Groomers are notorious for suffering bodily injury on the job. Using proper equipment can prevent some injuries. Back injuries happen many times from lifting a dog up onto the table or into the tub. There are hydraulic tables and electric tables that will lower almost to ground level so that a groomer doesn't have to lift dogs anymore. Many groomers will put a weight restriction on the size of dogs that they will groom in an attempt to save their backs.

Taking Care of the Groomer: Tips and Tricks

Wrestling with an unruly dog can result in a back injury. Use the most ergonomic tools you can to save your back. You only have one back and you can't replace it. When you do lift a dog, be sure to bend at your knees and use your legs, not your back, to lift. Learn how to lift properly, and don't lift more than you can comfortably handle.

Sometimes the tub can be at a height that is just a few inches too short for the groomer. She has to lean over the tub to wash the dog at such an angle that she can injure her back. If you can, raise the tub to a better height for you. If you use a shower to wash dogs in, sit on a low stool so you aren't bending over all the time. Sit down to groom as well. Standing on your feet is hard, and if your table won't rise to the proper height, sit down on an adjustable chair and adjust it to the height that works for you.

It's easier to teach a dog to jump up on something or walk up a ramp than it is to be out of work due to throwing out your back and ending up at the doctor, hospital, or chiropractor for weeks to treat your injury. If you go back to work too soon, you can reinjure yourself and be out for several more weeks. To keep this from happening, work at a height that keeps you in an upright position without leaning over.

Proper Equipment

There are numerous tables available to groomers. Some are a set height and have no adjustment. There are hydraulic tables that you pump with your foot or you can opt for an electric table that raises and lowers with the touch of a pedal. Folding tables are more portable, and some have adjustable legs on them that you can raise to the height you need. It's important that you use a table that fits both your height and the dogs you will be working on.

Tables can be homemade using banquet table legs and plywood for a top, covered in a nonslip coating or mat. Tables and arms help keep a dog at a comfortable height for you to stand or sit and work on the dog, and they also make most dogs realize that they can't get away and that they need to listen to you. Arms for tables are the biggest helpers for humans. You need your hands to work on the dog, and trying to hold the dog still while grooming her doesn't work well.

Costs

Prices for grooming tables range from under $100 to well over $2,000, and many groomers will upgrade their equipment as they can afford to. The bottom line is to get something that fits your body and allows you to work comfortably. Grooming tools aren't inexpensive, but you need the right tools if you are going to do the job right.

Grooming Arms

Arms for grooming tables also come in a variety of types. Most are made of steel and have a curve with an eye to attach a grooming loop. Some bolt to the table, making them more permanently attached. There are clamp-on arms that you can move around the table to any position you want. Some grooming arms have a top that flips out of the way, and there are complete systems that have two arms connected by a length of pipe in the middle, making one continuous arm out of it. This set up is great for using the waist loop.