hi, I am a dog owner myself.
First I would recommend the Furminator brush, it takes all the hair even from the undercoat.
I always bought area rugs in the color of my dog, I own a leather couch, you could put a nice blanket on there for the dog?

Seconding the furminator!! It is a godsend for my shepherd mix.

I'd say if you're going a light color, get a light colored leather. Dog hair is a cinch to clean off, and it doesn't look yucky in 10 years, 'cause hair never gets ground into it either.

I am also the proud owner of a long-haired black dog who sheds a LOT (looks a bit like your dog, actually). I can relate to vacuuming only to find lots of hair within 5 minutes. We just got moved into a new house and picked "mocha" colored carpet (and also have grey walls, white trim). It is PERFECT. It managed to find that balance between being light and neutral enough to look nice, but doesn't show every single dog hair. Still have to vacuum frequently, but no getting away from that one...

I don't know that color is the best way to attack the problem. I think ease of cleaning as well as choosing things your pet is less likely to destroy is the way to go. I decorated my place with my cat in mind. Leather sofa and chairs that are easy to clean and that she isn't tempted to scratch (I know some animals destroy leather -- it all depends on the individual pet). No fabric upholstery that she will want to sink her claws into and that will trap her fur. Wood floors with a couple short-pile area rugs that vacuum up easily. You do the best you can, but there is no way to totally pet-proof your home. My cat has scratched up some nice wood pieces, but it's ok - I"m not perfect either :)

I feel your pain! I have a yellow chewbacca equivalent. If I furminate her every other day helps (takes about 20 minutes to do a good job), but we still see a lot of shed yellow fur.

I find a leather sofa to be very easy to maintain (and am about to buy another one) and the hair does not stick - so it stays clean with little work. So far, my lab mix also has not damaged the leather, despite enjoying to sit on the sofa (more than 3 years).

We have the cat equivalent of your dog (dark hair, lots of shedding!) - lately we've been favoring a good quality stretch couch cover. Our cat doesn't like to scratch the slightly elastic fabric and we can throw it in the wash if it gets too covered in hair. Also allows us to switch up the color of the couch with a new cover every so often...

I once had a gray room with three dogs: black, brown and blonde! I put down a gray carpet that had a lot of variations in shade that kept it from looking like a concrete floor. I then got leather furniture in a dark reddish brown. Leather is great even if the dogs don't get on the furniture. I used pillows for accent colors and made sure there was plenty of light.
P.S. Now I have all blonde dogs which is easier to decorate around!

Leather or microfiber or mohair, none of which the pet hairs get woven into so it's easier to clean, these are all virtually indestructible choices. If you go with a more traditional fabric I'd go with a mottled color that has at least some of your pet's coloring in it. For my pets I used to bring a quick trim from their fur with me, taped down to an index card, whenever I went fabric shopping. It would occasionally make a salesperson laugh but they had to admit it was smart to decorate around your pets fur color(s)!

@levelor - i followed a similar strategy, decorating with our 3 cats in mind - ease of cleaning is key. for flooring, we have hardwood floors and not much in the way of area rugs (but those are flat weave and easy to clean). for our couch, we have the andre couch from room & board in the charcoal grey micro-velvet. the cats don't like to pick at the fabric too much, and the color/fabric hides their fur beautifully (we have one brown cat, one black cat, and one orange fluffy cat). it also cleans up really easily. depending on the dog/cat, leather can work, but i've seen their little claws ruin pricey leather furniture and that's not fun.

if you're definitely getting carpet, maybe also get a roomba with the scheduling feature and have it run once a day while you're at work.

Go with a medium/light grey or mocha carpet and a darker charcoal sofa or slipcover. My black pug has adopted my white canvas covered couch and I curse the color every time I vacuum the couch. The floors don't seem to get the hair the way the couch does, so if that's the case for you, match the couch to the dog and go neutral with the floors. A carpet with multi colors or flecks would be a good choice. The roomba is also a good idea.

I have a fawn french bulldog and dark walnut floors in my house. I'm always swiffering the floors.

Try giving your pooch some salmon oil on her food, or as a treat. Salmon oil will help reduce the shedding. It's worked wonders for me. I use Grizzly Salmon Oil and buy it in a big bottle on Amazon. My frenchie goes crazy for it.

I don't like the idea of carpeted room & shedding animals. I cringe at the thought of all that fur being stuck in the carpet or piled up in corners. Take some of Chewbacca's hair to a store that sells hardwood or laminate and see which hides it the best. You may be surprised.

VA! We adopted a rescue that looks EXACTLY like Chewbacca and we have NO CLUE what he is! You mention yours is part Chow -- what else is in there?? Right now when people ask us what our dog is we say "canus familiarus" and I'd love to have a less lame answer. In other news, since we apparently have, like, the same dog -- we have the Albert Sectional from DWR in protected sierra leather and it has held up like a champ so far, so another vote on leather.

Seriously, though, what breed(s) are our dogs??!

We have two fur factories and went with tile or hardwood for this reason. We're also pretty messy and I have allergies so carpet was out of the question. If you do go with carpet and the walls will be gray a dark color shouldn't limit you to a light colored couch. Depending on the style you could go with a lot of colors. Leather is probably a good idea, although ours is a vintage vinyl airport lounge. I love being able to clean it with Armorall.

"My dog sheds like it's her job..." LOL, I spit my beverage! Love it and she is drop dead g
orgeous

When I needed a sofa for an apartment once, I knew my cat's fur would be an issue. I think I sat on every sofa in the discount barn before choosing about the last one available for comfort, size, general lines, and the perfect tweed-neutrals upholstery fabric. (I have since learned that microfiber also works pretty well, too -- easy to clean.)

I would hesitate to get any solid color for carpeting or for upholstery. Maybe upholstered fabrics (or leathers) that are hard finished so that the hair doesn't stick could be a plain color, but otherwise I'd choose something with some visual texture. If Berber carpeting wouldn't be ruined by your pet (ours was ripped by a newly adopted cat), it comes in some nice tweeds that are (for carpet) less "fluffy" and therefore easier to clean, as well as great for disguising things.

One other tip. We have a house rabbit who is usually restricted to our family room where a chenille upholstered IKEA sleeper sofa is kept. Needless to say, bunny fur and chenille are not a great combo, plus he has been known to occasionally have another kind of accident. I found a lovely plush bath towel almost the exact color of the chenille, and it covers just the seat of the sofa where bun is likely to sit, underlined with some plastic for moisture protection. (Assorted pillows in slippery fabrics protect the back and arms.) The towel can be removed if we want to sit there or are having guests, and it's easy to toss into the wash as needed. (Matching the color so it is "invisible" is key.)

Hi! This is VA (the OP) here! Thanks for all of your awesome suggestions!!

When we renovated our living room a few years ago...we did what most of you are suggesting: hardwood floors (we did bamboo), area rug (we used FLOR) and microfiber sofa (ours is off white). The floors are a breeze to clean and our Dyson takes care of the area rugs and couch. For our Family Room though, I really want carpet. Mostly because it's cheaper than hardwood and when we have kids it will be softer/safer for them. As for the couch, I never considered leather but again...I'm worried it will be expensive, especially since my husband is insisting we get a sectional. But maybe that's an expense we'll have to live with thanks to our adorable shedding dog. =)

Oh and katethemonty, we had Chewbacca DNA tested and she's a Sharcockerman Labrachowzerhound. That means she's part Shar Pei, part Cocker Spaniel, part Domerman, part Lab, part Chow, part Schnauzer and part Greyhoud. =)

Because of my fur production factories I have wood & tile floors and leather seating. I still vacuum daily but mostly I just need to hit the corners where the bunnies collect. Throw rugs can be added for warmth.

I also want to recommend a good diet, fish oils, daily brushing with a coat appropriate brush and periodic baths with a blow out from a high powered dog dryer to keep shedding down. You can't eliminate it, but you can certainly reduce it.

When it comes to flooring, pet hair is indeed easier to remove but also much more noticeable on wood or tile than it is on carpet or rugs... for what it's worth, I did well with a black animal and an oatmeal-ish speckled rug for years.

If you prefer a fabric-covered couch, my experience has been that it's less important to match the color of your pet than it is to choose non-solids: tweed, a mottled color or a fine allover print have all worked for me at various times.

Leather, if you like it, won't repel fur but only collects it in crevices -- less disturbing on a daily basis as long as you vacuum weekly. My own feeling on slipcovers is that they add as much work as they eliminate... you still have to de-fur or wash them regularly, and most of them don't look so good after that. Good luck, and cute dog!

I have two dogs and I don't think I could have anything in my house but wood floors (I actually have laminate) I have a Rumba vacuum set to go on my floors every day at 10am while I am at work. That with another good vacuum once a week is a life saver! Wood/tile floors can be mopped and it helps with the smell factor too.

I would second a leather couch or a darker microsuede. My dogs are not allowed on the couch unless there is a blanket on it. It some time to train them but it is so worth it because I have the best of both worlds...time with my dogs and control when I don't want them around. All that to say a blanket would help.
You have lots of good options though.

Agreeing with the others
1) Furminators are great
2) Leather uphostery is the way to go
and adding
3) I vacuum my dogs

I have a black chow mix, too, and I know just what you mean about the shedding. I brush him regularly, but we still find dog-hair tumbleweeds throughout the house.

I'd suggest a carpet with more than one color. We have a shag that's mainly a medium tan color with specks of darker browns and black. It's great because our other two dogs and brown and white, so it covers all of them! We also have ultrasuede furniture. I usually keep the sofa and chairs covered with throws, but it's easy to get the hair off with a sticky roller.

I have a black shedding lab mix dog. My solution was a dark red patterned tribal persian rug, which has been absolutely great! It shows no hair, no dirt, is completely resistant to vomit and cat scratching, as well as dog hair. I think the key is a pattern with vibrant but darker colors. For the couch, we opted for a leather couch which is in kind of an olive-pear green. The dog doesn't get on the couch, but if he did it would be a piece of cake to clean. In your case, with gray walls, I think a black leather couch and vibrant oriental rug would look fabulous and would be quite pet friendly.

Thank you, VA!!! My hubs was seriously like 2 days away from a SkyMall doggy DNA test, so this was timely ;) Other observations from Sharcockerman Labrachowzerhound land: second the multi-colored carpets. We have orientals all through our place and I'm actually kind of shocked by how little Mr. Danger Will Robinson's hair shows on them. Also, the DWR sectional was the most money we've ever spent on any possession other than a car, but it was absolutely, 150% worth it.

Thirding the multi-colored carpets. We have fake Persian rugs from Home Depot that are super affordable (not even a hundred for the set cause we got them on Craigslist), and it hides fur, is easy to clean puke off, and is all scratch resistant except for the fringes. The only problem is that that it hides stuff TOO well and occasionally, we don't spot the cat barf before someone steps in it. *cry*

Firstly - your dog is ADORABLE!

As someone who has had a border collie for 11 years, I can totally relate. Regarding the couch I'd say the best choice would be a mocha or a light beige with a barely detectable pin stripe running through it. I have a beige couch and the pin stripe just breaks it up enough so that when fur gets on there is doesn't look as dirty. But sticking to more neutral tones definitely works better with pet hair.

Then as for maintenance, my favourite tool is the Aussie Lint Roll for quick clean ups - so easy. Plus if you have a Dyson they have a new attachment called the Dyson Groom which actually allows you to vacuum your dog before they shed.

Good luck! x

Heather grey...lots and lots of heather grey :) Dark and light fabrics/surfaces still show the hair, but texture and patterns help out a lot.

your dog is precious. i'm a double dog owner with white fur to deal with (and an orange cat). hardwood floors are the way to go. keeping carpet clean with babies will be hard to do.

i don't particularly care for leather (poor cows), but have found that my couch from crate & barrel (good price & on sale) has held up quite well after 5+ years. it is a nice grey fabric that is treated with Crypton ~ a product known for "repelling" fur and dirt. (there is even leather that is treated by Crypton!) when one of the dogs threw up on it, it looked brand new after a trip to the cleaners.

putting a sheet of aluminum foil on the couch is a great way to deter your dog from jumping on the couch while you are away. after awhile, the foil may tear or what not, but you just recycle it and get a new piece!

Are you talking about wall-to-wall carpet or an area rug? The best solution is to get a rug that is multi-colored but dark in tone. Then you can get a dark sofa and they won't just blend together.

Charcoal gray rug and a purple couch. That would looks great with the gray walls.

Your "only color option" is most certainly NOT a lighter couch. I also vote for a patterned area rug.

The solution to my big shedding ball of fur (the Furminator is NO match for him) is a combo of hardwood floors and machine washable slipcovers. I don't care that my floors are covered in fur five minutes after I vacuum because at the very least, I can enjoy five minutes of furlessness. I don't think you can ever get to that point of "no fur" when you have carpets, so the camouflage effect wouldn't be worth it to me. I'd know what was lurking in those fibers...............

Well, everybody has already given great advice about the dog hair -- leather, hardwood, and oriental area rugs are the way to go.

I'd just like to add something about kids and carpets: young kids, crawlers, vomit. Their diapers may leak. They spill things. The like to pull toys across the floor, stack blocks, and send cars whizzing from one end of the room to the other. They occasionally have dust allergies. They don't fall as much as you think they do. Most babies around the world live in house without w-w carpeting, and do fine. Hardwood, with area rugs perhaps, would actually work best for kids too!

And yes, Chewbacca is adorable! ;-D

Ahhh yes a fur factory. I agree with many of the other commentors on both pattern and darker bolder colors. From the photo of your dog, it almost looks like a malinois from Belgium? There was one in an obedience class with my schipperke last year with that same coloring and coat style.

i just replaced my leather couch with a fabric one from Ikea. why?

1. the cats, just through running and jumping on the couch had scrached the back and arms beyond my tolerance.
2. the Ikea couch has slipcovers i can remove and replace if ever they scratch it; but,
3. the fabric i chose is a very dense weave they can't seem to get their claws in even if they were inclined to.

that being said, i do now have to vacuum the couch (which is a dark charcoal colour), which i never had to with the leather.

now, i'm looking for a new rug which won't immediately look re-furred after vacuuming. i think shag is the way to go.

I, a servant to two dogs, would also recommend a multi-colour carpet and a leather couch.
I know what it's like to have the rug covered in dog hair in an hour after vacuuming. One of my dogs is white and the other is brindle. I like blond-wood hardwood (although it would not work with your pooch [who is totally adorable] but it works for me.

I have a tan puggle that sheds another dog a day !!!!
I use furminator, food supplements, shampoos !!!!!
I have light hard wood floors & tan leather couch.
STILL going crazy with all dog hair.
I change anything everyday BUT she still SHEDS :(

Looks like your dog might be part Newfoundland, maybe? Is he big?
We have a 170lb Newfoundland and a 115lb Greater Swiss (similar to a Bernese). We've had shepherds, bull breeds, and rottie mixes. None of them touch the amount of hair that our Newf and Swissy produce. A Roomba? HAH! It'd be clogged in 5 minutes. We actually killed a Dyson on their fur.
Do you allow your pets on the furniture? If so - NO LEATHER! Our dogs would have it destroyed in weeks.
I'd get a speckled rug. We had hardwood for 3 years with the Swissy (and our large entryway currently has it), and the constant drifts of fur drove me nuts. The right colored carpet can mask things for at least a few hours (if not a full day!).
Good luck :-)

@Katrinamaye I have a Newfie also and I have to agree about the Dyson, you'll need to clean out the brushes every week if you don't kill it completely.

As far as colors go we've found that browns or a varied pattern (think persian) works the best for hiding hair, dirt, stains, etc. Blue would be nice with the grey. Leather is the best for cleaning or get some nice slip covers you can just throw in the wash. Rain mats for taking the dirt of the paws when they first come in is very helpful too.

I have FOUR pitbulls and a Border Collie /Chow mix. Microfiber is NOT the way to go! Microfiber is a very tightly woven material that, when the fur weaves itself in, it's hard to get out. It's also stinky! We are going with leather next! Never never never have carpet in a house with pets! You'll never get the fur up. I steam clean the carpet in the bedroom once a month and I end up with about a gallon of funny looking fur.

Hi there,
I'm an interior designer. With the grey and white a really cool mocha leather sofa would look very stylish and hair won't collect. Micro-fibers and fabrics that are slick/tightly woven tend to not grab the hair as much. Also flooring that is patterned will hide hair MUCH better. Avoid high-piles and berber textures.