Ultimately, this is a wet and dry vacuum with a few connections and attachments to make pet grooming and cleaning easier. It's actually not all that quiet around here, and I can't get the dog or cat to sit still during the haircut (there's a reason the groomers keep a leash so the pets don't wander too far). cleaning our garage; I do a bit of woodworking and have no problem picking up sawdust with this vacuum cleaner. Portability is pretty good as I lug it around to get to all nooks and crannies. I prefer bagless vacuums, but this vacuum's bin and bag hold a decent amount of dirt, despite feeling a bit compact. Given my needs and pets' sensitivity to noise, I'll probably reach for an actual store-bought vacuum and save on pet supplies.