Non-Slip Surface Is Better
This might sound obvious but not all tables come with a non-slip surface, and even the ones that do, can differ in the quality and safety of their surface. Ideally, you would something that’s both non-slip and comfortable, especially if you have a small dog that’s particularly resistant to grooming.
Another good feature to have here would be a static-free surface. It means that the surface wouldn’t stick to your dog’s hair and other debris, which can be a struggle to remove. A static-free surface almost always ensures that cleaning the grooming table would be a breeze.
The rubber ones usually tick most boxes here, but that doesn’t mean you should rule the other materials out.
Related: Best Dog Deshedding Brush
Waterproof Interior For Easy Cleaning
Apart from this, some grooming tables are also waterproof, meaning that they even don’t let the water stay around after you’re done grooming your dog. It wouldn’t be a big deal if the grooming table isn’t perfectly waterproof, but it can be a good additional feature to have, especially if you want the cleaning to be as easy as possible.
All the grooming tables we picked above come with a completely non-slip and fairly comfortable surface for your dog.
Related: Best Dog Grooming Clippers
Size & Safety Matters
This is a big one that’s surprising because it doesn’t get the attention that it should. Even if the surface is non-slip, you would run a risk of your dog falling off the grooming table if it’s too short for them.
This usually isn’t much of a problem for people with small to medium dogs, but if you have a very large dog, you sure need to be very careful about the size of the grooming table you get.
This is why we particularly included a really large grooming table, which would be a perfect choice for people with very large dogs.
However, don’t forget that the large size of the grooming table needs to have enough support as well, or you would again be looking at safety issues for your dog. An important feature to look for here is the strength of the legs of the grooming table, and how thick or sturdy they are.
Needless to say, you wouldn’t want to settle for any material here except strong metal. And the legs should also be well-complemented by footpads made of high-quality, non-slip rubber.
These features might seem small but they all combine to offer a safe, stable environment when grooming your dog. The stability is really important too in order to prevent any accidents when grooming your dog, as well as not making them feel frightened.
Adjustability To Accommodate Various Sizes
The adjustability is a huge feature, especially when you’re not going for an electric or hydraulic table. It ensures that the grooming table turns out to be a great fit for your dog, and holds them securely in place while you’re grooming your furry friend.
The adjustability primarily depends on the arm attached to the grooming table. These arms do come in different types and sizes, and these are important details to consider too.
The size of the adjustable arm matters because it determines how much flexibility you will have when grooming your dog. You would want it to be able to keep your dog in a standing position without giving any room to them for sitting down, but while still making them feel comfortable and easy.
Similarly, depending on the height of your dog, the adjustability range may need to be fairly large, so that it not only suits the height of your dog, but also helps you have a good length for grooming different areas of your dog’s body.
All the grooming tables we reviewed above come with a pretty large adjustability range, especially for the size of dogs they are designed for.
Sturdiness For Added Security
The sturdiness of the arm of the grooming table is just as important, as a weak arm can come off with a fair bit of resistance from a strong dog, which could obviously be dangerous.
The loop attached to the arm must be of good quality as well, and of course, if you have more than one dog or are a professional groomer, you would want to pick the dog table above that comes with more than one loop.
Folded Portability
Finally, portability is important too as you will likely find yourself grooming your dog in different places. A portable table would also allow you to groom your dog outside your house if need be, and it can be incredibly useful for a professional.
The portability depends on how small the grooming table turns when folded, and whether it can be folded at all or not. The weight is another factor here, but not a big one unless you plan to regularly travel with it.
Other Features To Consider
Some of the other features that aren’t as important as the above ones but still great to have included:
- Ease of cleaning: If the grooming table's surface is made of good quality materials and doesn’t stick on to debris and hair too much, you would have a much easier time cleaning it
- Storage shelf: If you have a large grooming kit, then you may want to have a storage shelf to keep everything handy and make the task less time-consuming
- Rust-free material: You would want the steel parts of the grooming table to be rust-resistant if you don’t want to replace them too soon
- Affordable price: Not the greatest feature to look for, but the electric and hydraulic tables can cost a bomb, so unless you can spend that kind of money it’s important to stick to the regular adjustable grooming tables above
