Best Shark Vacuum for Pet Hair: Simplifying Your Pet Hair Cleaning Routine

Best Shark Vacuum for Pet Hair: Best Products to Buy in This Year

Best Shark Vacuum for Pet Hair: Best Products to Buy in This Year

Sep 29, 2023
6365
If only our pets don’t shed like crazy every time shedding seasons roll around, they would have been the perfect creatures. But considering the way they provide us their unconditional love, the least we could do is clean up after them.
Well, the thing is that if you’re a long-time pet owner, you must know that cleaning pet hair is a pretty tough chore. Pet hair typically does not work well with vacuum cleaners.

As a result, you need special pet vacuums like the best Shark vacuum for pet hair. Specifically designed for sweeping up pet hair and dealing with all of the problems that pet hair can cause, these vacuums are overall excellent investments for any pet owner.

Best Shark Vacuum for Pet Hair Reviews

Shark is a fairly well-known company in the vacuum cleaning market segment. They’re famed for designing and building affordable vacuums that can deliver a great amount of value relative to their price tag. 

But affordability and value aside, the main reason I chose Shark for this article is that quite a lot of their pet vacuums have made it to the top seller charts. Taking into account the positive fashion that customers have welcomed these vacuums, I don’t see any reason why I shouldn’t focus on them today.

Now that that’s out of the way, let’s begin!
 

In a Hurry? The test winner after 21 hrs of research

Best Overall Shark Vacuum for Pet Hair: Shark Navigator Lift-Away Professional NV356E S2

Why is it better?

≫ 2-in-1 design (upright/canister)

≫ High performance

≫ Great pet hair performance

≫ Maneuverable design

≫ Large dust cup

≫ Long power cord

≫ HEPA filtration with hygienic sealed construction

93/100
our score
23
Researched Sources
800
Reviews Considered
21
Hours Researching
27
Products Evaluated
Picture Products Rating/Shop
Image
Products

Best Overall Shark Vacuum for Pet Hair: Shark Navigator Lift-Away Professional NV356E S2

Rating
93
Filtration
94%
Maneuverability
96%
Durability
90%
Features
91%
Image
Products

Best Runner-Up: Shark Rotator Powered Lift-Away TruePet NV752

Rating
94
Filtration
97%
Maneuverability
95%
Durability
94%
Features
91%
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Products

Best Budget Shark Vacuum for Pet Hair: Shark Navigator Freestyle SV1106

Rating
93
Filtration
96%
Maneuverability
93%
Durability
95%
Features
88%
Image
Products

Best Shark Vacuum for Pet Hair And Carpets: Shark Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe NV360

Rating
93
Filtration
96%
Maneuverability
94%
Durability
92%
Features
91%
Image
Products

Best Shark Vacuum for Pet Hair and Hardwood Floors: Shark APEX DuoClean AZ1002

Rating
94
Filtration
97%
Maneuverability
96%
Durability
93%
Features
91%
Image
Products

Best Lightweight Upright Shark Vacuum: Shark Rocket DeluxePro Ultra-Light HV322

Rating
95
Filtration
97%
Maneuverability
96%
Durability
95%
Features
92%
Image
Products

Best Handheld Shark Vacuum for Pet Hair: Shark WANDVAC WV201

Rating
94
Filtration
96%
Maneuverability
92%
Durability
95%
Features
91%

Best Overall Shark Vacuum for Pet Hair: Shark Navigator Lift-Away Professional NV356E S2

93 %
Filtration
94%
Maneuverability
96%
Durability
90%
Features
91%

Pros:

 2-in-1 design (upright/canister)

≫ High performance

≫ Great pet hair performance

≫ Maneuverable design

≫ Large dust cup

≫ Long power cord

≫ HEPA filtration with hygienic sealed construction

Cons:

≫ Heavy and bulky

When I said earlier that Shark vacuums are popular on the market, the first vacuum that actually came to mind is the Shark Navigator Lift-Away Professional NV356E S2. With close to 17,000 different ratings on Amazon and the vast majority of them positive, I can say without exaggerating that this is the best shark vacuum for pet hair.

Shark Rotator Powered Lift-Away TruePet NV752

Shark Rotator Powered Lift-Away TruePet NV752 Via: Amazon

I can see many reasons why it’s become so popular. First is the 2-in-1 upright design which, so far, I haven’t seen many other manufacturers use. Other than being an upright, you can convert the NV356E S2 into a canister vacuum by detaching the Lift-Away canister. This grants the NV356E S2 excellent flexibility, allowing it to clean pet hair on floors as well as furniture, shelves, and other hard-to-reach places.

The second reason is its performance. Most of the tests as well as customer reviews have shown the vacuum to be highly effective against pet hair. Its suction (which is surprisingly powerful for the vacuum’s price) can also make short work of dirt and debris.

This Shark Navigator Lift Away pet vacuum also nails the versatility part well. It can clean bare floors like hardwood, laminate, and tiled floors while also being capable of handling carpeted floors. The latter of which is great news for pet owners considering how stubborn pet hair can get when it’s tangled up inside of the thick, dense fiber of high-pile carpets.

One thing I quite like about the vacuum’s versatility on either floor types is the variable suction control system. There’s one mode for bare floors (marked as “I” on the dial). In this mode, the motorized brush roll is retracted to avoid damaging the surface of your floors. Then, there’s the carpet mode (marked as “II”). The brush roll is deployed to serve as a carpet agitator, combing out all of the collected dirt, debris, and pet hair lodged inside of your carpets.

Enlisting the aid of the Lift-Away canister along with some of the included accessories, the NV356E S2 can also be used to clean more specialised surfaces like upholstery, draperies, and lampshades. You can use the included crevice tool to remove pet hair stuck inside the corners and ledges of the house. What’s more, the flexibility and mobility of the Lift-Away canister also means that you will have an easier time cleaning up pet hair on the stairs.

Though performance is great and design is flexible, the Shark NV356E S2 is not without faults. It’s not a lightweight vacuum, weighing  13.7 pounds in upright mode and around 8 pounds in Lift-Away mode. A lot of people have also reported it to be bulky. Thus, if a lightweight, compact vacuum is what you’re seeking, you may not like the NV356E S2 at all.

It is a corded vacuum and comes with a 30 feet power cord. This is much longer than average and will allow you to clean large homes and spaces without having to frequently change the power outlet.

Another thing worth mentioning is that the vacuum’s design is quite unstable, particularly in Lift-Away mode. When put on the ground, the canister has a tendency to tip over. And since the vacuum is made from rather flimsy plastic, tipping over could cause dents and damage to your vacuum cleaner.

Since it is a bagless vacuum, the Shark Navigator Lift Away Pro NV356E S2 has an integrated dust cup. With a capacity of over 2.2 dry quarts, it is one of the models with the most spacious dust cups in Shark’s Navigator Lift-Away lineup. You don’t have to empty the dust cup nearly as often.

You can empty the cup either through the top or bottom hatch. Most people prefer emptying through the bottom since it’s far less messy doing it that way.

For filtration, Shark has armed this best vacuum for pet hair with a HEPA filter. This is the best type of filtering system available and can remove microscopic particles like bacteria. Pet hair carries quite a lot of those, so having HEPA filtration is a definite plus in the Shark NV356E S2’s favor.

Aside from HEPA filtering, the vacuum also has what Shark calls “Anti-Allergen Complete Seal” technology. The NV356E S2’s body is sealed up to prevent dirty particles and bacteria from leaking through the vacuum’s body and back out into the atmosphere. I can see that this won’t just benefit the overall health of everyone, but if you have allergies, this system will help a lot at reducing your symptoms, too.

The vacuum comes with 3 accessories: a crevice tool, a dusting brush, and a pet power brush. The latter of which will be very helpful for cleaning up pet hair on upholstery and furniture.

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Best Runner-Up: Shark Rotator Powered Lift-Away TruePet NV752

94 %
Filtration
97%
Maneuverability
95%
Durability
94%
Features
91%

Pros:

 2-in-1 design (upright/canister)

≫ Excellent suction

≫ Great pet hair performance

≫ LED headlights

≫ Especially large dust cup

≫ Long power cord

≫ HEPA filtration with hygienic sealed construction

≫ Included with various accessories

Cons:

≫ Quite costly

≫ Cannot clean small carpets and rugs due to high power

≫ Heavy and bulky

The Shark Rotator Powered Lift-Away TruePet NV752 is among one of Shark’s higher-tier vacuums. It’s priced higher, has a more premium design, and is loaded with more features than its more affordable counterparts. If you have a sizable budget for a new best Shark vacuum cleaner or you’re willing to splurge a little bit, the Shark NV752 isn’t a shabby choice at all.

Shark Rotator Powered Lift-Away TruePet NV752

Shark Rotator Powered Lift-Away TruePet NV752 Via: Amazon

True to its name (“TruePet”), the vacuum has excellent command over pet hair. Many customers were astounded by the rate with which this vacuum picked up pet hair in their reviews. It can easily remove hair on floors (both bare and carpeted) as well as upholstery and furniture pieces.

The vacuum can remove cat litter and strewn kibbles pretty well, so this one is a pretty complete Shark vacuum pet model.

Other than cleaning after your pets, the Shark NV752 is also equipped for day-to-day cleaning with good dust and debris pick-up rate on a variety of floor types. But there’s one caveat: the vacuum was found by many to be way too powerful for small rugs. Even on the lowest power setting, the suction can suck up small rugs and stick them tightly against the nozzle. This won’t just make it hard to clean, but could also damage your rugs.

Shark NV752

Shark NV752 Via: Amazon

This problem could’ve been avoided if Shark had included with the NV752 a suction release valve. Quizzically, some cheaper Shark vacuums has the feature but this one— despite being a premium model— does not. A regrettable omission for sure.

This vacuum’s  biggest issue lies in the design. Particularly, the weight. At 16.7 pounds, it is definitely not for users who dislike having to lug around a heavy vacuum. The NV752 is also bulky and will definitely have trouble fitting into tiny corners around the house.

It’s fortunate that Shark seems to have realized this during the early design stage and has attempted (somewhat successfully) to make it up by bolstering its maneuverability. With smooth-rolling wheels and a swivel steering system, this Shark Rotator pet vacuum can be maneuvered easily around obstacles. Additionally, the long 30 feet power cord provides it with an excellent cleaning radius befitting even larger homes.

The NV752 is equipped with Shark’s famed Lift-Away canister, which also gives it the extra mobility and flexibility that other Lift-Away vacuums are renowned for.

Shark Rotator pet vacuum

Shark Rotator pet vacuum Via: Amazon

On the front of the vacuum’s floor head is a series of LED headlights. They will provide illumination for when you have to clean out darker crevices around the house. And if you have a habit of cleaning late at night, it’s going to help, too.

The NV752 comes with a cavernous dust cup that’s capable of storing 3.3 dry quarts of dirt and debris at a time. This is even larger than the NV356E S2. You can clean for several days straight before the dust cup is filled up. The large dust cup will be especially useful during shedding seasons when you have to deal with a lot of pet hair all at once.

Emptying is quite simple and mess-free. The cup is integrated directly to the Lift-Away canister, so just detach it from the vacuum and release the bottom hatch to dump all of the contents.

As Shark’s premium offering, it’s to be expected that the NV752 would come with Shark’s HEPA filtration system. It has Anti-Allergen Complete Seal tech, too. Overall, in terms of filtration, this best Shark vacuum for pet hair got a thumb up from me.

There are quite a lot of accessories that come with this Shark power pet vacuum, including a pet multi-tool, a “Hard Floor Hero” tool, a TruePet mini motorized brush, and a crevice tool.

The pet multi-tool can help you clean up pet hair on upholstery as well as remove stuck-on debris. Meanwhile the TruePet mini motorized brush tool will be a great help for cleaning up pet hair on stairs and carpets.

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Best Budget Shark Vacuum for Pet Hair: Shark Navigator Freestyle SV1106

93 %
Filtration
96%
Maneuverability
93%
Durability
95%
Features
88%

Pros:

≫ Affordable

≫ Adequate performance

≫ Lightweight, convenient design

≫ Decent battery life

≫ Low-cost filters

Cons:

≫ Cannot clean small carpets and rugs due to high power

≫ No HEPA

The Navigator Freestyle series in Shark’s portfolio is worth checking out if you’re looking for maneuverable, compact, and most  of all, cordless best Shark vacuum for pets. The SV1106 is the most popular Freestyle in the series.

Shark Navigator Freestyle SV1106

Shark Navigator Freestyle SV1106 Via: Amazon

Other than its performance and design, the key factor that has made this model so popular is its budget price tag. The majority of reviews I’ve read indicated that most users are quite happy with the value that they received back for the price.

Overall, I found the SV1106 to live up to Shark’s promise of a lightweight and compact vacuum cleaner. It weighs around 7.5 pounds and, unlike the Shark NV356E S2, isn’t at all bulky. The majority of Shark vacuum pet hair reviews for this model mentioned that it’s easy to maneuver the vacuum into small corners and around obstacles. Shark’s designers have also gone the extra mile to make the SV1106 more maneuverable by adding a swivel steering head.

For its size, the SV1106 has solid performance. Both its bare floors and carpet performance are considered acceptable by most tests and customer reviews.

Acceptable” here is due to the fact that it’s not 100% perfect: you will still be able to spot left-over debris, some stray dirt particles, and a couple strands of pet hair on the floors. This is especially true on carpets, where the vacuum has quite mediocre performance. However, because it is a cordless vacuum that has less power to offer than corded variants like the NV356E S2, I can’t really fault it for not aceing performance tests.

Its Pet hair performance is regarded as good. This best Shark vacuum for pet hair cordless can suck up long strands of hair as well as hair clumps without clogging up on both bare floors and carpets. For cat owners, it’s also been reported to be effective against cat litter and kibbles, too.

Just like the Shark NV356E S2, there are 2 cleaning modes on the Freestyle SV1106: one for bare floors and one for carpets. The way you can switch between either of them is through a foot pedal on top of the floor head. This makes switching mode far more convenient and intuitive than having to physically reach down and turn a dial like in older models.

The dust cup’s volume is around 0.64 dry quarts. While it may not sound significant, for a slim cordless vacuum, this is actually very decent. For small homes and apartments, it can store around a day or two worth of dirt, debris, and hair before filling up.

Unfortunately, while performance is good, the battery life is quite lackluster. The majority of users estimate battery life to range between 15 to 20 minutes only. This is probably enough to clean out a couple of small rooms, but if you have a large home, chances are high that you would run out of charge before you finish. Once the battery runs out, it will need 6 hours to recharge.

If the battery was to fizzle out down the line, you can buy replacement batteries and replace it yourself.

Since this is a budget vacuum, it doesn’t come with Shark’s HEPA filter. Instead, you have a washable foam filter. Sure, it may not have a filtering efficiency as high as a HEPA filter, but it will still do a decent job at taking out most of the harmful particles in the air.

Although the filters are washable, you should change them out once every 2 to 3 months. The filters are quite cheap and come in packs of 4, so don’t worry too much about the recurring cost.

The most disappointing part about this vacuum is that it does not come with any kind of accessories whatsoever. You will only get the vacuum and essential accessories like the charging dock, power brick, and that would be about it. This severely handicaps the vacuum’s performance and prevented it from working on surfaces like upholstery and draperies.

But nonetheless, if you need a budget, floor-cleaning cordless vacuum, it shouldn’t be too bad of a choice and will still be a worthwhile Shark vacuum animal hair model.

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Best Shark Vacuum for Pet Hair And Carpets: Shark Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe NV360

93 %
Filtration
96%
Maneuverability
94%
Durability
92%
Features
91%

Pros:

≫ 2-in-1 design (upright/canister)

≫ Maneuverable

≫ Excellent suction

≫ Great pet hair performance

≫ Efficient on carpets

≫ HEPA filtration with hygienic sealed construction

Cons:

 Mediocre bare floors performance

≫ Heavy and bulky

≫ Short cleaning range

Cleaning out pet hair from carpets can be a very challenging job. Pet hair doesn’t just tangle inside of the carpet piling, but since pet hair carries a small electric charge, they can stick onto carpet fiber like magnets. That’s why carpets can become littered with pet hair so quickly.

Shark Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe NV360

Shark Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe NV360 Via: Amazon

With that in mind, the Shark Navigator Lift Away Deluxe NV360 would be a good pick if you have a lot of carpets that you want to be pet hair-free. Performance tests have shown this vacuum to be especially effective on carpets, capable of picking up pet hair on even dense, high-pile types. But you may need to perform several passes in order to pick out all of the pet hair.

Contrary to its performance on carpets and rugs, the vacuum received only mediocre praise when it comes to its hard floors performance. The vacuum struggles with picking up large debris, the floor head occasionally spitting out debris rather than sucking them in. Furthermore, some of the reviews I’ve read indicated that it also slightly struggles against pet hair on bare floors. Though it would eventually pick it all up, the vacuum visibly struggles at the job.

The Shark NV360, like all of its full-size upright brethrens, is quite heavy at 14.3 pounds. Regardless, most users seem to be happy with the design since it doesn’t feel very substantial in the hand. It has the looped handle to thank for, which does a pretty good job at providing comfort and reducing fatigue.

This vacuum retains the bulky design of other Shark uprights. Thus, it can be quite challenging to navigate the vacuum into spaces that require nimbleness such as crevices and corners. But like in other Shark uprights, the company gives the vacuum great maneuverability with a swivel steering and smooth-gliding wheels. So despite the bulkiness, the vacuum turns out to be pretty easy to use.

Furthermore, with the Lift-Away canister, you have more freedom to clean with it than other uprights.

The biggest fault of this vacuum, in my opinion, is the short cleaning radius. The 25 feet power cord, even with the help of the 4 feet extension hose, still turns out short. If you have to clean large spaces, you may need to change the power outlet frequently.

Dust cup capacity is decent at approximately 1.2 dry quarts. It’s not the largest, but it’s adequate.

The Shark NV360 has the complete filtration system found in other high-tier upright vacuums. It has a HEPA filter and Anti-Allergen Complete Seal technology. While the HEPA filter is washable, it has to be changed once every 6 months. Filter replacement kits for this vacuum are affordable, so it shouldn’t be too much of a problem to change them out.

There aren’t many accessories in the box. You will only have an upholstery tool alongside with a 5.5 inches crevice tool.

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Best Shark Vacuum for Pet Hair and Hardwood Floors: Shark APEX DuoClean AZ1002

94 %
Filtration
97%
Maneuverability
96%
Durability
93%
Features
91%

Pros:

 2-in-1 design (upright/canister)

≫ Maneuverable

≫ Excellent suction

≫ Versatile performance with DuoClean floor head

≫ Great pet hair performance

≫ HEPA filtration with hygienic sealed construction

Cons:

 Costly

≫ Heavy and bulky

Admittedly, while all vacuum cleaners are somewhat capable of cleaning hardwood floors, not each one of them can do the job efficiently and reliably. But aside from that, because hardwood is an incredibly delicate type of surface, having a vacuum that’s even slightly incompatible could ruin your floors.

The Shark APEX DuoClean AZ1002 is a good candidate for this role.

Shark APEX DuoClean AZ1002

Shark APEX DuoClean AZ1002  Via: Amazon

Performance-wise, customers are very pleased with this best shark vacuum for pet hair’s suction. The fact it performs very well in this area alludes a lot about its overall performance. Since a brush roll can scratch up the wood’s surface with its scrubbing motion, most of the time suction would be all you have at your disposal on hardwood.

Pet hair isn’t an issue for the AZ1002 on hardwood. According to the majority of pet owners, the suction usually makes short work of them. The vacuum also handles dirt and debris very well, including large debris like cereal and large kibble pieces. Its floor head has a large opening at the front to admit and ingest these kinds of debris without clogging up.

But the thing that makes the AZ1002 so popular is, aside from bare floors cleaning, it also does a great job at cleaning carpets. Its secret lies in the special Shark Duo Clean pet floor head. It’s made up of 2 different types of brushes: a soft roller and a standard, stiff-bristle roller. The latter is particularly useful for dislodging ground-in dirt, debris, and pet hair inside of carpet piling.

The AZ1002 vacuum cleaner

The AZ1002 vacuum cleaner Via: Amazon

As for the soft roller brush, its job is to agitate stains and ground-in dirt on bare floors. The soft bristle ensures that the brush isn’t so abrasive to the point that it would create scratches on your floor’s surface.

The AZ1002 is also integrated with Shark’s Zero-M technology, which promises lower maintenance needs. Supposedly, it prevents pet hair from tangling the brush roll. However, some of the reviews I’ve seen seem to indicate that Zero-M isn’t as effective as Shark has advertised it to be. The brush roll still becomes tangled up from time to time, especially when it has to deal with a large influx of pet hair. So despite the claim, it’s still a good idea to perform weekly maintenance and untangle whatever knots you find among the bristles.

This vacuum is not a lightweight vacuum. At around 16 pounds, it is definitely hefty and will be a turn-off if you dislike heavy vacuums. It’s pretty bulky, too, so you may find it a little bit difficult to maneuver in its upright form. The silver lining here is that the handle design is quite ergonomic and can do a decent job at making the user comfortable while at the helm.

It’s pretty convenient that the AZ1002 has Shark’s Lift-Away technology and can be quickly converted into a canister vacuum. Flexibility and a greater degree of mobility are guaranteed with this mode available, effectively saving the AZ1002 from being branded as “lacking in maneuverability.”

Shark Apex AZ1002

Shark Apex AZ1002 Via: Amazon

The Cleaning radius is great with a long 30 feet power cord. Add in the long suction hose and you can get around 35 feet of cleaning range surrounding any power outlet in the house.

Although the dust cup is far from the largest on this list at 1.5 dry quarts, it is still quite generous and will allow you to clean for a couple days without having to empty it out. There are 2 emptying doors on the cup, 1 up top and 1 at the bottom. As usual, the bottom door is more frequently used since it’s less messy.

As it is one of Shark’s more premium offerings, the Shark Apex AZ1002 comes with their HEPA filtration technology as well as Anti-Allergen Complete Seal. If you have any concerns regarding fine dust, allergens or bacteria, the robust filtering system will definitely ease your anxiety.

Despite being washable, you should set a reminder to replace the HEPA filter on the AZ1002 once every 6 months or so. Like all of the other filter replacement kits found in previously introduced vacuums, the kits of the AZ1002 are affordable.

The vacuum comes with 3 tools: a 12-inch crevice tool, a pet multi-tool, and a mini motorized pet brush.

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Best Lightweight Upright Shark Vacuum: Shark Rocket DeluxePro Ultra-Light HV322

95 %
Filtration
97%
Maneuverability
96%
Durability
95%
Features
92%

Pros:

 2-in-1 design (stick/handheld)

≫ Lightweight and maneuverable

≫ Effective on various floor types

≫ Has good effect against pet hair

≫ Long power cord

≫ Various accessories are included

Cons:

 Loud

≫ Unbalanced design

≫ Small dust cup

≫ Lacks HEPA filtration

Most of the vacuums we have introduced (aside from the budget Shark Navigator Freestyle SV1106) are pretty hefty and large. If something lighter and more compact is your style, I think the Shark Rocket DeluxePro Ultra-Light HV322 is worth paying attention to.

Shark Rocket DeluxePro Ultra-Light HV322

Shark Rocket DeluxePro Ultra-Light HV322 Via: Amazon

The name may have already given you a clue as to the epithet that this vacuum is built around: its lightweight. At around 8.6 pounds, this vacuum is much more portable than any of the uprights in previous segments. And while it’s certainly not among the lightest on the market, nor it is without flaws, it’s a good vacuum if you want a machine that’s Shark-branded.

Before we get deeper into the design, we should first talk about how it performs. Well, you’d be glad to know that there aren’t many complaints on this front. This vacuum has great suction and is capable of working on both bare floors and carpets. As this vacuum is supposed to be a pet vacuum, it’s highly effective against pet hair, too.

There’s one annoying quirks about the suction motor, though. Due to an unfortunate combination of the motor’s high power and the vacuum’s slim design that prevents Shark from integrating sound dampeners into the machine, the HV322 is quite loud while it’s operating. But the noise is just one facet of the issue. The motor also emits a grating high-pitched noise that can be annoying quickly. If you’re sensitive to loud noises, think carefully before making your purchase.

Getting back to the design, the 8.6 pounds weight is very good. Plus, the slim design of the HV322 is great to maneuver with.

But the design is not all good. This Shark Rocket pet hair vacuum has been found by many to be top-heavy. In other words, the majority of its weight is concentrated on the top. This makes the vacuum quite unpleasant to use since it stresses out the wrist of the user more than its balanced siblings. Additionally, it makes the vacuum prones to tipping over and incapable of standing upright on its own.

The Shark Rocket HV322 is also capable of  being converted into a different form. But unlike Shark uprights, it converts into a handheld vacuum than a canister. You can do it by removing the long suction wand portion at the front of the vacuum.

The cleaning radius of the Shark Rocket HV322 is pretty good with a 32 feet power cord.

Dust cup is pretty small, but this is to be expected since the vacuum is designed for compactness. It can hold around 0.69 dry quarts, which will require fairly frequent emptying even with a normal cleaning tempo.

Disappointingly, despite being relatively expensive, the Shark Rocket HV322 does not come with HEPA filtration nor does it come with Anti-Allergen Complete Seal. Instead, it uses washable foam filters. The foam filters are a touch more affordable than their higher-efficiency HEPA counterparts, so you typically won’t need to think a lot while replacing them.

There are a total of 5 different tools that come with the vacuum: a 12-inch crevice tool, a dusting brush, TruePet motorized brush, and upholstery tool.

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Best Handheld Shark Vacuum for Pet Hair: Shark WANDVAC WV201

94 %
Filtration
96%
Maneuverability
92%
Durability
95%
Features
91%

Pros:

 Small and compact

≫ Adequate performance for the size

≫ Premium design

≫ Hygienic

≫ HEPA filtration with durable filter

Cons:

 Costly

≫ Short battery life

≫ Low-capacity dust cup

The Shark WANDVAC WV201 is one of the few handheld vacuums on offer from Shark. Its lightweight form (well beneath 2 pounds) and the hand portable design would be highly attractive to those who seek a lighter alternative to their full-size vacuum.

Shark WANDVAC WV201

Shark WANDVAC WV201 Via: Amazon

First, I think it’s important to put it out there that this vacuum’s specialties are not performance nor battery life. Because of its small form, there’s not a lot of internal space for a large suction motor or a large battery. I’ve seen quite a lot of people criticised the vacuum for having low performance and a mediocre battery life. But, once again, for the size, the WV201 isn’t all that bad.

The Shark WANDVAC WV201 is not designed to handle large messes. Instead, what it was designed for are small, quick cleaning jobs.

For example, if you find the couch a little bit too covered with hair after your dog laid on it, you can take out this vacuum to give the furniture a brief sweep-through. Though the vacuum’s suction may not be strong enough to gobble up 100% of the hair, it will be able to sort out a good majority of the mess.

 Shark WANDVAC WV201

 Shark WANDVAC WV201 Via: Amazon

On bare floors and short-pile carpets, the vacuum can do an acceptable job at dusting and cleaning out small debris like rice or small kibble pieces. However, if you point this vacuum towards larger debris like cereal, it would clog up. The vacuum’s nozzle is simply too small for the job.

High-pile performance is good where it counts. Against pet hair, this vacuum can do a great job at picking out all of the strands tangled inside of the carpet fiber. But against debris, it will struggle majorly.

Now here’s the best part about the Shark WANDVAC WV201: its design. The vacuum weighs around 1.37 pounds, which is more than enough light for most people to use. With adult supervision, I’m certain that even kids can use this vacuum to help around the house.

Thanks to this best shark vacuum for pet hair’s rather unique design (it is shaped like a rod,) the vacuum can reach deep into awkward corners that your full-size vacuums couldn’t. With the help of the included crevice tool, this best Shark vacuum for dog hair will be able to take out debris and all the hair that has collected inside, too.

The Dust cup is one of the most criticized parts of this vacuum. With a capacity of only 0.06 dry quarts, the cup is outright tiny. You will need to empty the cup after every single cleaning session instead of being able to hold this task off for a day or two like with larger Shark vacuums.

But the dust cup is not all bad. The cup is situated near the front of the vacuum and, when the cup release button is pressed, swivels downward to dump its contents. As a result, I consider this vacuum to be suited to those with respiratory issues or allergies.

The WV201

The WV201 Via: Amazon

Next, there’s the problem with the vacuum’s battery that we ought to discuss. As I warned you at the beginning of this segment, the vacuum’s compact size prevents it from having a large battery. Thus, battery life for this vacuum is mediocre, lasting only around 10 to 15 minutes at most.

Because of the small charge, it’s not uncommon to spot reviews from customers saying that they ran out of charge halfway through a session. And it’s for this exact reason that I recommend this vacuum only for quick cleaning sessions that you know you’re going to be able to finish in around 5-8 minutes.

One thing Shark has done right with this vacuum is to give it quick charging ability. The vacuum only needs around 2 hours to recharge back to full level, so you don’t have to wait as long to get back to cleaning if you still have more chores to do. Additionally, I like how the charging dock also acts as a stand for the vacuum. It effectively ensures that while the vacuum is not working, it’s charging and when you pick it back up, it’s ready to go again.

The vacuum’s eye-catching design, coupled with the charging dock also makes it a very aesthetically-pleasing vacuum.

The shark WANDVAC WV201 for pet hair

The shark WANDVAC WV201 for pet hair Via: Amazon

The WV201 is one of Shark’s more expensive vacuums, so it does come with a HEPA filter. The filter is washable and, according to many different sources as well as some customers, it’s durable enough to never need a replacement as long as you give it proper maintenance. Nonetheless, if the filter is damaged somehow, you can still buy replacement filters from Shark.

There are 2 accessories: a duster crevice tool and an upholstery tool. The charging dock is integrated with an accessory rack for easier storage.

   ➜ RELATED: The Best Handheld Vacuum for Pet Hair: Best Products of This Year

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How to Untangle Pet Hair From Vacuum’s Brush

This is a very common issue for pet vacuums. Even if the manufacturer claims that their vacuum has “anti-tangle” design or whatever variation of the term, the vacuum’s brush will eventually become tangled if you use it to clean up after your pets daily.

When that happens, you have to untangle the brush quickly. If you keep on using your vacuum despite the tangles, the brush’s roller belt (the thing that keeps it rotating) will snap. Replacing the roller belt is neither cheap nor easy, so it’s best that you take the time to maintain your vacuum as best as you can.

For untangling, you will need a cutting tool. Scissors will do the job, but they’re not the best suited. If possible, get a razor blade or a seam ripper. These tools are small enough to fit into the floor head and sharp enough to deftly cut through the hair. Additionally, because you’ll be working close to one of the dirtiest places in your vacuum, you’ll need a facial mask and a pair of gloves.

You should also have the trash can nearby to dispose of all of the dirty stuff you collect during the process.

Once you’ve gotten the tool, lay the vacuum down so that you have direct and easy access to the underside of the floor head. If your model’s brush roll can be detached, do that.

Use the cutting tool to tear through all of the tangled hair little by little. Tackle the small ones first and then move onto the larger clumps. Typically, the hair will build up in several layers. Go from the top layer and little by little downward. Do this until the whole brush roll is clean.

This is not difficult work, but it can be a bit time consuming.

How to Vacuum Your Dog

This may sound strange to a lot of people, but you can use your pet vacuum in the literal sense. A pet vacuum, other than a house cleaning tool, can also be used as a grooming tool occasionally.

Cats typically don’t like this kind of treatment and they will quickly scurry away or even retaliate if you put a vacuum’s nozzle even near them. On the other hand, some dogs (those who are used to vacuums and aren’t afraid of them) are okay with this. Grooming your pets will reduce the amount of pet hair strewn across the house and will mean less work for you in the future.

However, you cannot simply take your best Shark vacuum for dog hair, put the nozzle on your pet, and vacuum away,. To ensure that your dog isn’t hurt, you will need a special dog grooming brush tool on upright vacuums. But smaller handhelds like the Shark WANDWAV WV201 could work without extra accessories.

Just make sure to do a couple quick tests to ensure that the vacuum isn’t too strong for your pets. Place the vacuum’s nozzle onto the palm of your hand to see if the suction is gentle enough. It shouldn’t cause you pain or irritation. Then, if you think it’s gentle enough, give your pet a pass across the back to see how he/she likes it. If they’re fine with being groomed with the vacuum and don’t display signs of panic or pain, continue as normal. You should groom your dog around twice a week to minimize sheddings.

Conclusion

I set out to make this guide to help all pet owners find the perfect cleaning machine for yourself and your furry companions. If you’ve found one in my recommendations, then I have done my job right!

So, what is the best Shark vacuum for pet hair overall?

If you still don’t know which Shark vacuum is best for pets, the top selection (Shark Navigator Lift-Away Professional NV356E S2) should be the most balanced pick. 

It has everything that I seek in a best Shark vacuum for pet hair, from being affordable, having high performance, a decent design, to good accessories. As one of the best rated vacuum cleaners online at the moment, it’s also a pretty safe choice to make if you’re wondering about reliability.

Happy shopping!

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  • 01. How Often Should I Vacuum?
  • It depends on how much your pets shed and what time of the year it is. If your pet is a breed that sheds a lot, you may have to bust out the vacuum several times a week to keep up with them. During shedding seasons like spring or autumn, you may even have more cleaning to do.

  • 02. Can Pet Vacuums Do Anything About Pet Odors?
  • The majority of pet vacuums don’t, unfortunately. All of the Shark vacuums I reviewed don’t do much against pet smells. However, a few vacuums on the market come with special filters that are injected with an additional layer of activated carbon. This kind of filter can take out bad smells pretty effectively.

    Since not all vacuums come with such a filter, an easier approach is pet odor removers. These spritz bottles are easy to use, quite cheap, and are as effective (if not more) than activated carbon filters.
     

  • 03. What If My Pets Don’t Shed A Lot, Do I Still Need A Pet Vacuum Then?
  • All pets shed, but some shed less frequently or intensely than others. Unlike a Golden Retriever that can fill every crevice in your house with hair in only an hour of running around, a Miniature Schnauzer sheds so little it’s hard to tell they’re even shedding at all.

    But like I said, all pets shed, so it’s best that if you have any kind of furry pet at all, you should get yourself a best Shark vacuum for pet hair or any pet vacuum that you like.

  • 04. How to Stop My Dogs From Being Afraid Of Vacuum Cleaners?
  • A lot of dogs are afraid of vacuum cleaners. They’re loud, they look strange, and they move weirdly around the house. Facing a vacuum cleaner can be downright traumatic for some dogs. Because of this, it is not at all easy to train your dogs to get used to the sight and sound of a vacuum cleaner, especially for older ones who are harder to train and already developed a deep-seated fear for vacuums.

    In that case, what you need to do before you turn on the vacuum is to take your dog somewhere else in the house where they won’t have to be directly exposed to the vacuum. Give them a chew toy or something to occupy their minds, too.

    It’s easier to train puppies. There are many ways and methods to do this, and since I’m not a dog trainer or pet behavioural therapist, here’s a link that you can use to read more about the training steps.
     

  • 05. Can Pet Vacuums Stave Off Allergies?
  • The majority of the pet vacuums on the market are equipped with HEPA filtration, which is the recommended type of air filtering system for those who have allergies and other respiratory conditions like asthma. So yes, most pet vacuums will be able to safeguard you from an allergic episode as long as it comes with a HEPA filter. If this is a problem for you, definitely write down HEPA filtration on your “Which Shark vacuum is best for pet hair” checklist.
     

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