We have never had inside pets, either, until this summer when the little doggy belonging to my DD and her boyfriend came home from college with her for the summer. (BF graduated and has taken a job involving alot of travel) Anyway, I read all your responses with much interest. I am vaccumming every day and using lint rollar. The hair is not as big a deal as the fact hat this dog seems to like to pee on my dining room carpet (and, yes, I take him out...just have not yet learned to read his signs well enough, I guess). This is a real learning experience for us. DD has gone to visit BF for the weekend and, of course, took the dog with her. Yay! A weekend without having to feel like I have a toddler in the house!