Dog Grooming School
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Although not traditionally a high paying career choice after attending a qualified dog grooming school with excellent dog grooming courses you can turn that around into your own business or look for a niche that hasn’t been met yet and make really good money. Sometimes it’s not just about the money either but you can move up to manage a salon or department in a specialty shop. How do you find dog grooming classes or receive a dog grooming education? You can find information on this web site, in dog grooming books, and in your own community through the yellow pages or through your local pet care store.
What does a dog groomer do?
Imagine having customers who never complain. Shampoo them, shave them, give them a professional cut, even tie a bow around their necks, and they will never take offense. In fact, they'll give you a wet, sloppy kiss for your trouble.
Welcome to the world of dog grooming.
Dog groomers are the cosmetologists of the canine world. Charged with keeping pets clean and healthy, groomers offer a variety of cosmetic and hygienic services. While some specialize in grooming just dogs, some also groom cats and even other types of household pets.
A typical dog-grooming session begins with a groomer closely inspecting a dog's coat, to discover any problem areas. Next comes brushing and combing and sometimes de-matting. The fur is then trimmed. The groomer also cuts the dog's nails, cleans its ears, bathes, blow-dries, and deodorizes it. A second trim may be performed, and finally, the dog's coat is styled. These days, many groomers also offer other sorts of specialized services--doggy massage, for example. When dogs have skin and coat problems, groomers will also provide special kinds of baths and treatments to help a dog recover.
While you might think of washing a dog as a pretty straightforward proposition, there is actually a lot to know in this field. Groomers must understand the character, habits and coat characteristics of many different breeds. They must also know the standards of appearance for various types of dogs, especially for show animals that must conform to a tightly-specified ideal. They also have to be animal psychologists, understanding how to handle dogs with vastly different personality types, making the grooming experience less traumatic for everyone. Finally, they have to be educators, helping pet owners to understand what they need to do to keep their pet's coat healthy.
This job can be a blast for dog lovers. It's highly rewarding to turn a dirty, scruffy little dog into an exquisite show animal. There's also some creativity here, as groomers invent the appropriate cuts and styling for mixed breed dogs. But this job also requires a willingness to put up with some discomfort. For example, dog groomers spend entire days in hot and steamy surroundings, with dog hair clinging to their bodies and clothes. Inevitably, they go home smelling like dogs. In addition, many dogs detest the grooming experience and some are aggressive and fearful. There is always a risk of getting bitten. Other dogs sometimes carry skin infections and parasites, including fleas and ticks, that can potentially affect a groomer's health.
Specific tasks include:
· Discussing the dog's grooming needs with the owner
· Finding out about a dog's disposition & medical history
· Helping dogs feel at ease
· Cutting & styling their coats
· Bathing & blow drying
· Cleaning dogs’ ears
· Answering phones & scheduling appointments
Some areas of specialization
While most groomers provide general grooming services, there are often several types of workers at a grooming facility. There are "pet bathers" who wash the dogs, "bathers-brushers" who assist groomers with the trim and bath, and "groomers/stylists" who focus on clipping and styling the dog. Groomers may also specialize in a certain type or breed of dog, like sporting dogs, non-sporting dogs, or terriers. Others specialize in grooming professional show dogs, which require a very different sort of grooming than pet dogs.
Education and Licensing
Many groomers learn their trade by completing an informal apprenticeship under the direction of an experienced groomer. Such training usually lasts 6-10 weeks. Other groomers attend a grooming school or take a correspondence course in dog grooming. Virginia has two grooming schools: the Virginia School of Pet Grooming in Manassas and the Canine Clippers School of Pet Grooming in Dumfries. Most grooming school curricula last between 4-18 weeks and include instruction in grooming many different breeds. Students who pass both written and practical exams are awarded certificates or diplomas.
Community colleges in some states offer 2-year associate degrees in Professional Grooming. Such programs can require that students take up to 630 hours of grooming, 225 hours of business-related courses, 150 hours of dog and cat health courses and 30 hours of courses on law and ethics.
The National Dog Groomers Association offers a professional certification
program. Candidates for certification must take both a written and a practical
exam. Those who pass the exams can use the title "National Certified
Master Groomer". Other professional associations also offer certification,
including the International Professional Groomers Association.
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