Dogs are fantastic, but let’s face it: Managing dog hair can be a daunting task. This is especially true if you have multiple large, double-coated dogs in your household. And even if your dog doesn’t shed much, he still brings in dirt on his paws (though in my house, my husband’s boots provide the most dirt on the carpet). You need a reliable vacuum for dog hair just to keep up.
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How to Choose a Vacuum Cleaner for Dog Hair
Here are some features to look for when choosing a vacuum for your dog-friendly home.
- Powerful Suction: Controlling dust bunnies takes work, and you need a vacuum able to do the job. This is especially true if your home has carpeting that grabs onto dog hair. In general, upright vacuums tend to have the most suction. But modern cannister and cordless vacuums are getting stronger over time and may be sufficient if your home is mostly hard flooring or low-pile carpet.
- Beater Bar or Roller: A floorhead with a beater bar or roller will help to loosen and pick up dog hair. Look for a product that has anti-hair wrap or detangling features or is called a “pet hair attachment.” This will minimize the amount of dog hair that gets wrapped around the roller bar instead of going up the hose into the vacuum.
Nylon bristles tend to grab more hair than rubber wedges do. Even if your vacuum has detangling technology, it is still important to check the floorhead and roller bar on a regular basis. Freeing any tangled hair promptly will prevent knots from getting worse and keep your vacuum working properly. If you have multiple dogs, it’s a good idea to check this area after every use.
- Large Dustbin: The larger the dustbin capacity, the less often you must stop to empty the vacuum. If you only have one dog and vacuum daily, this might not make a huge difference, but if you have multiple dogs and vacuuming keeps getting pushed to tomorrow’s to-do list, a bigger dustbin is a must. In general, upright and cylinder vacuums tend to have larger dustbins than cordless stick vacuums.
- Simple Emptying Mechanism: A vacuum dustbin should be secure enough to keep debris contained but opening it should not be like cracking a safe. Be sure that the vacuum you are considering has a latch system that makes sense to you and that will be easy to maneuver. This is especially critical if you or a family member have limited strength or mobility in your hands.
The emptying mechanism should also minimize dust clouds that poof out upon opening. Bags eliminate this issue, but to use bags you will need to choose a vacuum that is set up for bags and then remember to buy bags on a regular basis.
Some cordless stick vacuums have eliminated this issue with auto-empty docks. When you place the vacuum back into its charging dock, the dustbin automatically empties into a larger chamber inside the dock. Depending on the model, the dock might have a bag or a larger dustbin that can then be emptied manually when filled.
- Easy to Clean: No matter how well-designed a vacuum is, there is going to be some hair and dirt that slips through junctions or gets stuck in the wrong spots. Filters and collection chambers should be easy to access for periodic cleaning, and ideally there should be ways to access long hoses to free up any clogs.
- Detail Tools: Dog hair gets everywhere, and the vacuum’s floorhead won’t reach everything. We recommend choosing a vacuum with a variety of tools and attachments so that you can tackle corners, creases, upholstery, and stairs with one machine.
- Filters to Control Allergens: A HEPA filter is a great way to reduce dust, dander, and allergens circulating in the air after you vacuum. This is especially helpful if a family member or friend who comes over regularly is allergic to dogs or has asthma or any other respiratory disorder. This goes for dogs and cats with respiratory illnesses, too.
Best Vacuums for Dog Hair
| Product | Description | Price | Where to Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dreame R20 | This lightweight cordless vacuum has good power and performs well on stairs, carpeting, and hard floors. It is versatile with a variety of attachments and converts to a handheld vacuum. | $200 to $450 | Dreametech.com Amazon.com |
| Dyson Ball Animal 3 | This upright vacuum is a beast, but its heavy weight comes with excellent suction (even on deep carpets) and a large dustbin. It is bagless and includes a HEPA filter. Dyson also offers higher trim models of the Ball Animal that include additional features and attachments. | $350 to$450; fancier models up to $660 | Dyson.com Chewy.com Bestbuy.com |
| Dyson V15 Detect | This cordless stick vacuum tackles hair on all surface types and has an Auto mode that adjusts the level of suction based on the job. It has multiple accessories for different tasks, as well as a HEPA filter. | $850 | Dyson.com Chewy.com Amazon.com |
| Eureka Mighty Mite | This canister vacuum is lightweight and does a great job with pet hair on hard floors. Its floorhead does not have a roller, which means you trade lack of tangles for less effective suction on carpet. It uses a bag system, and a long hose. | $90 to $110 | Eureka.com Chewy.com Staples.com |
| Kenmore Elite 31150 Pet Friendly Bagged Upright | This upright vacuum uses a bag system and is certified by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation. It is a bit heavy but has excellent suction and large capacity. It also has attachments that are great for getting hair off bedding and furniture. | $300 to $350 | Kenmore.com Amazon.com Walmart.com |
| SEBO Airbelt D4 Premium | This canister vacuum has power to spare and sucks up hair off hard surfaces and carpeting alike. Many users comment on how quiet it is while still having great suction. Its long hose and cord make it easy to use on stairs and in large spaces, and the floorhead has a foam bumper to protect furniture and walls. It uses a bag system with an indicator to tell you when it’s full and includes a HEPA filter. | $1500 | Sebo.us Bestvacuum.com |
| Shark PowerDetect Cordless | This cordless vacuum has great suction and can be purchased with an auto-empty dock to quickly and easily empty the dustbin. It has an Auto mode that adjusts the level of suction depending on the level of debris. It performs well on carpeting and hard floors and runs for up to 70 minutes on one charge. | $450 to $600 | Sharkninja.com Amazon.com Bestbuy.com |
| Shark Stratos DuoClean PowerFins HairPro Upright | This upright vacuum has a features list as long as its name. It has the powerful suction you expect form a good upright, and the hose and dustbin can lift away from the floorhead to convert to a canister vac for hard-to-reach places. It also has a HEPA filter and self-cleaning brush roll to prevent tangles. | $530 | Sharkninja.com Amazon.com Bestbuy.com |
Our Favorite Vacuums for Dog Hair
Shark
I am quite fond of my Shark upright vacuum. “Sharky Shark” has been serving in the trenches with me for eight years, battling the hair from two dogs for the first couple years and then rising to the challenge of three dogs and a cat. While I am a very dedicated animal caretaker, my vacuum care skirts the line of benign neglect: I do what I need to to keep the vacuum running but sometimes put off maintenance tasks longer than I should. I’ve had a few close calls where I thought it had perished but leaving it to sit in the closet for a few days did the trick.
My vacuum is a Shark Rotator Pet Upright. It has good suction on medium pile carpet and hard flooring but struggles on shag carpet (don’t judge: I rent!). The large dustbin grabs a lot of hair and dirt and is easy to empty. It is an older model, so it has bristles on the roller that trap a bunch of hair, so I check that after finishing each room. I can easily access the different filters, which can be cleaned by shaking them out and then rinsing with clean water and letting them dry before use. Hair does tend to get stuck in the top section of the dustbin before the main compartment, which necessitates emptying the dustbin more frequently. Dirt and dust goes straight through to the primary dustbin. It also has a variety of tools, and I can detach the handle to reach tight or elevated areas.
Shark offers a wide variety of vacuum products, including upright vacuums, cordless vacuums, corded stick vacuums, handheld vacuums, and robotic vacuums. Prices range from $100 to $1,200 depending on the model and features.
Dyson
Dyson has a dedicated following among dog lovers, and Dyson makes an appearance on just about every listicle or forum thread about vacuums. Their products are space-age works of art that get the job done too. Dyson’s cordless vacuums have incredible suction that can match many upright vacuums.
Dyson boasts a wide range of tools and accessories, including Dyson’s Hair Screw Tool to remove pet hair from just about any surface. Vacuum models include upright vacuums, cordless vacuums, handheld vacuums, and robotic vacuums. Prices range from to $300 to $1150 depending on the model and features.
Runners-Up for Dog Hair Vacuums
These companies have all proven their worth in homes and might have the right product for your vacuum needs.
Dreame offers cordless vacuums and robotic vacuums. Prices range from $200 to $2,000 depending on model and features.
Eureka offers upright vacuums, cordless vacuums, corded stick vacuums, canister vacuums, and robotic vacuums for every budget. Prices range from $40 to $1,000 depending on model and features.
Kenmore offers upright vacuums, cordless vacuums, corded stick vacuums, canister vacuums, handheld vacuums, and robotic vacuums for every budget. Prices range from $100 to $450 depending on model and features.
SEBO offers upright vacuums and canister vacuums. Prices range from $650 to $1450 depending on model and features.
Bottom Line
While Shark and Dyson are our favorite choices, we have compiled other standout vacuums for dog hair in our chart. As with any major purchase, watch for sales and special offers to get a great vacuum at a great price.
