Pet Grooming Education

Professional pet grooming establishments continue to grow despite current gloomy market trends.  It amazes me how busy compassionate groomers can be if they pay attention to details and to their client’s wishes. Some salons are so busy that they can’t even take on new clients. Some are having difficulties filling grooming positions because qualified new hires are in extremely short supply!

 As people grow increasingly disillusioned with the corporate world and poor job security, they are drawn to starting a business where they rely solely on themselves. Dogs have moved out of the fields and barns, directly into our homes! A love for pets never goes out of style, and what people love, they take care of. 

 The consumer is becoming more and more aware of proper pet hygiene. If you want to earn the trust and spending power of the consumer, you must stay current with styling trends and equipment upgrades. There are some fabulous new educational tools at your finger tips – you just need to apply a little bit of effort to take advantage of all the resources.

 Here are 10 ideas to get your mind working on ways to enhance your career.

• Study and memorize breed standards. Know how to read the “Blue Print” of each breed and translate it into grooming language.
• Attend dog shows and closely study individual breeds. Have a couple breeds you want to study closely and make a list of questions you want answered or verified PRIOR to hitting the show grounds. Take notes and make drawings.
• Study anatomy, proportion, and angles. Understand how they relate to one another.
• Get and read all trade publications: Groomer to Groomer, Pet Age, Family Dog by AKC, Grooming Business, and Pet Business.
• Be active on-line with pet related web-sites, breed groups, and upper level enthusiasts within the pet industry
• Attend every trade show, seminar or small clinic you can get to. (At least 4-6 each year for the first three years of your career and then 2 to 4 from that point on).
• Study and work towards certification testing.
• Enter the contest ring to test your skills and get critiques.
• Find a mentor or friend to help inspire you.
• Watch any breed videos established by well-respected organizations or professionals.

 If you are an animal lover, there is no better time to make that leap of faith and turn a dream of working with pets into a reality!  Do your research and take the plunge!! Some of the best new stylists are entering the field without any prior experience, and nothing to draw upon other than a passion for pets.

 Always remember - when one door closes, another door opens! Learning is a never-ending journey.  Learning inspires and keeps us all fresh. It is the lifeblood of any successful organization. As Benjamin Disraeli (1804-1881), a former British statesman and prime minister said, "The secret of success in life is for a man to be ready for his opportunity when it comes.”