How to become a Dog Groomer

918

£12,000/y

avg. starting salary

What do they do? Looking for a career with animals? Throw a dog a bone sponge… Dog Groomers work with all kinds of dogs, carrying out a range of hands-on grooming services to improve their hygiene and overall appearance. In other words, whether they’re shampooing their fur and cleaning their ears, or clipping their nails and trimming their coat – a Dog Groomer’s job is to make dogs look (and smell) clean and presentable. So, if a client wants her poodle to have an extra fluffy tail, Dog Groomers will do their best to make that happen. No matter how jealous the other dogs will be of her (possibly questionable) new look. Typical tasks and duties for Dog Groomer could include:

Greeting owners and discussing preferred grooming
Understanding and adhering to the grooming standards for each breed
Advising on at-home grooming techniques
Shampooing, drying, and trimming fur
Using stripping knives and electric clippers to shape dogs’ coats
Checking for any abnormalities in the dogs’ coat (e.g. fleas, sores)
Sanitising equipment and tidying work areas

A love for dogs and an ability to stay calm, patient, and focused are key skills if you want to become a Dog Groomer. Although working with dogs might sound like the dream to many, they’re not always the most cooperative of customers. Many dogs will feel nervous and/or agitated whilst being groomed, so it’s vital that you can handle them firmly but gently. However, it isn’t just compassion towards pets you’ll need. As you’ll spend a big portion of your time with (human) customers, good interpersonal skills and a friendly attitude are equally essential. To be a good Dog Groomer, you’ll also need to have:

Excellent stamina
Good attention to detail
A professional approach
A high standard of cleanliness
Knowledge of grooming principles
A natural ability for ear scratches (maybe)

Assistant Dog Groomer

Up to £12,000

Dog Groomer

Up to £18,000

Salon Manager

Up to £24,000

"The best part of being a Dog Groomer is that every dog you see is different. One day you could be making a mud covered bichon frise look white again, and the next you could be getting the knots out of a playful golden retriever’s fur. But although you get to groom the cutest dogs, they aren’t always keen – and you might be surprised at how tough it is when they’re scared or nervous (I may or may not have been pushed over by a headstrong huskie once). It’s a learning curve, for sure, but once you’re trained you find that holding dogs in place is easy if it’s done right. My advice? Tailor your approach to suit the temperament of each breed. Also, always have backup treats. Just in case…"

Get qualified

There are no specific entry requirements to become a Dog Groomer, as new starters will be given on-the-job training. However, those with qualifications in dog grooming and animal grooming techniques are more likely to stand out to employers.

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