To prevent scratches on your hardwood flooring, make sure your dog’s nails are routinely clipped and trimmed. Keep mats near doors leading to outside. Mop the floor with floor sweepers specifically designed for hardwood flooring to remove dust, dirt and debris tracked in by your pooch. Train your dog to stay out of rooms with hardwood flooring if the flooring is only featured in a few rooms of the house, such as in the living room and dining room. Use baby gates if necessary to section these areas off from the rest of the house. Use felt pads on furniture legs. Do not drag furniture across hardwood flooring.