How to Become an Animal Groomer
If you are an animal lover and enjoy spending time with animals, becoming an animal groomer may be a great career choice for you. You will spend your days with different animals, which can be fun. However, it is not all fun; you will need patience for those that are not too fond of grooming.
- Volunteer at a local animal shelter to get some experience working around animals. This can help you to gain a better understanding of them and you may also learn some valuable techniques for calming frightened animals.
- Apply to work part time at a veterinarian's office. This is not necessary, but you might want to give it a try to gain even more experience with animals.
- Determine which animals and which type of grooming you would like to do. Many grooming salons will work almost exclusively with dogs, except for an occasional cat. You may want to work with other animals such as horses, which will require different training. If you would like to focus on grooming dogs for dog shows, that will also require different training. Grooming show dogs is much more extensive than the everyday grooming of pets.
- Enroll in a program that specializes in the type of animal and style of grooming you want to do, to become certified. While this is not a necessity, you will learn to groom different breeds. You will also learn about animal behavior and learn the skills needed to excel in this field of work. There are many grooming schools to choose from. You can find one in your local area by doing an Internet search. For dog grooming, The National Dog Groomers Association of America offers a course that offers certification that is recognized all around the country.
- Apply for jobs with local groomers in your area. Even if you eventually want to open your own salon, it is a good idea to gain experience working in an established salon.