Dog grooming is all about taking care of dogs, particularly when it comes to bathing and tending to their needs, whether it be trimming their coats or clipping their nails. While pet groomers mainly focus on physical appearance, they also have the responsibility of telling the owner if they have parasites or any other skin condition that can be identified.

Consider exploring a career in animal care if you have a love of animals.

If you love to spend your time with dogs or just love animal care in general, then this could be the job for you. You also don’t need to worry about employment prospects, as it’s expected to remain stable over the next few years.

However, keep in mind that you’ll be dealing with dogs that can get quite aggressive and scared. If you feel like you’re not comfortable with it, but you’re still interested in this position, grooming schools can teach you how to deal with these different temperaments. More details on this further down.

You don’t need any formal qualifications for this field, though a certificate II in Animal Studies can make you more hireable. Other certification programs like the Certificate III in Pet Grooming or the Certificate IV in Pet Styling can also give you more of an insight into this profession. You can also look into dog training as a career choice.

There are also grooming schools you can attend to truly become a professional dog groomer, increasing your credibility with your clients. By going to a school and completing a dog grooming course, you’ll get some hands-on experience with dogs, and learn advanced details, such as different grooming techniques for certain dog breeds.

If you want something a bit lighter, there are shorter online training courses and manuals you can consult. But as was mentioned previously, none of this is strictly required, although there are obvious benefits if you do the above. It’ll give you an edge over the competition.

While you get a job as a dog groomer at various vet clinics, doggie daycares or group salons, you can also become self-employed. If you want to start your own small business, there are a couple of things you need to keep in mind.

First, you obviously have to have a good grasp on business and register your grooming service, which you can find all the details here.

You’ll also need a space and supplies to work with. The space can vary greatly, from professional grooming salons to mobile grooming service. The majority of self-employed dog groomers rent out a storefront, or take a building/room on their own property and renovate it into a grooming facility.

In terms of the tools/items you will need:

Once you got everything set up, it’s time to market your business. You’ll have to decide on a name and logo that will catch people’s attention. When you’ve got that sorted, try to reach as many advertising avenues as possible. There’s social media, flyers, posters; the list goes on.

You can also leave your business card at places where potential clients visit, such as at the vet, doggie daycare centres, dog training schools, etc. While you’re at it, go ahead and network with vets and the dog trainers who you come into contact with. That way, they can personally refer people to you whenever they need their dog groomed.

Also keep in mind that this job can be quite physically demanding, as you’ll need to lift dogs along with standing for long periods. You’ll also obviously have to consider whether any health conditions of your own will impede your ability to work in this position, such as asthma, allergies, etc.