dogs. It can trap allergens in the fibres which may cause allergic reactions to home owners and in some cases your dogs.

Ceramic Tile:

Often touted as a good pet friendly flooring the ceramic tile is easy to clean and maintain, hardwearing and long lasting. Very popular in Kitchen installations due to its water resistant nature. It has long been a popular choice with dog owners. The one thing to consider with ceramic tile is the lack of slip-resistance for you and your dog especially when wet. Over the last few years research into dog injuries have found slippery floors to be one of the main causes of arthritis in dogs. Damage from an early age caused by slipping can lead to decreased mobility in later life for dogs.

Laminate:

Once celebrated as the solution to pet owners needs for easy clean, low maintenance flooring this product thrived due to its low price and numerous designs. Still used today it is a popular choice for those who need a cost effective flooring solution. The negatives of the floor type is that it is prone to staining. Any harsh chemical used to remove these can bleach the colour – and leaks. This obviously has repercussions for dog owners who will have dog urine and water spillages from dog bowls on their floor. It is also very low on the slip-resistant rating.

Rubber Flooring:

Rubber is a warm, comfortable solution for homes. Available in many colours and sustainably sourced. It has good slip properties, but is prone to scratching. It can be difficult and expensive to lay correctly. It is popular for dog kennels and dog training areas where aesthetics are not a priority. Some higher density rubber flooring is popular in homes, however dog owners may find the scratches to be prohibitive to specification.

Luxury Vinyl Tile Flooring:

LVT has rocketed in popularity in the last few years due to the improved 3d printing technique which allows the floor to take on the look of wood, stone, and ceramic. It is also waterproof, stain-resistant, long lasting, and hardwearing.

Floors For Paws LVT:

Officially: The world’s best flooring for dogs.Floors for paws has all the attributes of the LVT along with a double wear layer to negate scratching from dog claws, dropped items (those heavy dog bones!) and day to day wear and tear of busy households. It enables us to offer an extremely long domestic guarantee. Due to the ridged design it is also better than other LVT’s in terms of slip ratings (85 PTV BS7976). Giving better grip than others on the market. The 0.6mm wear layer is also stain resistant, so any dog urine, wine spills, and worse will not damage the flooring. It can be wiped clean without leaving a mark. As dog lovers we also wanted dogs to benefit from our company. We donate 10% of every sale to Dogs Trust.

Please visit our products and order your free samples.

The Benefits of Anti-slip Flooring for your Dog

I have spent my whole life working with animals, as my uncle was a farmer and I grew up with no other destiny as my love for animals was so strong. Its funny, I never realised how much thought needs to be put into flooring until I became a veterinary nurse. This issue has only become more highlighted as I became an animal physiotherapist.

Flooring was always been second nature for me. Even on farms, we paid a lot of attention to the floor and bedding to ensure it was good for the animals foot care. It had to be shock absorbing, non-slip and not allow the animals to get wet hooves, paws or claws. It doesn’t matter what animal it is, we need to think about the same basic principles.

When I became a nurse I did some home visits and became more aware that many people lived differently and had different types of home and décor. When I became an animal physiotherapist I became more aware than ever before, that there were other type of flooring out there were less than ideal. Some of the questions I have to raise with owners is, what type of flooring do you have? A common answer was laminate or tiles. As time has moved forward more and more people are opting for hard floors for the understandable convenience and cleanliness. Lots of the flooring has become more varied aesthetically, but many hard options remain shiny and hard and cold.

We are all very house proud these days and with it becoming more expensive to move house and buy homes, people are choosing to invest in making their own home perfect. This is wonderful! I would like to ask that in choosing perfection, please remember to think about the comfort of our animals in those homes too. It’s actually not even just for the animals. As we age, we will also see great benefit in choosing a floor that suits these needs too.

An ideal floor will have good grip. If we lose our balance we need to be able to rely on our feet and not slip more. Rather like tyres on the road. A little forgiving slide is OK as it allows you to slow to a stop without damage, but skidding is a real worry, especially for the older pet or human. Laminate and high gloss floor tiles don’t allow enough grip and so can make our pets feel unsafe. Some dogs even get to the point where they refuse to walk on these types of floor, and I have seen this countless times. In many cases the dog may alter their gait and walk looking very strange as they over use too many muscles to try to be extra careful on the floor High gloss and laminate also make it virtually impossible for some animals to get up from laying on as they can’t get the traction needed.

An ideal floor is an easy to clean one! I understand this completely, so it can be easier to have a hard floor rather than carpet. Vinyl makes a great compromise as it is easy to clean and has excellent grip. After all, we can’t carpet every room, its just not hygienic or practical.

An ideal floor is not too hard or cold. That might sound ironic when talking about hard floors, but if you fall on a tile or stone floor it is less forgiving than a fall on a less solid surface. The temperature is also something to consider. The circulation in paws and feet is poor compared to the rest of the body, so they get cold so walking on a cold surface is not kind, especially for arthritic toes. Many of our pets will also choose to lay in the room we are in and if they are laying on a very cold stone or tile surface then their muscles can become very stiff. They can also get sores on their bony prominences, like their elbows, from where the circulation is so poor as they have laid with the pressure on the skin for too long on a hard surface.

I too, like many others, am going through a home renovation. I was over the moon when I found Floors for Paws on my hunt for suitable flooring. I am a big fan of vinyl for the grip, temperature, and ease of cleaning. A big feature of Floors For Paws is the extra scratch resistant layer, and I definitely think this is a big bonus to stop claw marks. I have an old arthritic dog and a young 3 legged dog. Both love to follow me into my kitchen and my bathroom! Both will benefit, and most importantly, over my life I will have many dogs and they will all benefit regardless of age. I also know my whole family and myself, will also benefit. Thank you Floors for Paws!

Donna Wills PGC A Phys, RVN, MIAAT.

Member of RAMP

Member of the British Veterinary Nursing Association

M. 07776 182 911
W. www.animalphysiotherapy.org.uk

What is Pet Friendly Flooring? UK

Well, that depends who’s asking; humans or dogs!

In the past we have regarded ‘pet friendly’ as a floors system that is easy to clean and maintain in an environment with pets. Smooth hard floors are excellent at keeping out ingrained dirt, however they are not the best solution for all of us in the family. What we have sometimes not considered is what our beloved dogs require;

Slippery floors are a significant contributor to chronic pain and arthritis in dogs, due to injury from slips. For dogs with existing arthritis it is essential that flooring issues are addressed.

Most dogs in the UK live in their owner’s home, and may spend up to 90% of their life in that environment. If there are steps that they repeatedly struggle up and down, floors they repeatedly slip on, or solid cold beds they repeatedly sleep on, their condition will not improve as they will continue to injure themselves.

Your dog’s lack of ability to correct and therefore protect themselves when they slip or have to negotiate difficult paths will leave them prone to further trauma.

A slippery floor, be it wooden, laminate, or tile is very hazardous for an arthritic dog that already has weak & painful limbs. Repeated slips, no matter how small, will progress the clinical signs of arthritis.

So when choosing your next Floor system please take into account the slip-resistance of your choice;

Floors for Paws has a BS 7976 pendulum slip-test result of 85 PTV.

Best flooring for pets