The Best Dog Grooming Table Australia - A Review

While it’s not always the first thing we have in mind when we think about our canine companions, but some dogs need lots of grooming. And they need it often (1).

If that’s the case with your pooch, you might be considering setting up your own DIY grooming station at home. Or maybe you are thinking about starting a grooming business?

Either way, this guide is designed to help you find the best dog grooming table in Australia. To provide you with the best products and most comprehensive information, we teamed up with professional groomers and veterinarians to form our independent panel of experts. After weeks of research testing out the most popular dog grooming tables, we were finally able to compile this guide.

What did we discover? Stick around to check out the best dog grooming table Australia offers.

What to Look for in a Grooming Table for Dogs

Grooming a dog is not just a matter of appearance and having a fancy haircut. It can also be essential for keeping a dog happy and healthy (2).

Before we suggest some grooming tables for you, we need to talk about the things you need to know to choose the right table. When it comes to grooming tables, no one product should work for everyone.

Related: Best Dog Grooming Course Australia

Especially if you plan to use your table at home, you need to take a lot of factors into consideration. What do these entail? Our team of independent experts share everything you need to know.

While the first instinct could be to just get a quality, professional-level table, you also need to consider any space constraints as well your grooming station set-up. Will you need water in the same area? What about a power outlet? You’ll probably need that to plug in your clippers and/or dog hair dryer.

The best thing to do before you start shopping for a grooming table is to figure out where you are going to set it up and which dimensions would fit. Building on this, you’ll be able to think through all the additional features you want or need in your new dog grooming station.

Here is a list of everything you need to consider before settling on a new grooming table:

The Weight of Your Dog

First thing’s first, we need to figure out the weight capacity you want from your table. Knowing the weight capacity of the table in question is very important because it can make or break the experience you will have with it.

Some tables look super sturdy, but they actually are not and can only hold small canines. Especially if you want to use your grooming table for dogs over 20 kg, make sure to check if the table can support the weight to avoid unpleasant surprises.

Dog Size

Another thing to consider is the size of your dog. Grooming tables come in a variety of sizes, from small to extra-large. Dogs usually need to stand up during the grooming session, so you’ll want to measure the area your dog needs to stand comfortably on all four paws.

Having a table that is not big enough can be quite dangerous since the dog might fall down easily. When in doubt, always go a size larger.

Table Build Quality

The build quality is definitely what determines the lifespan of a grooming table. A table with flimsy aluminium legs will never last as long as a table with a stable stand made of powder-coated iron or stainless steel. Of course, a super heavy-duty table is not always what you need, but you might sacrifice durability for convenience in this case.

Related: Best Dog Clippers Australia

Portability and Storage

Again, the most heavy-duty tables are most stable and durable, but as we were able to quickly discover during our trial phase, they are also usually not very easy to fold up and store away. It is possible to find lightweight tables that are easily foldable and even portable. However, these don’t usually have a very high-weight capacity.

Adjustability

Not all grooming tables have adjustable height, but we highly recommend getting one that does. Being able to adjust the level of the table will make working on your dog’s coat much more comfortable for you and it can save you a lot of back pain.

Best Dog Grooming Tables 2023: Our Top Picks

Ready to see some actual grooming tables? Below are the best options our panel of independent experts have found. These are the tables we tested by hand and that helped us keep our dogs looking and feeling their best.

If you are looking for a grooming table that will last forever, and that can adapt to the grooming needs of small and large dogs alike then this hydraulic option from vidaXL can be just what you need.

This table might not have any flashy extra features, but it is sturdy, stable, and made to do its job well. First of all, what makes this table different (and more expensive) than most others is the hydraulic lifting mechanism. This allows you to adjust the height of the table (from 54 cm to 94 cm) even with a heavy dog on the table.

We think this is great because it allows you to achieve the perfect height without the awkward moment where you need to convince a dog to jump on the table. The weight capacity of this table is 60 kilograms, which is more than most competitors can offer.

The base and the adjustable legs on this grooming table are made from powder-coated iron. This makes sure that the table is tough and stable, although it also makes it heavy. It's definitely not easily portable, so if you need that feature, consider our number two choice instead. The grooming arm that’s also included is made of stainless steel instead of iron. Stainless steel is used here because it is resistant to corrosion and rust, so water and other debris won’t damage your equipment.

Our team of independent experts appreciated how the surface of the table itself is covered with a high-quality rubber coating that prevents your dog from slipping. Overall, this is a great table for grooming at home - if you have the space for it.

This affordable grooming table from vidaXL brings you all the essential features you need from a good grooming table at a much more modest price than professional products like our number one choice.

So what exactly is included? Let’s start with the tabletop. The dimensions of the platform are 91 cm x 61 cm. That’s fairly large although it might not be enough for very large dogs, so keep that in mind. For small and medium breeds, though, I happily discovered that this is a very comfortable area for my puppers to stand on. The surface of the table is covered with a rubber mat to make it less slippery for the canine feet.

The table stands on sturdy legs made of powder-coated iron. The legs fold under the table when not in use, thus making this table essentially portable, and very easy to fold up and put away for storage. Still, the legs are strong enough to support dogs that weigh up to 60 kg.

In addition to this, this vidaXL grooming table comes with a removable grooming arm that clamps onto the table. The grooming arm also comes with two grooming loops. The height of the grooming arm is adjustable, but the table height is not. The tabletop stands at 77 cm.

Overall, it’s a great product both for using at home and bringing to shows, for example.

This grooming arm from Master Equipment will allow you to transform any table into a grooming table. If you already have a surface area in your home that would work great as a grooming table, this removable grooming arm allows you to achieve just that.

No need to go shopping for a new table - simply set up this arm and your grooming table is ready. This grooming arm will fit any table that ranges between 92 cm and 120 cm in length. The clamps that go onto the table edge are adjustable for varying thickness and will fit tables that are up to 3 cm thick.

The grooming arm itself is made from zinc-plated tubular steel which is not too heavy but withstands the test of time fairly well. The arm attaches to both sides of the table and comes with an adjustable overhead connector. I like how I was able to adjust the height of the arm too - up to 120 cm over the table, approximately.

The arm also features various adjustment points for all your accessories such as grooming loops. Like our number two choice, this grooming arm also includes two grooming loops (nooses).

This grooming table from Shelandy is another great option for all the home groomers (and also those who’d like to take their grooming table along for shows and the like). This is a foldable grooming table that includes everything you need for a professional performance.

The tabletop on this grooming table is 110 cm long and 58 cm wide. Our team of independent experts found this is a great size for all small to medium-large breeds, but there is a smaller version of this table available if you find you don’t need one that big. The working surface is covered with a built-in rubber mat, so you don’t have to add another one.

Like our number two choice, this table includes foldable legs with rubber tips as well as a grooming arm. The grooming arm can be easily attached or removed from the table and its height is adjustable. The maximum height of the grooming arm is 76 cm.

Keep that in mind as the height might be too low for larger breeds, although the weight capacity of this table is a whopping 110 kg. Other than that, this is a great, functional table that comes at a good price too.

This grooming table from the Clipper Shop is another great option that is both foldable and has an adjustable tabletop height. Adjustable height is not that common in this price range, but our team of experts know how helpful this feature can be, especially if you spend a lot of time grooming.

The tabletop height on this table is adjustable to anywhere between 75 cm and 90 cm, so you’ll always be able to find the ideal working position.

Another great feature about this table is that it is foldable too. Now, that’s uncommon: a table that is both adjustable and foldable. On top of that, there is a handy storage basket between the legs of the table that you can use to store all the gear you are not currently using. It’s a small feature, but also very handy.

Other than that, this table also includes a grooming arm and a grooming loop. The height of the grooming arm can also be adjusted, unlike our number one choice. In short, the table comes with everything you need to start using it right away.

The tabletop is also covered with a non-slip rubber mat. I loved how I could choose the colour of the mat too for a personal signature - blue, purple, and pink versions are available

When we talk about professional grooming tables, this is what we picture. The Aeolus Low-Low PRO Electric Lifting Table is probably the best grooming table you can find in Australia.

So where should we start? Perhaps with the lifting mechanism. This is an electric grooming table, so it will adjust the tabletop level with just a push of a button. Moreover, the height is adjustable between 25 cm and 107 cm. The fact that the table gets so low means that even dogs with mobility issues and elderly dogs can step on the surface easily.

Similar to our number one choice, the electric mechanism will simply lift them up to the desired height. Considering that the weight capacity of this table is 150 kg, this should be possible with almost any dog in the world.

The working surface on this table measures 126 cm x 65 cm. The table includes an H-frame grooming arm complete with two nylon loops, which sets it apart from our first choice which only includes one loop. 

It’s also full of handy features to made the grooming experience for our team of independent experts easier. For example, there are power points (including USB ports) for plugging in your tools. Keep in mind that they shouldn’t be used for tools that use lots of energy, like hair dryers.

I also loved how there are stainless-steel hooks under the table as well as a drawer for storing smaller objects. These made it handy for keeping all of my grooming tools at hand.

Final Verdict

What is the best grooming table for dogs? According to our panel of independent experts, it highly depends on the dog, as well as your needs and the space you have available. If you want a full-featured grooming table that will even lift the dog up for you, then we think that the Hydraulic Z-Lift Pet Grooming Table might be a great option.

However, this table is also very heavy and not easy to pack up for storage. If you want something more mobile, perhaps the SHELANDY Professional Pet Grooming Table can do the job. And if you already have a table that you want to transform into a grooming station, we recommend the Master Equipment Zinc-Plated Steel Overhead Pet Grooming Arm to turn any table into a dog grooming table.

References

1. “The complete guide to grooming your dog”. February 25, 2019. RSPCA. Retrieved September 25, 2023. https://www.rspcasa.org.au/dog-grooming-guide/
2. PetMD Editorial. “The Importance of Grooming Your Puppy”. May 16, 2017. PetMD. Retrieved September 25, 2023. https://www.petmd.com/dog/puppycenter/grooming/evr_dg_the_importance_of_grooming_your_puppy