How to Use a Dog Grooming Table Safely
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A grooming table lifts your dog to a height where you can brush, trim and check them without bending over the floor. It only helps if the top does not slip, the table is steady, and your dog is never left alone on it. This guide covers what to look for, how to get your dog used to the table, how to lift them on and off, and how to use a grooming arm and loop safely.
How we wrote this: the safety rules come from the AKC’s grooming standards and groomer oath, the Professional Pet Groomers and Stylists Alliance, PetMD, Dogs Trust and Groomer to Groomer, all linked where they are used and checked on 31 October 2026. We looked for hands-on tests of grooming tables by named review sites and found none, so this is a how-to and we do not link any table. We did not test any grooming table ourselves, and we do not show prices or ratings.
The one rule: never leave your dog alone on the table
Every source we used puts this first. PetMD says to “never (ever!) leave your puppy unattended during a grooming session, especially if she is on top of a grooming table.” Groomer to Groomer calls falls from the tub or table “one of the most common and avoidable accidents”, which “can result in very serious injuries”, and says “the first and golden rule is to never leave a pet unattended in the tub or on the grooming table.” The AKC S.A.F.E. groomer oath says “Pets cannot be left unattended on grooming tables or in tubs”, and the AKC grooming standards ask that no pet be left unsupervised within an arm’s length while on the table.
A grooming arm and loop do not change this. If you need to step away, even for a towel, lift your dog down first.
What to look for in a grooming table
- A non-slip top. The AKC standards say to equip table tops with a non-slip surface that is easy to clean, and the Professional Pet Groomers and Stylists Alliance says the same.
- A sturdy frame. The AKC standards say grooming tables should be safe, sturdy and operating well. A table that wobbles or folds under a moving dog is a fall risk.
- The right size for your dog. Your dog should be able to stand on the table with room to spare, so they are not near the edge. Check the maker’s listed top size and weight limit against your dog before you buy.
- A secure grooming arm. The Alliance says grooming arms, by which the pet is restrained, “should be pet friendly and secure.” PetMD lists a grooming table with a grooming arm among home grooming supplies, with the reminder never to leave your dog unattended on it.
- A height that suits you. Pick a working height you can reach without stooping. If the table folds or adjusts, check that it locks firmly in place before your dog goes on it.
Using a grooming arm and loop safely
A grooming loop clipped to the table arm helps keep your dog in place while you work, but it is not a safety device to leave a dog with. Groomer to Groomer says the loop most often goes around the neck, but warns that “for dogs that tend to jump around or try to lay flat out of fear, a neck loop can cause trauma to the trachea, restrict breathing”, or cause other neck injuries. For those dogs, the author uses a “seatbelt” placement instead, with one front leg and the neck through the loop so it lies like a sash across the chest.
- Set the loop so your dog can stand comfortably, not stretched upward.
- Keep a hand on your dog, and take the loop off before you lift them down.
- If your dog panics, struggles or tries to lie flat in the loop, stop and lift them down.
Getting your dog used to the table
- Start with short, happy sessions. The AKC suggests puppy playtimes on grooming tables, “being sure to include favorite treats and toys.”
- Practice on a low, steady surface first. Dogs Trust suggests teaching a small dog to be lifted onto a sturdy low table with a non-slip mat, placing them in the center, away from the edge, then moving up to a higher table.
- Keep it short. Dogs Trust says to keep sessions short so your dog is always having fun, and to spread them over the day.
- Groom in small steps. Once your dog is calm on the table, add one task at a time: a quick brush, then a paw check, then a nail trim.
Lifting your dog on and off
Dogs Trust says it is important to teach your dog that being lifted onto a table “isn’t anything to worry about.” To protect your back, it says to bend your knees and crouch next to your dog rather than bending from the waist, keep your dog close to your body as you lift, and stand close to the table so you do not have to twist. Consider your dog’s weight and shape, and get help with a large dog. If your dog is unwell, injured or recovering from surgery, Dogs Trust says you may need to avoid lifting them; ask your vet how to handle them.
Lift your dog down at the end rather than letting them jump. Groomer to Groomer lists pets jumping from tables among avoidable grooming injuries.
Tables named in roundups
Roundups from Dogster, K9 of Mine and The Spruce Pets often list tables from Go Pet Club, Master Equipment and Flying Pig. K9 of Mine bases its picks on owner reviews, The Spruce Pets on talks with groomers and owners plus online product reviews, and Dogster gives no test details for any table. Since we could not find a hands-on test by a named review site, we do not link or rank any table.
What to do on the table
For the grooming itself, see our dog and cat grooming buying guide, our best dog brush guide, how to trim a dog’s nails and how to dry a wet dog. If you find a lump, a sore, a cracked pad or anything that hurts your dog while grooming, stop and see your vet.
FAQ
Do I need a grooming table to groom my dog at home?
No. You can brush and check your dog on the floor or on a non-slip mat. A table can make longer grooming sessions easier on your back, and PetMD lists one among home grooming supplies, as long as your dog is never left alone on it.
Is a grooming loop safe?
Only with you right there. Groomer to Groomer warns that a neck loop can injure a dog’s trachea or restrict breathing if the dog jumps around or lies down, and every source we used says never to leave a dog unattended on the table.
How do I stop my dog slipping on the table?
Use a table with a non-slip top, as the AKC grooming standards ask, or add a non-slip mat as Dogs Trust suggests when practicing, and keep your dog in the center of the table.
My dog is scared of the grooming table. What should I do?
Go back to short sessions with treats and toys on a low table, as the AKC and Dogs Trust suggest, and stop before your dog gets upset. If fear does not improve, ask your vet or a qualified behaviorist for help.