A groomer’s view of baths and tables

Debby Knight LCGI of The Bristles Dog Grooming and Training Centre - an Assessment Centre for Summit Training Group – shares her views and experiences of baths and tables and which type she feels is best:

In my experience the best baths and tables to buy are Hydro Bath. The positive is they run off a cold water feed and have fabulous water pressure. Using a recirculating pump delivers a high volume mix of water and shampoo. This a quick efficient way of bathing a dog. A riser can be put in the bath to save bending. Negatives are they are not cheap to buy; some models are expensive to heat , especially the ones with a large water tank on the side, plus if you have three or more groomers in the salon and only one bath you may have to wait for the

water to heat up .

Prices vary greatly, depending on the quality of the steel and added extras. Positives: These baths are hard wearing and some have blaster attachments, mesh trays, sliding doors and steps. Negatives: if you don’t like water marks on stainless don’t buy one !!! It still needs both hot and cold water feeds.

Positives: Most are priced under £200 and can come with a ramp, raised up on legs to save bending, lightweight and portable. Negatives: You may be limited to the size of dog you can get in it and due to quite low sides, water can be spread around a large area of the salon. It requires a hot and cold water feed and a shower unit over it at an additional cost .

Human / bathroom bath Positives: price obviously either cheap or free. The old cast iron baths are durable and can be mounted on a frame. Negatives: it still needs a shower unit over it, it is large and takes up a lot of room.

Buy the right bath for the correct job. Buy the best you can afford. Buy from a company that provides good customer service, especially if you have a Hydrobath.

Keep your bath clean and service regularly if required.

Positives: They are easy to raise up and down smoothly and most go very low to the floor for large dogs to get on and off, saves your back. Negatives: requires electricity so may limit where you place the table as you need a plug.

Positives: No wires, but you can still raise and lower the table, cheaper than the electric ones. Negatives: The cheap tables with a central pedestal are very unsteady

Positives: Inexpensive and portable, can come fitted with wheels and used as a trolley to carry grooming kit, ideal for mobile groomer. Negative: no height adjustment, so the groomer has to bend over. (you can buy an adjustable, portable table , but they can be quite awkward to raise and lower).

Buy the best you can afford. Check the rubber surface is scratch resistant and removable so it can be changed if worn or damaged in the future.

Don’t buy one that is too big for your salon or too heavy to carry if portable.

Check the lifting weight to make sure it will take your largest dog.

Clean the top between dogs to help reduce cross contamination and lengthen its life Service regularly if it is electric or hydraulic .

If it is hydraulic or electric have a wheel kit on it for ease of moving around the salon .

My personal choice would be a Hydrobath. I have owned one for 10 years and wouldn’t be without one. My choice of table is electric. I own both hydraulic and electric and over the last 15 years haven’t had problems with either.