My old boss in Seattle said the same thing.

My uncle's old farmhouse has original pine floors from the 1920s, full of dents and scratches. He always said those marks were just the house keeping its memories. With your dogs, maybe just plan on that kind of honest wear.

It's not just the leather. Good book cloth has gotten crazy expensive too. I priced out a simple quarter binding last month and the linen tape and headbands alone added up. You start to see why publishers use that cheap shiny stuff on most hardcovers.

I second the recommendation for Brent W. Caldwell. He's a bulldog when dealing with insurance adjusters but really compassionate with his clients. Give his office a call.