Stain Resistant

• Pick a carpet that provides stain protection. This should be on the top of your list of wants in a carpet. A carpet that is resistant to stains will be easier to clean and last longer in a pet household. Companies such as Stainmaster, Mohawk, and Shaw promote their carpets as having unique stain resistant technologies.
  
  

Style

• The style of the carpet refers to the fiber style. You don't want to pick a shag carpet with long fibers. These will attach and hold all the mud and fur that your pets carry throughout the house and will not hold up well in active pet households. The best choices for carpet style are those that are low to the ground. Loop or texture styles are recommended for high traffic areas. They are more durable and less likely to hold dirt and fur.
  
  

Warranty

• Read the warranty carefully before making a purchase. There will be different coverage for each carpet by the manufacturer. The three main things covered are the wear, stain protection, and texture retention. Companies will cover each of these at different levels. The best warranties will often cover wear for 25 years, and stain and texture for 10 years. Purchase carpet that has the highest warranty that you can afford. Your pets will test the carpet to its limits and you want to know if the carpet becomes damaged that it is covered under the warranty.
  
  

Color

• Choose dark colors that will hide the dirt better and be less likely to become stained. Patterned dark carpets in the brown tones will do the best job of hiding your pets' fur and paw prints until the next vacuuming.
  
  

Pad

• You will have a choice of pads to put under that carpet at different price ranges. Thicker pads may cost more but will offer your dog or cat a softer place to rest. If you are working within a budget, then this may be the place to save some money. To save money buy the thinner pad and give your dog or cat a bed to sleep in.