The Best Pet-Friendly Vacuums for Every Type of Shedder

National Pet Day (April 11) reminds us of the joy our furry friends bring—along with the hair, dander, and muddy paw prints they leave behind. Any pet owner knows: shedding is the top floorcare challenge, and every pet sheds differently.

Border Collies spread thick double-coat fur everywhere. Poodles may shed less but still trap dander that triggers allergies. Cats leave a fur outline on your couch. The right vacuum tailored to your pet’s hair type can make all the difference.

We share a breakdown of three pet-friendly vacuum models, and which pets (and messes) they’re best suited for.

Bissell’s CleanView® HydroSteam® (4200F) — Best for Accidents and Deep-Set Mess

Some pets, particularly puppies, older dogs, and large breeds like Labradors or Golden Retrievers, are prone to accidents on carpets, rugs, and upholstery. Standard vacuums aren’t built to handle those kinds of messes — and that’s exactly where the Bissell CleanView® HydroSteam® 4200F comes in.

This carpet and upholstery cleaner combines steam, water, and cleaning formula to tackle stubborn stains up to 40% better than traditional methods. Its built-in Steam Pretreat Mode loosens deep-set spots before the main cleaning cycle begins, while the large 3.7L tank lets you cover large areas without constant refilling.

Best for:

• Large, high-shedding breeds prone to accidents (e.g. Labradors, Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds)
• Homes with carpets, rugs, and fabric sofas
• Deep cleaning sessions where odour and stain removal matters

Maintenance is easy, too. The EZ Clean Brush Roll Cover and Catch & Clean Tray are both removable and rinsable — perfect for households where cleaning tools need to stay as clean as the floors.

DISCOVER BISSELL’S CLEANVIEW® HYDROSTEAM®

Electrolux’s 800 Series Cordless Vacuum + Clean Station (EFP81825SB) — Best for All-Floor Coverage and Dander Management

For pet owners who deal with dander as much as visible hair — think allergy sufferers sharing a home with cats, Pugs, or other short-coat breeds — filtration quality is non-negotiable. The Electrolux 800 Series Cordless Vacuum + Clean Station delivers on this front with a six-step filtration system that captures 99.9% of micro dust particles, helping to keep the air in your home cleaner as you vacuum.

Its intelligent Auto Mode automatically adjusts suction to suit the surface — carpet, hardwood, tile — so you can glide from room to room without stopping to change settings. With up to 100 minutes of cordless runtime, it’s built for whole-home cleans, not just quick spot jobs.

Best for:

• Allergy sufferers managing pet dander
• Multi-floor homes with a mix of hard floors and carpet
• Pet owners with cats or short-coat breeds (e.g. Pugs, Beagles, domestic shorthairs)

When you’re done, simply dock the vacuum and the Clean Station automatically empties the bin — hands-free and hygienic. No cloud of dust. No mess. Just a charged, ready-to-go vacuum for next time.

VIEW ELECTROLUX’S 800 SERIES VACUUM

Bissell’s CrossWave® OmniForce™ EdgeFind™ (4325F) — Best for Muddy Paws and Multi-Surface Mess

Active dogs — think Border Collies, Kelpies, and Spaniels — track in mud, dirt, and debris daily. They shed heavily, drink messily, and generally treat your floors like an obstacle course. A vacuum alone doesn’t cut it. You need something that can vacuum and mop in the same pass.

The Bissell CrossWave® OmniForce™ EdgeFind™ does exactly that. In Power Mop Mode, it vacuums and washes simultaneously for up to 30 minutes. When you need extra suction power — say, for a thick clump of Border Collie fur — switch to Power Vac Mode for 75% more suction power.

Best for:

• High-shedding, active breeds (e.g. Border Collies, Kelpies, Cocker Spaniels)
• Homes with hard floors, laminate, tile, or sealed wood
• Mixed messes: pet hair, muddy paw prints, food spills, and liquid

The FurFinder™ Headlights illuminate hidden pet hair and debris as you clean — useful along skirting boards and in low-light corners — while ZeroGap™ Technology ensures zero-millimetre edge cleaning, so no fur is left hiding at the edges.

EXPLORE THE CROSSWAVE® OMNIFORCE™ EDGEFIND™

Finding the Right Floorcare Match for Your Pet

Every pet owner’s cleaning needs are a little different. The good news? There’s a solution purpose-built for yours.

Browse a growing range of pet-friendly floorcare onsite at National Product Review and find the right vacuum for your home, your floors, and your pet — this National Pet Day and beyond.

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