How to Choose a Dog Grooming Table That Suits Your Needs

Whether your dog is a champion or a stay-at-home pet, you need a grooming table if the breed's grooming requires a moderate amount of your time. The right grooming table reduces your back strain and can make your dog feel more at ease while you are caring for his physical needs. An unsuitable grooming table, however, can make grooming a nightmare. Your table should be appropriate for your height, for the dog being groomed and for the frequency of use.

A grooming table must allow a dog to stand and recline in comfortable positions without giving him too much room to move around. Commercial grooming tables are frequently 18 or 24 inches wide and 30 to 48 inches long; however, sizes can vary between manufacturers. If you will be grooming dogs of different sizes, choose a table that takes the comfort of the largest dog into consideration. A small dog grooming table, which typically consists of a round, rotating tabletop on a frame with a nonslip base, is suitable for use with toy- and small-breed dogs. It can rest on top of any counter or table to make grooming a small dog more comfortable for both parties involved.

A grooming table should be appropriate for the height of the groomer in relation to the size of the dog. The table should bring your dog up to approximately the level of your waist, to prevent bending or stretching while brushing, combing or attending to ears or nails. Grooming tables with adjustable legs allow you to groom dogs of different sizes. They also permit you to stand or to sit while grooming. Hydraulic grooming tables can be expensive. Regardless, they are worth the investment if you need assistance lifting a dog onto the table or if you will be grooming often. You can adjust a hydraulic table even with the dog in place.

Your table should be sturdy enough to withstand the weight and energy of your dog. A lightweight wooden fold-up table would not stand up to use with a Siberian husky, even if the dog would fit on top: Its base would wobble and the tabletop would eventually buckle or crack. By the same token, a 5-pound dog does not need a table with all-metal construction. Sometimes, portability is important. If you will be keeping your table at home, a well-made, slightly heavy table might be the better investment. If you will be traveling with it, however, a folding table constructed of lightweight metal or wood is ideal.

If you have more than one dog or if your dog requires frequent grooming, you may prefer to keep your grooming table set up all the time. In this case, you will want a table that fits into the space you have set aside for grooming. If you will be grooming infrequently, a table that suits the size of your dog and folds to store under a bed or in a closet is likely more appropriate.