With 4 dogs and a cat, I go through approx 1 vacuum cleaner a year. I haven't been convinced on the Dyson yet. My last purchase was......hell, it's in the basement from when I had to clean up a lightbulb the puppy broke - but it doesn't have one of the filters that can get clogged either. Was around $250.
A lot of people say they like the Dyson because it picks up what their other vacuum didn't, but IME, EVERY vacuum does that. I have to vacuum at least 3 times (I wait until the chamber stops picking anything up) before I shampoo the carpet.
Oh, I go through carpet shampooers about once every 2 years
