The 5 Best Vacuum Cleaners For Dog Hair Australia: Tested 2024

As dog owners, we get surprisingly used to the invisible climbing mountains of dog hair that surround us. It gets everywhere! On clothing, in the car, in every corner and crevasse of our existence. It becomes just a normal part of life. Sometimes it feels like it magically weaves itself into fabrics!

But then you have a house guest coming over in 30 minutes and all of a sudden, every stray strand of dog fur becomes increasingly apparent to your previously blind eyes. The fur bounces around your floors like tumbleweed. You see everything.

As someone who lived with a German Shepherd for many years - the most infamous shedders of them all - I completely feel your pain. Getting a vacuum cleaner for dog hair will completely change your life. But how do you find the perfect one for your home, your dog breed, and your budget?

Well, we're here to help you out! We teamed up with veterinarians, professional dog groomers, and pet parents to form a team of independent experts. Together, we researched several dozen different dog hair vacuum cleaners to discover the best of the best. After months of testing and plenty of discussion, we were finally able to decide on this list of the best vacuum cleaner for dog hair Australia offers.

In this article, we’re going to break down the qualities of a great vacuum cleaner and some tips for staying on top of dog hair in general. But first let's discuss our top recommendations for vacuum cleaners powerful enough to rid you of a furry home!

Australia's Best Vacuum Cleaners For Dog Hair Reviewed

I warn you, this will be a thorough topic! Oh, the excitement of vacuum shopping. But to start you off let's take a look at what is available on the market with our top recommendations for vacuum cleaners fit to rid your home of dog hair. These are the products that dazzled our team of independent experts by making their homes sparkling clean and dog hair free.

It is fair to say that Dyson has been the reigning king of vacuum technology. Has there ever been a company so extremely passionate about being the cutting edge of vacuum cleaner renovations? It’s like the Tesla of home cleaning products.

The Dyson Cyclone Animal+ is no different. A vacuum cleaner for the ages.

This model was made with pet owners in mind. With super strong suction, it can expertly rid your floors and furniture from stubborn dog hair. Despite the slim structure of the cleaner, it doesn’t compromise on power or speed of suction which is great.

What each member of our team of independent experts liked most about this model is that it is adaptable. It is the transformer on this list. In a flash, you can turn into a handheld vacuum that is small and compact with just as much power behind it - great for vacuuming the car out. 

It is a bagless and cordless model for lightweight use anywhere you need it. It has three power modes so you can adapt to which surfaces you are cleaning at the time.

Best of all, this vacuum is “acoustically engineered” meaning it absorbs vibrations to keep the noise down, which my dogs clearly appreciated.

The one con… have you ever heard of a cheap Dyson? Yeah..me neither. We can promise you it is well worth the splurge. A Dyson is one of the best investments you can make in your domestic life. If that's not an option though, never fear. Simply jump ahead to our number three choice, a more budget-friendly option by Bissell.

Miele is another industry leader with fabulous additions to the pet vacuum market. This is a really great product that could rival the Dyson.

Relatively compact and bagless, this machine is powerful. It was designed with you as a dog owner in mind.

With a triple filtration system and a special patented HEPA AirClean filter, this is one bagless vacuum that is still great for allergy sufferers like me. It traps a reported 99.5% of airborne nasties into the filter, leads to a cleaner, fresher environment.

Our team of independent experts were thrilled at how the powerful suction gets right into the grooves of carpets and sofa cushions to get to all that pesky dog hair.

The reason this comes so highly on our list is because of its quietness. This is one whispering machine! All vacuums have some level of noise but you will be surprised at just how quiet this one is. Much more peaceful for those with small children and anxious dogs.

We put this one as a runner-up to the Dyson simply because it doesn’t convert into a handheld as the Dyson does. Other than that, it is a pretty perfect product.

Don’t worry dear reader, we know you have probably clicked through to the two former options and thought them possibly a little pricey. A good vacuum cleaner is like a good mattress - you notice the difference. But in the interest of fairness, we have a fabulous budget option for you too.

The Bissell Pet Hair Eraser is a full bagless vacuum. Powerful whilst remaining agile and lightweight. This vacuum is so easy to use and whip around the house quickly.

The Bissell does have a cord so it isn’t quite as versatile as the Dyson product in our number one spot. However, it does have a quick release wand to get into those harder to reach places, setting it apart from our Miele choice at number two.

There is a smart seal in the turbine drum to trap allergens and any nasties floating about in the air. My home felt fresh and clean after using this!

Of course, the best part is the economical price point. It is a good little machine for the savings you make. It also comes with a 2 year warranty to ensure the quality of the product over time.

It may not be as flashy as the Dyson or as trusty as the Miele, but the Bissell will do the trick if well-maintained!

Save the planet one sweep at a time! But seriously, we all want to be a bit more conscious of our purchases, so for those in the market for an eco-friendly and economical vacuum cleaner, this is a great one to look out for.

The Hoover Eco-Pets Vacuum was designed to be as energy-efficient as possible whilst also being powerful. The top reviews from our panel of independent experts all attest to its success in that goal.

Being bagless adds to the eco-friendly nature of the vacuum. The bagless capacity is pretty impressive too, filling up to 1.5 L of debris before needing a quick empty.

This Hoover has a HEPA filter in it too that is washable and helps trap allergens and dust, similar to our number two choice by Miele.

Out of the bunch, this is the most economical and the most stylish. The sleek, compact drum and white finishings almost make it look space-agey!

For an everyday dog vacuum, the Hoover is a stellar choice that won’t break the bank!

Finally, let’s get into real space-age stuff.

Robo-vacuums have come on the scene in that last few years. You may think that because of their small stature, they can’t stand up to the mountain of fluff that your pooch leaves behind.

Well, the iRobot Roomba may prove you wrong!

Not only is it incredibly cool to have a robo-vacuum, it is also minimal fuss. The beauty of a self-governing cleaning product is that it works with very little effort from you. Using Alexa and Google Home, it learns your rooms and becomes better and better at efficiently cleaning your home.

Our panel of experts appreciated how even the recharging process is hands-free. The iRobot Roomba can continuously clean for 90 minutes and then will recharge itself automatically. Once it is ready to hit the floor again, it will, until the job is done!

The iRobot Roomba also empties its own bin. It empties the drum into disposable bags that can hold up to 30 bins worth of debris, hair and dust.

If you don't want to be vacuuming daily after your heavy shedder then this may be the lifesaver product you have always dreamed of. 

With a huge capacity and extremely smart technology, this robo-vacuum could change your life!

How To Get Rid Of Dog Hair

We have just gone through our favourite vacuum cleaners for dog hair but there are plenty of ways to minimise dog hair as a pervasive issue. After all, you don’t want to end up with the situation I described. There are two modes of attack here: prevention and maintenance. Ahead, our team of independent experts discuss both of your options.

How to stop your dog from shedding

To an extent, dog hair around the house is completely inevitable. All dogs shed to some extent. There are practically hairless or “low-shedding breeds”, but it is by and large a myth that non-shedding dogs exist. (1)

With this in mind, you can’t really stop your dog from shedding, but you can control the problem at the source.

Giving your dog a regular brush helps cut down on their shedding. You need to choose the perfect grooming brush for their needs. (3) Double coated breeds with thick fur like German Shepherds do well with metal brushes that remove dead hair. It’s this dead hair that usually ends up rolling across the kitchen floor when you have the neighbours over for tea. Removing this extra fluff helps reduce the amount of dog hair flying around.

With heavy shedding breeds, you may need to brush them every day during the summer months. A tedious task for sure but ultimately an excellent bonding opportunity. (4)

There are also grooming gloves that can help with remove shedding fur too. These work well with short-haired breeds.

Another thing to bear in mind is your dog’s nutrition. Many owners who comprised our panel of independent experts report that their dogs shed less when they are eating higher-quality dog food. There isn’t a ton of evidence for this but it’s a win-win situation in any case.

How I Minimise Dog Hair In The House

So, of course, this article is about vacuums as you have seen, but I also wanted to discuss the multiple methods of minimising the dog hair piles up in your house. For you see, a vacuum can only take you so far. It is important to have a plethora of tools in your arsenal to cut through the fur and keep your house looking clean.

Here are some extra tips provided by our independent experts to help minimise dog hair in your house.

1. Daily vacuuming/sweeping

You can buy a fancy vacuum like the ones we recommended above, but it means nothing if you don’t use it!

Heavy shedding dogs require a daily vacuumed house, or else you start to grow an extra layer of carpet very quickly. If you have a light shedder on your hands, you might be fine with the weekly deep vacuum and sweeping whenever you need it. It all depends on how much fur you are dealing with day-to-day. Some heavy shedders on our panel of experts use a Robo vacuum to tackle the daily build up in addition to a general vacuum once to twice a week. 

2. Lint rollers/Microfibre cloths/Dry sponges

These three tools are amazing at spot cleaning an area. It could be your clothes, furniture or rugs, but these truly work wonders for a quick fix. It doesn’t replace a thorough vacuuming sesh but for those emergency moments, it’s good to have a lint roller, dry sponge, and/or microfibre cloth on hand. Ever gotten out of your car for an important meeting only to find your pup left some love glitter all over your black pants? An emergency lint roller in the glove box can do wonders!

Related: Do Dogs Have Hair or Fur?

3. Throws and rugs

You can use throws and rugs to protect your furniture and floors from accumulating dog hair. A very important thing to remember when using this technique is to de-fluff your throw or rug before you handwash it or put in the washing machine.

It is best to vacuum them thoroughly and often. If you put a furry throw in the washing machine, you can ruin the interior mechanisms of your machine as it’ll get clogged with dog hair.

4. Air cleaners

Air cleaners are so great! If you suffer from any allergies at all or have an issue with dog hair, air cleaners can help purify the air you breathe in the home. They work wonders for cutting down the small wispy, airborne dog hair that wafts around every now and again. It’s a pretty big investment but so worth it. Take it from me as an allergy sufferer!

What I Look For In A Great Vacuum For Dog Hair

You know you are a real adult when you are excited at the prospect of getting a powerful, reliable vacuum cleaner. Finding the right one for you requires a little bit of digging. Here is what our team of experts recommend you to look out for.

Noise level

Vacuum cleaners are loud, large and altogether pretty frightening for your pup. Along with fireworks, the noise of vacuum cleaners is very startling, particularly for young dogs or new dogs in your care. My dogs are old veterans now and are accustomed to the daily whir of our vacuum cleaner, but this wasn’t always the case.

If your dogs are prone to anxiety anyway, you may want to opt for vacuums with quieter engines, just to help your dog feel most at ease. You will most likely be vacuuming the areas of the house where your dog likes to hang out the most. Therefore, the scary noises could deter your dog from feeling relaxed in their favourite spots again.

Many dogs do get used to the sound of loud vacuum cleaners, but if you can find a “whisper” vacuum, I’m sure your pooch will thank you for it.

Capacity

How much debris can your vacuum collect before it needs emptying?

Though most manufacturers recommend you empty the vacuum cleaner once a week, does anyone actually do that? If you do, comment below, teach us your ways.

It’s fair to say most of us are a little lazier than that. The worst thing is when you go over the house once and already need to empty the drum. It is incredibly tedious to empty your vacuum every single day.

Of course, the capacity you need depends on how much pet hair you are clearing every day. Heavy shedders need a larger capacity vacuum than low-shedders or single-dog households. Use your best judgement to choose the size you need.

Bag or bagless

There isn’t generally a huge difference quality-wise between vacuum cleaners with bags and vacuum cleaners without bags. By that I mean, they work just as well regardless of the style you choose. It more comes down to personal preference.

Vacuum cleaners with bags are:

• Less eco-friendly
• More “hygienic” because of the airtight bag that traps debris
• Better for allergy sufferers for the same reason as above
• More expensive as you need to buy replacement bags
• Less clear when the bag is full

Vacuum cleaners without bags are: 

• More eco-friendly
• Cheaper
• Easy to see when the drum needs emptying
• Doesn’t trap allergens as well as bags do
• More hands-on to keep clean
• More readily available on the market these days

Power

Any vacuum cleaner advertised for collecting pet hair will typically have quite a powerful engine on it. This is because dog hair is so fine and easy to miss, you need a powerful vacuum cleaner to get rid of it.

If I give you metrics for measuring suction, it probably won’t mean much to you. It doesn’t mean much to me either! The best thing to do when searching for a powerful vacuum is to read reviews of the model. You can get people’s real-life accounts as to how powerful they deem the product to be, much like with the vacuum cleaner favourites we shared above.

Cord or cordless

Similar to the bag vs bagless debate, this is somewhat to do with your personal preference. 

Cordless vacuum cleaners:

• Need recharging which can limit your use
• Are agile and nimble
• Don’t cause any tripping hazards which is ideal for those with small children and dogs of course!
• Can be used both inside the house and anywhere else e.g your car
  

Vacuums with cord:

• Have no need to monitor battery life
• Can cause tripping hazards
• Can sometimes have very short cords that limit your movement
• Can sometimes be more powerful (but not always)

Size & shape

There are two aspects to the size and shape issue. One is storage. If you have a slimmer vacuum cleaner or handheld one, you can more easily store it in any corner of the house. This may be particularly important to you if you live in an apartment or have small rooms. You don’t need an industrial hoover that doesn’t fit into any closet and ultimately just gets in the way.

The second aspect of this is fear. The vacuum cleaner can become your dog’s worst enemy if it is large and noisy. Larger vacuums tend to be louder by nature. Even if they aren’t that loud, the sheer size of them can be frightening to your dog.

Again, this isn’t a huge deal in-so-far-as your dog will grow accustomed to whatever vacuum you choose. It’s just more manageable for an anxious dog to withstand a small, slim machine than a monstrous, boisterous tower.

My Final Say

Overall, our team of independent experts agree that the Dyson and the Miele could practically be a tie here for the best dog vacuum. Pet hair stands no chance when facing these juggernauts of the vacuum cleaning world.

Yes, they may cost a pretty penny, but their features make the price tag oh-so-worth-it!

References

1. Peña, M. November 19, 2023. “Dogs Who Don’t Shed: Separating Fact from Fiction”. Dogster. Retrieved December 13, 2023. https://www.dogster.com/lifestyle/dogs-that-dont-shed-small-large-dog-breeds-fact-fiction
2. “Dog Shedding: What to Expect And How to Manage It”. November 9, 2023. American Kennel Club. Retrieved December 13, 2023. https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/dog-shedding-what-to-expect-and-how-to-manage-it/
   
3. McCarthy, C. February 17, 2016. “DIY Tips for Grooming a Dog at Home”. PetMD. Retrieved December 13, 2023. https://www.petmd.com/dog/care/evr_dg_diy-tips-for-grooming-dog-at-home
4. Erb, H. January 22, 2018. “A Bonding Opportunity: Groom Your Dog”. American Kennel Club. Retrieved December 13, 2023. https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/groom-your-dog/
   
5. Bortz, D., Janeway, K. October 4, 2021. “Don't Let Pet Hair Ruin Your Washer”. Consumer Reports. Retrieved December 13, 2023.  https://www.consumerreports.org/washing-machines/dont-let-pet-hair-ruin-your-washer/