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If your house is like ours, it’s covered in dog hair (or “Cavalier fairy dust,” as we lovingly refer to it). I am constantly picking up tumbleweeds of pet hair rolling around. Dog hair finds its way to stick to just about everything!
Table of Contents
I’ve been on the hunt for the best vacuum for pet hair that will eliminate that pesky flyaway fur and wanted to share my dust-busting findings. I even share a few complimentary products to your best dog vacuum to help hairy households further.
| Best Canister | Best Stick | Best Upright | Best Robot | Best Handheld |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  |  |  |
| Eureka 3670M | Bissell 3061 Featherweight Cordless | Dyson Cinetic Big Ball Animal 2 | Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Matrix | Black+Decker Lithium Pet Hand Vacuum |
| Read Review | Read Review | Read Review | Read Review | Read Review |
| View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | Visit Website | View on Amazon |
Pet Vacuums vs Regular Vacuums: 4 Things To Consider
Why is a pet vacuum better than a regular vacuum? I was wondering the same thing! Pet hair vacuums boast enhanced features that make them more capable of handling a higher volume of hair and dander. Let me explain a bit further some key features to look for.
- Suction Power: Pet-specific vacuums often have a higher suction power to remove embedded pet hair from carpets and upholstery effectively.
- Filtration System: Many pet vacuums come equipped with advanced filtration systems, such as HEPA filters, to trap allergens and prevent them from being released back into the air. This is particularly beneficial for pet owners who are allergy sufferers.
- Brush Design: Pet vacuums often feature specialized brushes designed to lift and remove pet hair from carpets and upholstery effectively. Some may also have tangle-free brush rolls to prevent hair from wrapping around the brush.
- Accessories and Attachments: Many pet vacuums come with specific attachments, such as upholstery brushes and crevice tools, to tackle pet hair in various areas of the home.
Best Vacuums For Dog Hair
There are different sizes, styles, and performing powers for pet hair picker-uppers like regular vacuums. The style you choose will depend on the size of your living space, how much hair and dander you’re dealing with (and where), and what you’re willing and able to pay.
Our Methodology
Our best vacuum for dog hair review looks at the best vacuums by type, the benefits of each and who they are best for, pros and cons, pricing, and our personal findings from our experience and from reading tons of reviews. We picked the best based on popularity, durability, brand reputation, and the best value for your money.
Best Canister Vacuum: Eureka 3670M Mighty Mite Canister Cleaner Review
The Eureka 3670M Mighty Mite canister cleaner vacuum has a powerful brush roll to help deep clean your carpets and get every strand of pet hair. It also includes a set of tools for places like stairs and upholstery. This reasonably priced vacuum can effectively clean your home and provide a deep car clean as well.
Canister vacuums are versatile and can be well-suited for various types of homes with pets. They are generally more maneuverable than upright vacuums, making them easier to carry up and down stairs. Their hose and nozzle attachments are also well-suited for cleaning upholstery, removing pet hair from furniture, and reaching into tight spaces. Canister vacuums are good for homes that don’t have a lot of storage space for an upright or stick vacuum.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Ideal for homes and cars | Not cordless, so this may be a hassle for regular car cleaning |
| Lightweight | |
| HEPA filter captures nearly 100% of dust and pet dander | |
| Arm & Hammer dust bag eliminates pet odors | |
| Special pet hair attachment | |
| 1-year warranty |
Price & Specs
- $82.91
- Weight: 11.6 lbs
- Cord length: 20 ft
- Size: 9″ x 17.5″ x 116.3″
Best Stick Vacuum: Bissell 3061 Featherweight Cordless Review
Bissell is one of the best when it comes to cleaning. Their 3061 Featherweight Cordless Stick Vacuum sucks up dirt on the floor that you usually can only get with a broom and dustpan. And, like other stick vacs, this little guy is a grab-and-go, convenient picker-upper with a 2-in-1 design and a removable hand vacuum. The cordless vacuum has a two-way folding handle for compact storage and stands on its own. It has a multi-surface swivel brush roll, so you can switch from carpet to floor easily by pressing a button.
For the price, you can’t beat the value of this stick vacuum and is a good pick for entry-level vacuums and smaller spaces. The battery lasts around 20 minutes before recharging, and it only weighs five pounds, so it’s not heavy to take up and down stairs. Bissel also supports their Pet Foundation to save homeless pets.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Sucks up debris in tight spaces and along edges well | A little noisier than other stick vacuums |
| Easily cleans around furniture legs and area rugs | |
| Comes with crevice and upholstery tools | |
| 2-in-one stick and hand vac | |
| Cordless | |
| Empty dirt bin and washable filter | |
| 10 lithium-ion voltage battery | |
| Made for all floor types | |
| 2-year warranty |
Price & Specs
- $108.74
- Weight: 5 lbs
- Size: 11.36″x30.61″
Best Upright Vacuum: Dyson Cinetic Big Ball Animal 2 Review
Looking for something with a bit more power and storage space isn’t an issue for you? A traditional vacuum might be just what you need. Dyson is the leader when it comes to cleaning, and this Big Ball Animal 2 is no exception. It not only helps with pet hair but is also perfect for those of you with allergies with a whole-machine HEPA filtration system. It has strong suction, and there is no filter to wash or replace.
It has many adjustments to get pet hair out of corners and other difficult spots, and you can empty the bin with the push of a button. There is a hose that you can add attachments to, so it’s very versatile too. Particularly the Hair Screw Tool, which goes on the end of the hose. It has an angle that prevents tangles which can be a problem with sucking up dog hair. There is a
The price is on the higher side. But as someone who is a recently converted Dyson owner, I can tell you they are worth every penny!
Our Personal Experience With Dyson
It’s hard to remember life with a pet before having a Dyson vacuum. I do a quick pick-up on the floors at least twice a week to clean up hair around the house. A few times a month, I use various attachments to do a deeper cleaning in harder-to-reach spots, including furniture. The Hair Screw Tool is super powerful and pulls up all the hair without getting tangled. There’s even a way to detach the roller from the brush using a lock hinge if the hair does start to get caught in it.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Turns on a dime to access hard-to-reach areas | Heavy |
| Tangle-free Turbine tool ensures that hair won’t tangle around a brush bar | Expensive compared to similar models |
| Push-button to release dirt | |
| 5-year parts and labor warranty |
Price & Specs
- Check Amazon for availability
- Weight: 19.2 lbs
- Cord length: 35 ft
- Size: 42.1″ x 13.4″ x 15.3″
Upright Honorable Mention: Shark Navigator Lift-Away NV352 Review
For a vacuum that delivers on both price and performance, you can’t go wrong with the Shark Navigator Lift-Away. This upright is not designed as a pet-specific vacuum, yet its features put it right up there with some of the best for the hairiest jobs as well as the “normal” messes. Portable, lightweight, and affordable, this vac is a serious contender for your pet-cleaning needs. The biggest complaints with this machine are mainly construction-based. However, the results are unquestionable when it comes to the Shark Rotator’s performance.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Excellent suction | Small reservoir fills quickly and requires you to empty often |
| Detachable canister for convenience | Top-heavy design can make the machine unbalanced when using attachments |
| Anti-allergen complete seal technology locks in 99.9% of contaminants inside vacuum | Detachable functions are a bit awkward to use |
| HEPA (or high-efficiency particulate air) filter traps dust particles that most vacuums would re-circulate back into the household | |
| 3-year warranty |
Price & Specs
- $179.99
- Weight: 12.5 lbs
- Cord length: 25 ft
- Size: 15″ x 11.4″ x 45.5″
Best Robotic Vacuum: Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot with Matrix Clean Navigation™ Review
Are you looking for a robotic way to clean up unwanted pet hair? The Shark AI Ultra 2-in-1 Robot with Matrix Clean Navigation™ is a sweeper and mop in one. In addition to sucking up debris and hair, it will also wipe paw prints and slobber from the floor.
It works on all floor types and comes with a 1-liter dustbin (which is relatively small compared to traditional vacuums but significant for a robotic cleaner). You can even set it on a schedule to auto-clean while you’re away — a bonus if your dog barks or plays with it. Read our reviews on this and other robot vacuums that work well for pet hair.
Our Personal Experience With Shark AI Ultra 2-In-1
I tested out the Shark Matrix vacuum in our living room and kitchen, which have hardwood floors and one area rug. It was easy to assemble out of the box, and I was impressed with how fast the setup time was. It took only a few minutes for it to scan the rooms and make a footprint of the downstairs area. I was surprised it picked up quite a bit of dirt and hair.
It navigated well around dining room chair legs and under and behind an armchair and dining room table, scooping up clingy hair and stubborn dirt along the way. It’s relatively quiet compared to our Dyson (dogs slept through it) and pretty efficient, too. It even went over a dog bone I accidentally left out. My husband and I both noticed how noticeably clean-smelling it was after one session. The mop also worked well. We only asked it to clean the kitchen, and it finished in 7 minutes, barely eating up any battery life.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Recharges and resumes vacuuming | Most expensive vacuum in our review |
| Self-emptying dustbin | Long recharge time (4-6 hours) compared to other robot vacuums |
| Mops at 100X scrubs per minute | |
| SharkClean® app so you can select specific areas to clean on-demand | |
| App available to schedule a cleaning or turn the vacuum on | |
| SharkClean® app so you can select specific areas to clean on demand | |
| Vacuums for 90 minutes on one charge | |
| 1-year warranty and 90-day money-back guarantee |
Price & Specs
Best Handheld: Black+Decker Lithium Pet Hand Vacuum Review
Need a quick and easy way to vacuum all the hair off your furniture or your car seats? The Black+Decker HLVA325JP07 Lithium Pet Hand Vac is a fantastic solution. Unlike other hand vacs, this model packs a surprisingly strong suction.
It comes with a pull-out crevice tool for difficult areas and a push-in brush for dusting and cleaning upholstery. It also includes a wall-mount charger for space-saving storage.
Personal Experience With Black+Decker Hand Vacuum
I’ve used the Black + Decker Pet Hand Vacuum for years, and it’s super powerful to suck up hair off places you can’t use with the vacuum, like the sofa and the car. It’s extremely loud for being powerless, has a long battery life, and is very powerful. The debris is easy to empty, and the main suction brush pops off, so you can use the nozzle to get into hard-to-reach places. I noticed it stopped working as well over time, but I ordered new filters, and it was working like new again.ha
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Strong suction power for a cordless hand vac | Some users say it doesn’t hold a charge after a year or so |
| Great for limited storage space | Requires filters to be replaced |
| Motorized pet head with rubber tines helps to power through pet hair | |
| Long battery life | |
| The dustbin is easy to empty | |
| 2-year limited warranty |
Price & Specs
- $69.84
- Weight: 3 lbs
- Size: 15.88″ x 5.75″ x 7.5″
Vacuum Alternative: Lilly Brush Review
Lilly Brush has a variety of pet hair remover tools for cleaning pet hair to remove stubborn trapped fur from carpets and fabrics. There is a portable blade tool to keep in the car or use for short-haired dogs, a bigger brush for longer and fluffier coats, a mini brush for getting fur off sweaters and clothes, and a bigger detailer for carpets and rugs. The brushes are washable and do not require refills, so they should last for years. They donate a portion of every sale to protect animals and the planet.
First-Hand Experience With Lilly Brush
I had the chance to try Lilly Brush pet hair remover in exchange for an honest review. I used the portable brush to get rid of dog hair on my yoga pants. The brush was super lightweight and gentle to lift the hair off with ease. When you are finished using it, rinse the brush with water, let it air dry, and use the cover to store it. It has become our go-to tool for pet hair removal from clothes!
Price
- Starts at: Check Amazon for availability
Vacuum Alternative: FurDozer X6 6-In-One Tool
What about getting fur off furniture on the go (like your car?) The FurDozer is the perfect, affordable way to corral hair without having to slug around a vacuum cleaner. This tool does six things in one: three squeegee blades, 2 textured pads, and 1 crevice tool. All the parts are rubber that removes hair in unwanted places (that some vacuums can’t get to or suck up). However, the device doesn’t actually pick the hair up — it just piles it up, and then you use your hand (or a cleaning glove) to toss it in the trash.
Personal Experience With FurDozer
I received a FurDozer to test in exchange for an honest review. I used it on our sofa, where I had previously used a powerful Dyson Vacuum, and while I thought all the hair was already gone, I was amazed by how much this tool was still able to pull up. I also like the fact that you can use it on awkward spots like the side of the armrest or in between cushions. For the price, it’s worth having one of these handy for reaching difficult spots and in your car’s glove box.
Price
Vacuum Alternative: ChomChom Roller
Vacuums are a powerful tool for sucking up fur from the floor. However, you may want a more gentle yet effective tool when it comes to your clothing, upholstery, and other hard-to-clean spots. Unlike traditional lint rollers that use wasteful, refillable sticky pads, the ChomChom Roller picks up pesky hairs with static electricity. It is similar to a lint roller brush in that you roll it over the surface. It traps fur in a reservoir that you empty once it’s full. Roll the ChomChom over the surface in a back-and-forth motion to clean. Then, push the lever in the middle to open the chamber and remove the hair and other debris.
First-Hand Experience With ChomChom Roller
I received a free ChomChom to test in exchange for an honest review. After trying other pet brush alternatives and lint rollers, we were a bit skeptical. But this product exceeded our expectations. We tested it on several fur-covered surfaces, including a sofa, footstool, rug, and bedding. Every time, it removed the pet hair extremely well. It was also easy to use and clean.
Price
Bag vs Bagless Vacs: 4 Differences
No matter which vacuum you go with, you will consider whether you want a vacuum that requires a bag or one that is bagless. While bag vacs contain dirt, hair, and dander more efficiently, they also add an increased expense and aggravation to the cleaning process. A few pros of most bagless vacuums include:
- Saving money: With bagless options, there are no bags to buy.
- Eco-friendly: Bagless vacs are easier on the environment as they don’t put another unnecessary bag in the landfill.
- Easy to empty: Today’s canisters are so easy to empty that you won’t even miss the bag.
- Transparency: You’ll know when your vacuum isn’t doing its job because you can see what it’s picking up (or not capturing at all).
3 Reasons To Get A Pet Vacuum
Three things that make them more suited for handling your household are:
- Enhanced suction.
- Tailored tools and accessories.
- High-performing filtration systems.
Enhance Your Air Quality Beyond The Vacuum
Vacuums are an effective way to eliminate hair and dander from existing furniture and rugs. But what about all the dirt and allergens that you can’t see floating around? An air purifier can capture all those particles, promoting a clean, healthy environment for better sleep and overall health.
The Levoit Core P350 air purifier has a Pet Lock that prevents pets or children from changing the settings. It can cover up to 219 square feet and has a three-stage filtration system (fine preliminary filter, true HEPA filters, and an activated carbon filter) that captures up to 99.97% of particles (0.3 microns) in the air.
We bought a Levoit for our bedroom as I was getting pretty stuffy at night. The purifier was easy to set up, and we love that it works with Google Assistant, so it’s easy to turn it on and off at night. It’s super quiet, and can’t even hear it blowing. The filter is easy to clean, and it has a nightlight feature if you want, so you don’t trip over it in the dark.
Need Some Vacuuming Tips? (Video)
Did you know there’s a proper way to vacuum? Watch this video to learn how to get your floors even cleaner, especially if you pair these tips with a pet hair-cleaning machine like those recommended above.
Need A Good Grooming Brush?
Regular grooming is another fantastic way to control pet hair around your house. Read our review about the Best Dog Shedding Brushes that can help you keep those troublesome tumbleweeds at bay.
