What is Dog Grooming?
The main job of a Dog Groomer is to maintain the condition of dogs’ coats through bathing, clipping and trimming. Grooming can also include cleaning dogs’ ears, trimming nails, brushing, blow-drying, and styling coats.
All dog breeds will require some form of grooming – the basics of which can often be taken care of by the owner at home. However, most dogs will benefit from receiving a full professional groom from time to time and for some breeds, it’s important to attend regular grooming appointments to maintain their wellbeing.
Many owners don’t have the time, expertise, skills or facilities to bathe, groom and clip their dog, which is why professional grooming services are so important.
What does a typical day as a Dog Groomer look like?
Working in a Dog Grooming Salon involves more than the day to day grooming of pets – the work also includes:
- Customer care.
- Working within health and safety requirements and legislation.
- Knowledge of canine anatomy, first aid, welfare, and health issues.
- Equipment maintenance.
- Assessing and planning styling requirements.
- Understanding breed standard styling techniques.
- Confidence in canine handling
- Understanding how dogs communicate.
A day in the life of a Dog Groomer will often start with meeting customers and discussing their wishes for their dog. Knowledge of dog breeds will help you to advise them on the best finish for their pet. Being able to read the dog’s body language to assess how nervous or relaxed they feel is an important skill and will dictate how you work with them. After the grooming process is complete, the equipment will need to be cleaned and any waste from the session taken care of before moving on to the next customer.
Why is Grooming beneficial for Dogs?
Grooming plays an important part in keeping dogs healthy and happy. Regular brushing encourages healthy skin and good hair growth. It stimulates the blood supply to the skin, removes dead hair and dirt and prevents matting.
Grooming not only helps dogs to look good but also helps to keep them healthy. A well-groomed dog will benefit from:
- Being clean and comfortable.
- Clear vision (free from long hair over the eyes).
- Being free of matted hair.
- Being free from painful, overgrown nails.
- Detection and removal of grass seeds (which can lead to abscess and infection).
- Detection of fleas, ticks, and mites.
- Reduced risk of eye, ear, skin, teeth, and nail infection.
- Easier vet check-ups (Dogs get used to handling).
- Lower veterinary bills (catch health concerns before an emergency).
Where do Dog Groomers work?
Dog Groomers often work in pet grooming salons. These can either be inappropriately fitted retail premises or a mobile unit. Dog Groomers can also be based in animal rescue centres, dog day-care centres, pet shops, boarding kennels, veterinary practices, and animal hospitals. Some Dog Groomers choose to work as home groomers or offer pet grooming services where they travel to the pet owners’ homes.
What soft skills do you need to become a Dog Groomer?
To consider a career as a Dog Groomer, several soft skills are required to become successful. The following will be useful:
- Manual dexterity with good hand to eye coordination.
- Eye for detail.
- Dog handling and control techniques.
- Physical fitness (lifting, and moving dogs).
- Being patient, calm and gentle.
- A love of working with animals.
- An understanding of dog behaviour.
- An interest in learning about hair cutting and styling techniques.
- Enjoying working with the public.
- Good communication and customer care skills.
- Being able to cope with animals in distress.
- Being prepared to get dirty.
- Able to deal with unpleasant tasks such as ticks, fleas, lice, and severe matting.
How much does a Dog Groomer earn?
Dog Groomers usually earn around £13,000 as a starting salary and with experience, this can increase to £20,000. You can choose to either work in a salon or become self-employed. As a self-employed Dog Groomer, you can choose to set your prices. In the UK, Dog Groomers charge around £20-30 on average for each treatment. In some areas, prices can be up to £80.
How do you become a qualified Dog Groomer?
Working as a Dog Groomer does not currently require specific qualifications. However, achieving a recognised qualification will certainly improve your employment prospects in this increasingly popular career choice.
A good place to start to gain basic knowledge and an understanding of the role would be to study the Level 3 Award in an Introduction to Dog Grooming. This Ofqual regulated qualification allows you to complete the theory elements online and includes 2 days of hands-on practical training working alongside trained and highly experienced Dog Grooming professionals. The Award covers all the basics to get you started including Health and Safety in a Dog Grooming Environment and how to Prepare, Style, and Finish a range of Dog Breeds.
If you would like a more in-depth study into styling, dog welfare and handling then the Level 3 Certificate in Dog Grooming and Introduction to Styling might be a better fit. This Ofqual regulated qualification includes 10 days of practical training with the opportunity to practice grooming and styling techniques on several dog clients with a range of coats styles and lengths.
How can you become a Dog Grooming Salon Manager?
If you have experience in Dog Grooming and would like to progress your career to becoming a salon manager, then consider a more comprehensive qualification such as the Level 3 Diploma in Dog Grooming. This Ofqual regulated qualification provides an in-depth look at the core responsibilities of a salon manager and how to run your own Dog Grooming business. The qualification also includes a valuable training opportunity with 25 days of practical experience at a professional Dog Grooming school.
For all related courses, training and qualification please visit our website.
Where can I get a job as a Dog Groomer?
The demand for professional Pet Groomers is increasing as more people choose to have pets and there is a growing awareness about responsible pet ownership. Career opportunities are numerous in this type of animal care and a good Dog Groomer should not have many problems finding employment.
You can contact Dog Grooming Salons near where you live with your CV, or alternatively, set up your own Small Animal Business in your hometown.
Once you have completed your qualifications you can seek employment by registering with our Animal Job Board for the latest vacancies around the world.
Book a call with one of our career advisors and they will take you through training and career options within the animal industry.
