Preparing for a profession as a pet groomer requires a combination of skill, training, and an innate love of animals. Pet groomers bathe, brush, trim, and provide grooming services for dogs and cats. Pet groomers often work long hours in a demanding and sometimes dangerous environment. Individuals who can physically and emotionally meet the demands of a pet grooming job tend to find professional success. Pet groomers must be detail oriented to maintain a safe and cleanly work environment. Pet groomers must possess good communication skills, work well with others, and be self motivated. Pet Groomers must be business oriented to schedule appointments and insightful in order to collect general information regarding a pet’s health or behavior. Pet Groomers must also be able to identify medical issues and refer animals for veterinary care.

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Training for a career as a pet groomer can begin while in high school. As most pet groomers receive on the job training in a hands on learning environment, a student could begin to prepare during high school. Taking courses in physical education, business mathematics, psychology, and English prepare students for the business related aspects for a career as a pet groomer. Volunteering within or working for an animal shelter, humane society, private veterinary practice, boarding kennel, or animal hospital gives individuals an added bonus to a future career as a pet groomer. Students who complete high school can advance to formal training programs or apprenticeships.

Pet groomers have no formal standard of required education but training through online or traditional programs, vocational schools, apprenticeships, or on the job experiences often qualify an individual for employment. On the job training programs allow individuals to start their careers as future pet groomers with tasks like shampooing pets and keeping work areas clean and safe. Informal apprenticeships allow future pet groomers to learn skills necessary for future career success. Informal apprenticeships usually require a 6 to 10 week time investment under the guidance of an experienced groomer. Individuals within an apprenticeship training program often begin training with simple tasks, like shampooing pets and providing cleaning support to the work areas and tools. Students eventually build upon skills learned from previous tasks, ranging from properly restraining or muzzling pets to how to operate grooming equipment to advance skills like identifying skin disorders. Students who complete an apprenticeship program often can gain employment as entry level pet groomers.

State licensed grooming schools offer a variety of programs lasting 2 to 18 weeks. Many trade or technical schools and online colleges offer pet groomer career diplomas. Future pet groomer training programs consist of courses in: dog and cat anatomy and health care, grooming animals possessing behavior challenges, preparing animals for grooming, basic grooming procedures, introduction to dog and cat handling, pet bathing, pet drying, and pet behavior and personality. Pet groomer training courses generally include tools needed for grooming purposes like nail trimmers, brushes, electric clippers, grooming scissors, and combs.

Students can also enter Professional Groomer 1,000 hour training programs. Individuals prepare for careers as future pet groomers by participating in courses like: Salon Organization and layout, accident prevention and safety, proper identification and use of tools and equipment, First Aid and CPR for people and pets, breed identification, animal body language and behavior, handling and holding techniques for bathing and prepping, use of muzzles for personal and pet safety, anatomy and range of motion, trimming nails, preclipping and body clipping, shave downs, use of additional grooming tools, clipper, scissor, and blade maintenance and repair, proper restraint of pets, prepping pets for bathing, benefits and methods for dremeling nails, ear hair plucking, trimming sanitary areas, proper shampoo and bathing techniques, ear cleaning and deodorizing, expressing anal glands, proper use of air dryers, skin problem identification, safe handling and bathing cats, flea and tick identification and removal, trimming for various breeds, building a portfolio for finished work, wet shedding techniques, safe and efficient removal of matts and dematting tools, handling pets of all ages, efficiency and speed grooming techniques, time management techniques, pricing services, client relations, marketing and advertising techniques, and creative coloring. Many 1,000 hour training programs are certified by the International Association of Pet Designers.

Certification for skilled groomers is offered through the National Dog Groomers Association of America. Candidates are required to demonstrate practical skills in addition to passing two written examinations.