The Barber/Salon Chair Type Grooming Table

This style of table although generally constructed much better than and possessing numerous advantages over the card table type is still limiting in a number of ways and suffers from one major design flaw. As stated, these tables are typically constructed out of higher quality materials (stainless frame, real wood table surface with rubberized or plasticized protective coating, etc.) than the card table type and in general are constructed as good as and will last as long as the majority of larger more heavily constructed tables. Additionally these tables classify as an entry level hydraulic table, allowing the height of the table to be raised or lowered via pumping a foot pedal in order to place the dog at a convenient height for grooming. However, unlike other types of hydraulic grooming tables, and like a barber or salon chair, the up and down travel of these tables is typically limited to around 12 inches. What this means is that even at its lowest setting the flat table surface will typically be between 2 and 3 feet off the ground. As a result very few if any dogs will be able to step up or jump onto the table and pretty much all dogs will have to be lifted onto or otherwise placed on the table increasing physical strain on the groomer.

Another interesting and quite useful feature of these tables is that like a barber chair the table top can rotate 360 degrees around the base. Some groomers enjoy this feature while others can take it or leave it, regardless the result is that with this feature a groomer can sit on a groomers stool and rotate the dog as opposed to standing and having to walk from one side of the table to the other or noosing and unoosing the dog and moving and/or reclamping the grooming arm in a different position in order to work on different sides of the dog. Also the table top (on every model that I have seen) can be prevented from rotating by lifting up on the foot pedal and locking it into place, whereas depressing and holding the foot pedal in the downward most position will lower height of the table top.

Let us move past the typical features of this style table and onto its obvious and maybe not so obvious short comings. The most notable short coming being that this table is only suitable for small to small-medium sized dogs (dogs 1-25lbs). The construction of the table is not suitable for handling the rigors of lifting and rotating larger dogs and I have seen the packing seals around the base blow out when shops tried to lift heavier dogs. The most unobvious draw back and quite dangerous problem with these style tables is the oscillation/wobble that dogs 25lbs and over can create. This is undoubtedly due to the fact that these tables are top heavy with a high center of gravity. If you look at the shape of these style tables they feature a large flat table surface held up on a hydraulic piston mounted in a narrow round base. In simplest terms the overall shape of all the components resembles the silhouette of an upside down bowling pin. When larger dogs or even medium dogs stand on the table their weight is rarely centered right over the base, more often than not they will either be slightly forward or rearward of center or with larger dogs their paws will end up one in each corner of the table top.

What typically happens is the table will wobble a bit and the dog will shift its weight and lean in an attempt to counter this, in so doing the dog will shift its weight away from what it feels is the downward sloping side. The table will then react by bouncing back to center and over so that the previously downward side becomes the upward side and vice versa, the dog again corrects and the table wobbles back the other way creating a whip saw back and forth motion. This happens quickly and the effect can be quite violent at times resulting in the table flipping or more often the dog will simply become scared and try to jump from the table with the groomers noose still attached possibly injuring itself, breaking the table arm or flipping the table. The sound it makes it quite impressive as well, loud repetitive thumping as the edges of the base smack off the ground while the table wobbles back and forth with the clanging of the grooming arm whipping back and forth. This is typically followed by a large crash when the table finally flips or the dog attempts to jump to freedom. These tables typically cost under $500 and the most popular price point seems to be between $200 and $400.

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