Deciding to Be a Pet Groomer

Time and investment, plus the most important personality trait needed to be a pet groomer.

Many people decide they want to learn pet grooming because they like working with animals. While that is a primary trait needed to be a groomer, the potential trainee also needs to be informed about the time and investment they will need to make. There are other personality traits that are needed also, other than just liking animals and cutting hair.

Time and Investment

Learning to become a groomer takes time and investment. It takes time to learn the trade, and money to invest in your training, tools, and equipment.

Grooming schools vary in length of time from six weeks to several months. Private in-house instruction may take even longer depending on scheduling and availability of teaching time and dogs. Longer training will generally give a trainee a more balanced and well-rounded education. Students should get not only practical knowledge but also theoretical ones. For example, they have to know the psychology of different animals and their attitude and behaviors towards people. In this case, students should be great essay writers to pass writing assignments for their final exams. It is an important part of this career beginning. 

A trainee will learn from experience first-hand, techniques and tips not normally taught in technique targeted schools. Fast-paced schools targeting primarily on technique may lack training in other areas that are essential to success as a good pet groomer.

An investment for basic start-up tools is a must for every trainee. Established groomers have made significant investments in their tools and equipment. For most groomers their tools are personally tailored and require regular maintenance and up-keep. Most groomers are not willing to let new trainees use their tools; a simple act of dropping a tool can render it useless until repairs are made. A serious prospect trainee should plan on investing $500.00 – $1000.00 on their start-up tools. 

Personality Traits of a Groomer

The primary personality trait a person needs to be a groomer is patience. Patience with the customers, but most important, patience with the animals.

The idea of grooming so you don’t have to work with people, is a misnomer. Groomers must learn to communicate and project genuine caring for the animal’s wellbeing, to earn trust with the pet parent. Trust is essential, and a key component to a groomer’s success.

Groomers will be dealing with animals of all types. Some dogs will sit quietly on the table; others will be squealing, squirming, or trying to play with you. Some are scared of grooming; some just plain don’t like it. Groomers must be able to maintain and stay focused, even in the face of a potential dog bite. Groomers must also be able to deal with a bite, without retaliating on the dog.

Having a great deal of patience, and learning to compensate when needed, can turn an adverse grooming session into a rewarding experience for both groomer and pet. Having a sense of humor will always help.

Knowing the time and investment required for grooming as well as taking a realistic look at patience levels are important factors to consider when deciding to be a groomer. Patience and personality are the most important. Time, money and tools can generally be worked out with the teacher or school. If these two factors are feasible then the next step would be to carefully check out the ways to learn the pet grooming profession.